Race and ethnicity in the NHL

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]

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 minor ice hockey leagues saw integration in the early 20th century (including the Quebec Senior Hockey League), the major league NHL did not see its first non-white player until November 16, 1926 with Indigenous Native American Taffy Abel broke the NHL color barrier that day with the New York Rangers.[10]

On March 13, 1948 Larry Kwong was an Asian playing with the New York Rangers.[11] Born in Vernon, British Columbia, Kwong was a Chinese Canadian of Cantonese descent.[12] 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.[13] Val James was the first African American player to play in the NHL. James signed his contract with the Buffalo Sabres in 1982.[14] His stints with the Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs were short lived and he eventually retired in 1987 due to injury.[14] The number of black NHL players was to 26 by the end of the 20th century and sat at 32 in 2016.[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[15] ·  = NHL All-Star[15] and NHL All-Star team ·  = Hall of Famers
  • Bold = Currently playing in NHL
  • Italics = Stanley Cup champions
  • * = Yet to have played an NHL game for their respective team

Asian descent
See also: List of Indian NHL players
Nat. Name Birthplace Pos Seasons Teams Played Ethnicity Ref
CanadaVictor BartleyOttawa, OND1998–2015NSH, MTLBiracial, Taiwanese[16]
CanadaRobin BawaDuncan, BCRW1987–1999WSH, VAN, SJS, ANAPunjabi[17]
CanadaChris Beckford-TseuToronto, ONG2007–2008STLJamaican-Chinese[18][19]
CanadaJacob BrysonLondon, OND2021–presentBUFBiracial, Korean
CanadaMatt DumbaRegina, SKD2013–presentMIN, ARI*Romanian-German-Filipino
Canada/ChinaSpencer FooEdmonton, ABRW2017–presentCGY, VGK*Chinese
JapanYutaka FukufujiKushiro, JapanG2006–2007LAKJapanese
CanadaAkito HiroseCalgary, ABD2022–presentVANJapanese
CanadaTaro HiroseWinnipeg, MBLW2018–presentDETJapanese
CanadaJosh Ho-SangToronto, ONRW2016–2019NYIJamaican-Jewish-Chinese[20]
CanadaPeter IngToronto, ONG1989–1994TOR, EDM, DETBiracial, Chinese[21]
CanadaPaul KariyaNorth Vancouver, BCLW1994–2010ANA, COL, NSH, STLJapanese-Scottish[22]
CanadaSteve KariyaNorth Vancouver, BCRW1999–2000VANJapanese-Scottish
CanadaJujhar KhairaSurrey, BCLW2014–presentEDM, CHI, MIN*Punjabi[23]
CanadaLarry KwongVernon, BCC1947–1948NYRChinese[24]
CanadaManny MalhotraMississauga, ONC1998–2016NYR, DAL, CBJ, SJS, VAN, CAR, MTLPunjabi-French[25]
NorwayAndreas MartinsenBærum, NorwayLW2015–2019COL, MTL, CHIUgandan Indian-Norwegian[26]
CanadaJon MatsumotoOttawa, ONC2010–2012CAR, FLAJapanese-German
CanadaJim PaekSeoul, South KoreaD1987–2003PIT, LAK, OTTKorean[27]
United StatesRichard ParkSeoul, South KoreaRW1996–2010PIT, NYI, MIN, VANKorean[28]
United StatesJason RobertsonArcadia, CALW2019–presentDALScottish-Filipino[29]
United StatesNicholas RobertsonArcadia, CALW2020–presentTORScottish-Filipino
United StatesBobby RobinsPeshtigo, WIRW2014–2015BOSBiracial, Filipino
CanadaRaymond SawadaRichmond, BCRW2008–2011DALJapanese-Italian
CanadaDevin SetoguchiTaber, ABRW2007–2018SJS, MIN, WPG, CGY, LAKBiracial, Japanese[30]
United StatesKiefer SherwoodColumbus, OHRW2018–presentANA, COL, NSHBiracial, Japanese
United StatesKole SherwoodNew Albany, OHRW2018–presentCBJ, NSHBiracial, Japanese
CanadaDevin ShoreAjax, ONC2015–presentDAL, ANA, CBJ, EDM, SEA*Biracial, Filipino
SwitzerlandJonas SiegenthalerZürich, SwitzerlandD2018–presentWSH, NJDSwiss-Thai
CanadaDylan SikuraAurora, ONC2018–presentCHI, VGK, COL, ANA*Slovak-Japanese[31]
CanadaJordan SpenceSydney, AustraliaD2021–presentLAKBiracial, Japanese
United StatesTim StapletonLa Grange, ILC2008–2012TOR, ATL, WINIrish-Filipino[32]
CanadaJamie StorrBrampton, ONG1994–2004LAK, CARBiracial, Japanese
CanadaNick SuzukiLondon, ONC2019–presentMTLJapanese-Scottish[33]
United StatesDavid TanabeWhite Bear Lake, MND1999–2008BOS, CARJapanese[34]
United StatesMike WongMinneapolis, MNC1975–1976DETChinese-Native
United StatesKailer YamamotoSpokane, WARW2017–presentEDM, SEABiracial, his father is half-Japanese and his mother is half-Hawaiian[35]
Canada/ChinaBrandon YipVancouver, BCRW2009–2014COL, NSH, PHXBiracial, Three quarter-Chinese and one quarter-Irish[36]

