Snoop Dogg sees Senators ownership as tool to get kids 'who look like me' playing hockey

Hip-hop artist Snoop Dogg wants to change the face of hockey and sees involving himself at the ownership level as a way to do it.

The musician, whose real name is Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., announced on Monday that he had joined Los Angeles-based producer Neko Sparks' bid to buy the Ottawa Senators, via an Instagram post.

On Tuesday, Snoop Dogg appeared on ESPN's First Take with Stephen A. Smith, where he detailed his desire to help promote hockey at the youth level in the U.S., "so kids in urban communities can learn about hockey and play the sport."

"I've been watching hockey for about 25 years now and I'm watching more and more kids who look like me play the game, but I'm not seeing it offered to the kids here in America," said Snoop, who is 51. "The kids need to know that there's an option to play hockey, if you look like me."

As with his Snoop Youth Football League, which the artist said he started in 2005 and has seen more than 20,000 move on to NCAA Division 1 programs — including recent second-overall NFL pick C.J. Stroud — he said the goal would be to promote a different lifestyle "in these communities that were gang-riddled, that had single parents, that were kind of like poverty stricken."

Snoop said the partnership with Sparks represents a next-level opportunity.

"I have relationships with people who've done things like this," he said. "But never like this. Never like to say we can actually own a franchise and change the face of hockey."

Snoop made sure he cited his long-time, hockey-loving credentials, too.

"Remember this, Stephen H.," he said, "Snoop Dog's second video, Gin and Juice, what did he have on? Pittsburgh Penguins (jersey)! I've been rockin' this since Moby Dick was a goldfish!"