Leafs’ Nick Robertson embraces opportunity to be a role model for next generation of Filipino players, fans
This article was written by Daniel Centeno, who is part of the Professional Hockey Writers Association x To Hockey With Love Mentorship Program. This program pairs aspiring writers with established members of the association across North America to create opportunities for marginalized people that do not traditionally get published on larger platforms covering hockey.
To Hockey With Love is a weekly newsletter covering a range of topics in hockey – from the scandals of the week to providing a critical analysis of the sport.
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Whether it was growing up in suburban Pasenda or playing in arguably hockey’s biggest market, Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nick Robertson has never been shy about his Filipino heritage.
Since being Toronto’s 2019 second round pick, the 21-year-old is now playing for a city that close to one million Filipinos call home.
It’s an experience he appreciates as the journey to carve out an NHL role continues.
“I love it here, and I think I’ve mentioned it a couple of times that this is a city with a high population of Filipino descent, [and] it’s one of the unique things playing here,” Robertson said. “It’s also the representation here and meeting a lot of Filipino fans that know you.”
As one of the few Filipinos in the NHL, he is embracing his opportunity to be a role model for the next generation of Filipino players and fans.
The other Filipino NHL players are Nick’s brother Jason on the Dallas Stars, Matt Dumba of the Minnesota Wild and Devin Shore on the Edmonton Oilers.
The love of basketball is nearly inseparable from Filipino culture, but Robertson believes he and the other players can inspire more Filipino youth to watch and take up hockey.
“I definitely appreciate the opportunity to be a role model for those kids because I was one of them before,” Robertson said when asked about the influx of Filipinos in the league.
Since Robertson first arrived in Toronto, the small but dedicated group of Filipino fans have taken notice.
He fondly remembers seeing signs in the Scotiabank Arena crowd calling him an inspiration to Filipinos fans and aspiring players.
His own inspiration to continue pushing for a permanent NHL spot comes from his Filipina mother, Mercedes, who he calls “his biggest role model” that taught him to embrace his heritage.
Robertson remembers hockey being foreign to Mercedes at first, but she warmed up to the sport as her sons rose through the ranks.
“She’s my rock, she’s everything, she’s the reason I’m here,” Nick said, recalling her excitement after his overtime winner against Jason’s Stars on Oct.20.
He makes a point to highlight his brother’s influence as well.
“Me in Toronto is pretty cool, but a couple guys, especially my brother with how good of a player he is and what he has done, I think his representation is a huge impact.”
Jason was the first ever Filipino named to an All-Star team when he represented the Western Conference this month. It’s another milestone in the budding star’s development, who has been among the league leaders in scoring the past two seasons.
First Filipino NHL draft pick reflects on changing diversity in the game
The emergence of more Filipino NHLers is a welcomed change for Jomar Cruz, especially as he looks back on his playing days in the Pas and Brandon communities of Manitoba in the 1980s and 90s.
“To see Matt Dumba break into the NHL the way he did and to see Jason Robertson the way he’s dominating is astounding,” Cruz said about the current NHL.
Cruz was the first Filipino drafted into the NHL in 1998 after being selected by the Washington Capitals in the second round.
He chose goaltending during his childhood after seeing the play of Sean Burke, then of the New Jersey Devils, and Grant Fuhr and Bill Ranford of the 80s dynasty Oilers.
Cruz, who emerged as a starter for the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings in the 1997-98 season, said Filipinos taking up hockey, or even watching it, was almost non-existent in his communities.
While today’s fans and young players have the Robertson brothers or Dumba to cite, Cruz said it was different for him.
“It was unique for me I guess,” he said. “Obviously, going through that I wasn’t thinking, ‘oh I’m going to be the first Filipino to do this.’”
Without a reference point or player, the focus was purely on the game he wanted to share with his friends.
Cruz said the Pas, which has a population of about 6,000, had five Filipino families and he was the only kid from that small diaspora who decided to play hockey.
The number of Filipino immigrants drastically increased since the 90s, but Cruz said in his experience, there has yet to be a major shift in more Filipinos interested in hockey.
He said it may be due to a lack of a cultural connection to hockey and the high cost of the sport.
“Hockey is a very privileged sport,” said Cruz.” When a Filipino family comes over, chances are it’s not in the budget. Filipino families coming into the Pas are starting fresh.”
Cruz credits the efforts of his parents who had to bear the brunt of the costs for enrollment and equipment.
