Love at First Ice Youth hockey might have started as a second option for Leon Hayward, but the sport swiftly won over the Seattle-raised player who is now one of two Black assistant coaches in college hockey by Bob Condor / @SeattleKraken / nhl.com/kraken When Leon Hayward was eight years old and growing up in Seattle, his mom missed the signup deadline for playing soccer as part of programming at the Wallingford Boys and Girls Club. Let's first make it clear: All is forgiven, Mom. "I was driving long-distance to my job," says Lori Richardson, who raised Hayward as a single mom. "I really needed Leon to be in the after-school soccer program. I didn't know what I would do if he couldn't play."