Ethan Bear

Ethan Bear (born June 26, 1997) is a Cree Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Carolina Hurricanes in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career
He was drafted in the fifth round in the 2015 Draft by the Edmonton Oilers and played for the Seattle Thunderbirds in the WHL. He was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Oilers on July 2, 2016. Bear made his NHL debut on March 1, 2018, in a game against the Nashville Predators. He recorded his first NHL goal in a 5–4 overtime loss to the Anaheim Ducks on March 25, 2018.

Bear was the first player to wear a jersey with his name written in Cree syllabics during an exhibition match against the Calgary Flames on 28 July 2020.

One year later on July 28, 2021 he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Warren Foegele.

Personal life
Bear was born in Regina, Saskatchewan and raised in the Ochapowace Nation near Whitewood, Saskatchewan. His older brother, Everett, also played hockey. He faced racism from hockey fans relying on stereotypes for being a "lazy" player while growing up, but that motivated him to work harder and he drew inspiration from his brother and other Indigenous hockey players, including Carey Price, Jordin Tootoo, Brandon Montour, Arron Asham and Micheal Ferland. In the summer, he gives back by running a youth hockey camp in Ochapowace.