Jordan Harris (ice hockey)

Lore & Background

Harris grew up in Haverhill, Massachusetts, to Ginny and Peter Harris, a nurse and physical therapist. His father is half-black and Jewish, adopted from a Jewish orphanage; his mother is white and non-Jewish.

Harris is biracial and Jewish. His father played hockey at UMass Lowell, and Harris nearly became a goaltender like his father and older brother Elijah, but chose to become a defenseman because he 'liked being able to skate and play out of the net too much.' He attended Haverhill High School for one year before transferring to Kimball Union Academy, where he served as team captain in 2017–18 and also starred in lacrosse. Harris played five games with the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL that season.

At Northeastern University, Harris won the Beanpot in 2019, 2020, and was named an alternate captain in 2020–21 and captain in 2021–22. He was a Hobey Baker Award finalist, a Hockey East Second All-Star in 2020–21, and a First Team All-Star and Best Defensive Defenseman in 2021–22. He finished his collegiate career with 15 goals and 73 points in 130 games.

After signing an entry-level contract with the Canadiens in 2022, he debuted on April 2 and scored his first NHL goal on April 29. He was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets on August 19, 2024, in exchange for Patrik Laine and a 2026 second-round pick. After one season with Columbus, he was not tendered a qualifying offer and signed a one-year, $825,000 contract with the Boston Bruins on July 1, 2025.

Reader's Guide

Jordan Harris's significance lies in his unique identity as the only Black Jewish player in NHL history as of March 2024, a distinction that highlights the intersection of race and religion in professional hockey. His path from a third-round draft pick to an NHL regular reflects a steady development through college hockey at Northeastern, where he captained the Huskies and earned multiple conference honors. Harris's decision to complete his degree before turning professional underscored his commitment to education. His trade from Montreal to Columbus and subsequent free-agent signing with Boston illustrates the typical career trajectory of a depth defenseman.

Off the ice, Harris has spoken about the challenges faced by Black hockey players, drawing on his own experiences as a biracial Jewish athlete. His engagement to Codie, a former women's hockey player at Northeastern, and their adoption of a puppy named Chai, add a personal dimension to his public profile. Harris's career, while still developing, represents a notable chapter in the NHL's growing diversity.