NHL career

These are the top-ten players of Asian descent by career points, goals, and assists. Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season.

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game; G/G = Goals per game; A/G = Assists per game

Franchise career

These are the top-ten players of Asian descent, by career points, goals, and assists, when counting only their production with a specific franchise. Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season.

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game; G/G = Goals per game; A/G = Assists per game

First Nation/Native American descent
Nat. Name Birthplace Pos Seasons Teams Played Ethnicity Ref
CanadaGeorge ArmstrongSkead, OntarioRW1949–1971TORBiracial Ojibwe-Canadian[37]
CanadaBryan TrottierVal Marie, SaskatchewanC1975–1994NYI, PITBiracial Cree-Canadian[38]
CanadaTed NolanGarden River, OntarioLW1981–1986DET, PITOjibwe-Canadian[39]
CanadaGrant FuhrSpruce Grove, AlbertaG1981–2000DET, PITBiracial Cree and Afro-Canadian[40]
CanadaEverett SanipassElsipogtog First Nation, New BrunswickLW1986–1991CHI, QUEMi'kmaq[41]
CanadaCraig BerubeCalahoo, AlbertaLW1986–2003PHI, TOR, CGY, WSH, NYIBiracial Cree-Canadian[42]
CanadaTheoren FleuryOxbow, SaskatchewanRW1988–2003CAL, NYRMétis Canadian[43]
CanadaGino OdjickManiwaki, QuébecLW1990–2002MTL, NYI, VAN, PHIBiracial Algonquian-Canadian[44]
CanadaBlair AtcheynumEstevan, SaskatchewanRW1992–2001OTT, NSH, STL, CHICree descent[37]
CanadaArron AshamPortage la Prairie, ManitobaRW1998–2014MTL, NYI, NJD, PHI, PIT, NYRMétis Canadian[37]
CanadaJordin TootooChurchill, ManitobaRW2003–2017NSH, NJD, DET, CHIInuit[45]
CanadaRené BourqueLac La Biche, AlbertaLW2005–2017MTL, CAL, CLB, CHIMétis Canadian[46]
Canada Carey Price Vancouver, British Columbia G 2007–present MTL Biracial Dakelh-Canadian
United States T. J. Oshie Mount Vernon, Washington RW 2008–present STL, WSH Biracial Ojibwe-American
CanadaMichael FerlandSwan River, ManitobaLW2014–2020CAR, CAL, VANCree descent[47]
Canada Brandon Montour Ohsweken, Ontario D 2016–present ANA, BUF, FLO Mohawk descent
Canada Henry Maracle Ayr, Ontario LW 1930-31 New York Rangers Mohawk descent [48]
Canada Ethan Bear Regina, Saskatchewan D 2018–present EDM, CAR, VAN Cree descent [49]
Canada Zach Whitecloud Brandon, Manitoba D 2018–present VGK Dakota-Canadian
United States Garrett Pilon Mineola, New York C 2021–present WSH Métis American
Canada Rich Pilon Saskatoon, Saskatchewan D 1989-2002 NYI, NYR, STL Métis descent
Canada Fred Sasakamoose Debden, Saskatchewan C 1954 CHI Cree
Canada Reggie Leach Riverton, Manitoba RW 1971-1983 BOS, CGS, PHI, DET Ojibwe
Canada Jamie Leach Winnipeg, Manitoba RW 1990-1994 PIT, HAR, FLO Ojibwe descent
Canada Stan Jonathan Ohsweken, Ontario LW 1976-1983 BOS, PIT Tuscarora
Canada Jonathan Cheechoo Moose Factory, Ontario RW 2003-2010 SJS, OTT Cree
Canada Dwight King Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan LW 2011-2017 LAK, MTL Métis descent
Canada Connor Dewar The Pas, Manitoba C 2022-Present MIN Métis descent
Canada D.J. King Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan C 2007-2012 STL, WSH Métis descent
Canada Calen Addison Brandon, Manitoba D 2021-Present MIN Métis descent
Canada Travis Hamonic St. Malo, Manitoba D 2011-Present NYI, CGY, VAN, OTT Métis descent
Canada Brady Keeper Cross Lake, Manitoba D 2019-Present FLO Cree
Canada Michael McNiven Winnipeg, Manitoba G 2022 MTL Métis descent
Canada Jim Neilson Big River, Saskatchewan D 1963-1979 NYR, CGS, CLE Cree
Canada Ted Hodgson Hobbema, Alberta RW 1967 BOS Cree
Canada Harry York Ponoka, Alberta C 1997-2000 STL, NYR, PIT, VAN Cree
Canada Scott Daniels Prince Albert, Saskatchewan LW 1993-1999 HFD, PHI, NJD Cree
Canada Dale McCourt Falconbridge, Ontario C 1978-1984 DET, BUF, TOR Cree

