Race and ethnicity in the NHL

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The National Hockey League (NHL) evolved from a mono-ethnic and primarily Canadian professional athletic league to span North America.[1][2][3][4][5] The distribution of ethnic groups has been gradually changing since the inception of the NHL.[6] The league consists of a variety of players from varying nationalities and diverse backgrounds. Once known as a league riddled with racism and exclusiveness, the NHL has made some positive steps toward a more diverse and inclusive institution.[7]

The NHL began its expansion of player nationalities in the 1970s, when players hailed from the United States, Sweden, and Finland.[8] The share of Canadians in the league dropped to 75% by the 1980s and is now slightly less than 50%.[8] In 2011, the NHL was composed of 93% of players who identified as white, with the remaining 7% identifying as varying ethnicities.[9][needs update]

History[]

Main article: Black players in ice hockey
See also: List of black NHL players

A number of ice hockey leagues for players of African descent formed in Canada as early as the late-19th century. The Coloured Hockey League was an all-black ice hockey league established in 1895. Operating across the Maritime provinces of Canada, the league operated for several decades until 1930.

Although other ice hockey leagues saw integration in the early 20th century (including the Quebec Senior Hockey League), the NHL did not see its first non-white player until March 13, 1948, when Larry Kwong broke the NHL's colour barrier playing with the New York Rangers.[10] Born in Vernon, British Columbia, Kwong was a Chinese Canadian of Cantonese descent.[11] In 1953, Fred Sasakamoose was the first Cree NHL player, and the first Canadian indigenous player in the NHL, debuting with the Chicago Black Hawks. On January 18, 1958, Willie O'Ree became the first Black Canadian to play in the NHL. Playing with the Boston Bruins, he was also the first NHL player of African-descent.[12]

Val James was the first African American player to play in the NHL. James signed his contract with the Buffalo Sabres in 1982.[13] His stints with the Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs were short lived and he eventually retired in 1987 due to injury.[13] He experienced racism as the first player throughout his skating career. He never spoke of racism on the ice until 30 years after his career ended. In his account, he reported he could not watch hockey games for 10 years after leaving the ice without being haunted by the memories of his treatment as a man of color in the NHL.[14] A biography of his life in the sport was published under the title Black Ice: The Val James Story written by John Gallagher.[15] The number of black NHL players moved to 26 by the end of the 20th century and sat at 32 in 2016. This is a seemingly minor yet significant change in the racial demographic of the NHL in its hundred-year history.[9]

Non-black minorities[]

In addition to black and white players, other races and ethnicities represented in the NHL include players of Asian, Latino, and Middle Eastern descent.

 = NHL All-Star[16] ·  = NHL All-Star[16] and NHL All-Star Team ·  = Hall of Famers

Players with at least one game of NHL experience. Names in italics have won the Stanley Cup.

Asian descent[]

See also: List of Indian NHL players
Nat. Name Birthplace Pos Seasons Teams Played Ethnicity Ref
Canada Victor Bartley Ottawa, ON D 1998–2015 NSH, MTL Bi-racial, Taiwanese [17]
Canada Robin Bawa Duncan, BC RW 1987–1999 WSH, VAN, SJS, ANA Punjabi [18]
Canada Chris Beckford-Tseu Toronto, ON G 2007–2008 STL Jamaican-Chinese[19] [20]
Canada Matt Dumba Regina, SK D 2013–present MIN Romanian-German-Filipino [citation needed]
Canada Spencer Foo Edmonton, AB RW 2017–2018 CGY Chinese
Japan Yutaka Fukufuji Kushiro, Japan G 2006–2007 LAK Japanese
Canada Taro Hirose Calgary, AB LW 2018–present DET Japanese
Canada Josh Ho-Sang Toronto, ON RW 2018–present NYI Jamaican-Jewish-Chinese [21]
Canada Peter Ing Toronto, ON G 1989–1994 TOR, EDM, DET Bi-racial, Chinese [22]
Canada Paul Kariya North Vancouver, BC LW 1994–2010 ANA, COL, NSH, STL Japanese-Scottish [23]
Canada Steve Kariya North Vancouver, BC RW 1999–2000 VAN Japanese-Scottish
Canada Jujhar Khaira Surrey, BC LW 2014–present EDM Punjabi [24]
Canada Larry Kwong Vernon, BC C 1947–1948 NYR Chinese [25]
Canada Manny Malhotra Mississauga, ON C 1998–2016 NYR, DAL, CBJ, SJS, VAN, CAR, MTL Punjabi-French [26]
Norway Andreas Martinsen Bærum, Norway LW 2015–present COL, MTL, CHI Ugandan Indian-Norwegian [27]
Canada Jon Matsumoto Ottawa, ON C 2010–2012 CAR, FLA Japanese-German
Canada Jim Paek Seoul, South Korea D 1987–2003 PIT, LAK, OTT Korean [28]
United States Richard Park Seoul, South Korea RW 1996–2010 PIT, NYI, MIN, VAN Korean [29]
United States Jason Robertson Arcadia, CA LW 2021–present DAL Scottish-Filipino [30]
United States Nicholas Robertson Arcadia, CA LW 2020–present TOR Scottish-Filipino
United States Bobby Robins Peshtigo, WI RW 2014–2015 BOS Bi-racial, Filipino
Canada Raymond Sawada Richmond, BC RW 2008–2011 DAL Japanese-Italian
Canada Devin Setoguchi Taber, AB RW 2007–2018 SJS, MIN, WPG, CGY, LAK Bi-racial, Japanese [31][better source needed]
United States Kiefer Sherwood Columbus, OH RW 2018–present ANA, COL Bi-racial, Japanese
United States Kole Sherwood New Albany, OH RW 2018–present CBJ Bi-racial, Japanese
Canada Devin Shore Ajax, ON C 2015–present DAL, ANA, CBJ, EDM Bi-racial, Filipino
Switzerland Jonas Siegenthaler Zürich, Switzerland D 2018–present WSH, NJD Swiss-Thai
Canada Dylan Sikura Aurora, ON C 2018–present CHI, VGK Slovak-Japanese [32]
United States Tim Stapleton La Grange, IL C 2008–2012 TOR, ATL, WIN Irish-Filipino [33]
Canada Jamie Storr Brampton, ON G 1994–2004 LAK, CAR Bi-racial, Japanese
Canada Nick Suzuki London, ON C 2020–present MTL Bi-racial, his father is half-Japanese [34]
United States David Tanabe White Bear Lake, MN D 1999–2008 BOS, CAR Japanese [35]
United States Mike Wong Minneapolis, MN C 1975–1976 DET Chinese-Native [citation needed]
United States Kailer Yamamoto Spokane, WA RW 2017–present EDM Bi-racial, his father is half-Japanese and his mother is half-Hawaiian [36]
Canada Brandon Yip Vancouver, BC RW 2009–2014 COL, NSH, PHX Bi-racial, Three quarter-Chinese and one quarter-Irish [37]

