After his family emigrated from Barbados, Joel grew up in Toronto where both he and his brother Julian (known by the nickname “Caesar”) played an aggressive breed of minor hockey in a bid to out-compete one another. While Caesar was widely recognized as a highly accomplished player, it was Joel that went on undrafted to play for the Owen Sound Platers (OHL) in 1998.
While earning his sociology degree Joel was named Rookie of the Year and three-time MVP for the Panthers. After an invitation to the Minnesota Wild’s training camp in 2006 Joel went on to play for the Houston Aeroes (AHL). Later that year Joel inked a two-year deal with the Minnesota Wild.
Joel scored the game-winning overtime goal in game seven of the first round Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2012, propelling the Washington Capitals to the conference semifinals. In response, disgruntled Boston Bruins fans littered online media with racist slurs against Joel.
Joel played for Canada in the IIHF World Champanionships in 2014, starting on the fourth line but quickly becoming one of the team’s top scorers.
2002, 2003, 2004: CIS (AUS) 2nd team All-Star
2003, 2004, 2005: CIS (AUS) Most Sportsman-like Player Award winner
2005: Don Wells Trophy and R.W. Pugh Trophy winner
2004–2005: CIS (AUS) Most Valuable Player Award, Kelly Trophy winner
2004–2005: CIS (AUS) 1st team All-Star
2013-2014: WC 3 Best Player on Team Award winner