Latino descent
Nat. Name Birthplace Pos Seasons Teams Played Ethnicity Ref
United StatesScott GomezAnchorage, AlaskaC1999–2016NJ, NYR, MTLColombian Mexican American[50]
United StatesBill GuerinWorcester, MassachusettsRW1991–2010NJD, EDM, BOS, DAL, STL SJ, NYI, PIT Nicaraguan American[51]
United StatesAuston MatthewsSan Ramon, CaliforniaC2016–presentTORHalf Mexican American[52]
United StatesAl MontoyaChicago, IllinoisG2006–2018NYI, MTL, FLA, WINCuban American[53]
United StatesMatt NietoLong Beach, CaliforniaLW2013–presentCOL, SJMexican American[54]
United StatesMax PaciorettyNew Canaan, ConnecticutLW2008–presentMTL, VGK, CARHalf Mexican American[55]
CanadaBryce SalvadorBrandon, ManitobaD2001–2015STL, NJDHalf Afro-Brazilian Half Ukrainian
CanadaRaffi TorresToronto, OntarioLW2001–2016EDM, SJ, PHOHalf Mexican Canadian Half Peruvian (of Italian, Greek, and Serbian ancestry)[56]

Middle Eastern descent
Nat. Name Birthplace Pos Seasons Teams Played Ethnicity Ref
United StatesJustin AbdelkaderMuskegon, MichiganLW2008–2021DETJordanian-American[57]
CanadaRamzi AbidMontreal, QuébecLW2000–2014PHO, PIT, ATLLebanese-Canadian[58]
Canada/TurkeyNick CicekWinnipeg, ManitobaD2022–presentSJSTurkish-Canadian
CanadaJohn HannaSydney, Nova ScotiaD1958–1968NYR, MTLLebanese-Canadian[59]
CanadaEd HatoumBeirut, LebanonRW1968–1971DET, VANLebanese[60]
CanadaNazem KadriLondon, OntarioC2010–presentTOR, COL, CGYLebanese-Canadian[61]
CanadaAlain NasreddineMontreal, QuébecD1995–2010NYI, MTL, PITBiracial Lebanese-Canadian[62]
United StatesBrandon SaadPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaLW2011–presentCHI, CBJ, COL, STLSyrian American[63]
SwedenMika ZibanejadHuddinge, SwedenC2010–presentOTT, NYRBiracial Iranian-Finnish[64]

See also

References
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