Cruz’s father worked at the local mill, which was central to the Pas’ economy, and his mother was a nurse.
His parents were able to find steady work as new immigrants, but Cruz understands he is an outlier. The opportunities afforded to him were not the same for other Filipino families coming to Canada.
Cruz would go on to enjoy a lengthy career in USPORTS and minor leagues, despite not getting an entry-level contract from the Capitals.
When it came time to negotiate with Washington, talks faltered with Cruz’s agent and the offer was off the table. He never found out why, but is thankful for his playing days and what followed the hockey career.
Now a parent himself, he said his son looks up to the Robertsons, especially Jason and his highlight reel goals.
He believes that growth in Filipino representation and enthusiasm for hockey are possible for the next generation, but it will happen gradually.
“This still needs more time, but there’s room for it in the game.”
Rise Tribe co-founder sees potential for more Filipino representation in sports
Growing up in a Filipino household in Toronto, Abby Albino experienced firsthand the Filipino love affair with basketball.
“Basketball, obviously, we love it from a cultural standpoint from the Philippines – and that’s generational.”
She credits her father for sharing that deep love of basketball with her. Albino’s own love of the game inspired her to work in sports, which included Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) and Canada Basketball.
Today, she still sees that same passion from other Filipinos, always eager to support one of their own making it to the professional level. She believes this love has the potential to go beyond basketball.
Albino co-founded Rise Tribe six years ago to help offer mentorship, leadership and networking for Filipino Canadians. One of the main goals was to give Filipinos guidance and advice for career paths.
Drawing from her own experiences, Albino wanted to communicate to other Filipinos that the pathway to a career in sports is possible, despite the cultural norms that gravitate towards healthcare and tech.
One of Rise Tribe’s recent initiatives was hosting an event with Adidas, Big HQ and Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green in April 2022.
Green is one of two Filipino players currently in the NBA, with the other being Jordan Clarkson on the Utah Jazz.
Like the Robertsons, Green has been outspoken about his Filipino heritage throughout his career.
“It was so great to see the Filipino community in Toronto come together and really celebrate an athlete who has reached a pinnacle level of sport,” Albino said about the event. “Jalen Green is not shy about being Filipino and I love that he really embraces it.”
Albino described the event as Filipinos waiting patiently to openly celebrate one of their own in the sport they love.
That same love can happen in time for the NHL in Toronto with the Robertsons, Albino suggests.
“To see the both of them be so successful and reach a level of athletic ability from a professional standpoint, it’s really great to see because I think that does inspire the next generation of that Filipino kid who is looking to play hockey,” Albino said.
She sees that hockey is becoming a bit more diverse today, which can increase the potential for a larger Filipino fanbase that can grow at its own pace.
Albino said the first step can be a Filipino heritage night game for the Leafs.
In 2018, Rise Tribe and MLSE hosted a Filipino heritage night for the Toronto Raptors, and the Winnipeg Jets hosted a Filipino night this season in November.
Going one step further, Albino said jumpstarting more initiatives to promote cultural representation should start at the higher levels of sports. In turn, Albino believes this will have a larger impact that transcends the arena experience.
“If Filipinos work at the league level, that kind of promotes that diverse thought and experience,” she said. “Whether they’re in marketing or creative, I think there’s always opportunities to include more diverse voices and experiences in any decision making capacity.”
Looking Ahead
In his own apartment now, Nick Robertson is away from the Filipino home cooking of his mother and grandmother. He lists Philippine adobo and bifstek( “beefsteak”) as his favourite dishes growing up.
The 5-foot-9 forward awaits another summer after requiring shoulder surgery. The cause was a devastating hit from Los Angeles Kings defenceman Matt Roy on Dec. 8.
Recovery is expected to be six months, which all but ends any chance of his return during the Leafs’ playoff run.
It is a disappointing end to what was supposed to be his breakout season.
However, Robertson has been down this road before and came back ready to fight for a spot on the Leafs.
Despite the setback, he plans to stay in Toronto in the offseason and fly his mother over to experience the city’s Filipino cultural hubs.
Along with the many restaurants, Robertson and his mother plan to attend the annual festivities of Taste of Manila in the Bathurst St. and Wilson Ave. area, and Filipino Independence Day celebrations.
“She’s still finding ways to help me out,” Robertson said of his mother. “Now it’s kind of less hockey and more of the day to day. Again, she’s the reason I’m here – You need the support like my mom.”
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