First Nation/Native American descent[]

Nat. Name Birthplace Pos Seasons Teams Played Ethnicity Ref
United States Garrett Pilon Mineola, New York C 2021–present WSH Métis [citation needed]
Canada Zach Whitecloud Brandon, Manitoba D 2018–present VGK Dakota-Canadian [citation needed]
Canada Ethan Bear Regina, Saskatchewan D 2017–present EDM Cree descent [38]
Canada Brandon Montour Ohsweken, Ontario D 2016–present ANA, FLO Mohawk descent [citation needed]
Canada Arron Asham Portage la Prairie, Manitoba RW 1998–2014 MTL, NYI, NJD, PHI, PIT, NYR Métis Canadian [39]
United States T.J. Oshie Mount Vernon, Washington RW 2008–present STL, WSH bi-racial Ojibwe-American [citation needed]
Canada Carey Price Vancouver, British Columbia G 2007–present MTL bi-racial Dakelh-Canadian [citation needed]
Canada Jordin Tootoo Churchill, Manitoba RW 2003–2017 NSH, NJD, DET, CHI Inuit [40]
Canada René Bourque Lac La Biche, Alberta LW 2005–2017 MTL, CAL, , CHI metis [41]
Canada Michael Ferland Swan River, Manitoba LW 2014–2020 CAR, CAL, VAN cree descent [42]
Canada Gino Odjick Maniwaki, Québec LW 1990–2002 MTL, NYI, VAN, PHI bi-racial Algonquian-Canadian [43]
Canada Blair Atcheynum Estevan, Saskatchewan RW 1992–2001 OTT, NSH, STL, CHI Cree descent [39]
Canada George Armstrong Skead, Ontario RW 1949–1971 TOR bi-racial Ojibwe-Canadian [39]
Canada Ted Nolan Garden River, Ontario LW 1981–1986 DET, PIT Ojibwe-Canadian [44]
Canada Theoren Fleury Oxbow, Saskatchewan RW 1988–2003 CAL, NYR Métis Canadian [45]
Canada Everett Sanipass Elsipogtog First Nation, New Brunswick LW 1986–1991 CHI, QUE Mi'kmaq [46]
Canada Craig Berube Calahoo, Alberta LW 1986–2003 PHI, TOR, CGY, WSH, NYI bi-racial Cree-Canadian [47]
Canada Bryan Trottier Val Marie, Saskatchewan C 1975–1994 NYI, PIT bi-racial Cree-Canadian [48]

Latino descent[]

Nat. Name Birthplace Pos Seasons Teams Played Ethnicity Ref
United States Scott Gomez Anchorage, Alaska C 1999–2016 NJ, NYR, MTL Mexican American [49]
United States Bill Guerin Worcester, Massachusetts RW 1991–2010 NJD, EDM, BOS, DAL, STL SJ, NYI, PIT Nicaraguan American [50]
United States Auston Matthews San Ramon, California C 2016-present TOR Half Mexican American [51]
United States Al Montoya Chicago, Illinois G 2006–present NYI, MTL, FLA, WIN Cuban American [52]
United States Matt Nieto Long Beach, California LW 2013-present COL, SJ Mexican American [53]
United States Max Pacioretty New Canaan, Connecticut LW 2008-present LV, MTL Half Mexican American [54]
Canada Raffi Torres Toronto, Ontario LW 2001–2016 EDM, SJ, PHO Half Mexican Canadian Half Peruvian (of Italian, Greek, and Serbian ancestry) [55]

Middle Eastern descent[]

Nat. Name Birthplace Pos Seasons Teams Played Ethnicity Ref
United States Justin Abdelkader Muskegon, Michigan LW 2008–present DET Jordanian Americans [56]
Canada Ramzi Abid Montréal, Québec LW 2000–2014 PHO, PIT, ATL Lebanese-Canadian [57]
Canada Nazem Kadri London, Ontario C 2010–present TOR, COL Lebanese-Canadian [58]
Canada Alain Nasreddine Montréal, Québec D 1995–2010 NYI, MTL, PIT bi-racial Lebanese-Canadian [59]
United States Brandon Saad Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania LW 2011–present CHI Syrian American [60]
Sweden Mika Zibanejad Huddinge, Sweden C 2010–present NYR bi-racial Iranian Finnish [61]

See also[]

References[]

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