Winter Olympics 2018: Jordan Greenway becomes first-ever black player to compete for the USA at ice hockey

Jordan Greenway will play in the absence of all NHL players at the games

Greenway attends Boston University (Getty)

This month’s Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang will see Jordan Greenway become the first-ever black player to compete for the USA at ice hockey since the games began in 1920.

Greenway, a 20-year-old student from Boston University, will take to the ice in South Korea after the decision was made to include only amateurs and no NHL players in the squad.

The NHL forbade any of their players from attending the games.

Greenway played for the United States National Development Program before committing to Boston University but admitted he didn’t expect to be involved in an Olympic games this early in his life.

“I didn’t really expect myself to be able to accomplish a goal of playing in the Olympics this early," Greenway told Sporting News. “But the opportunity has presented itself, and I’m going to take full advantage of it.

“I’ve been able to accomplish a lot of good things and just allowing a lot of African-American kids who are younger than me who see kind of what I’m doing, I hope that can be an inspiration for them.

“Go out and do something different against the typical stereotypes that most African-Americans play basketball, or whatever the case is.”