Who Are The Black Players In The NHL?

In recent years, the NHL has been criticized for its lack of diversity. While the league does have a few black players, they are far outnumbered by their white counterparts.

Who are the black players in the NHL? And what can be done to increase diversity in the league?

The NHL’s Beginnings

The National Hockey League was established in 1917, and since then has been home to many talented players. However, the league has only seen a handful of black players throughout its history. Let’s take a look at some of the most notable black players in the NHL.

The first black player in the NHL

The National Hockey League (NHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America, currently comprising 31 teams: 24 in the United States and seven in Canada. The league was founded in 1917 as the successor to the National Hockey Association (NHA), founded in 1909. More than 60% of NHL players are of European descent; however, Africans and African Americans have been playing professional ice hockey since the late 19th century.

In 1884, Moses Fleetwood Walker became the first African American to play professional baseball for the Toledo Blue Stockings of the American Association. His younger brother, Weldy Wilberforce Walker, also played professional baseball briefly in 1887. In 1906, Herb Carnegie became one of the first black players in organized ice hockey when he played for FPHL’s New Haven West Haven Shamrocks. He went on to play for several more teams in both Canada and the United States before retiring from playing professionally in 1948.

Willie O’Ree is widely recognized as the first black player in the NHL; he made his debut with the Boston Bruins on January 18, 1958. O’Ree played 45 games with the Bruins over parts of two seasons before being traded to the Montreal Canadiens. He never played another game in the NHL but he continued his career in various minor leagues until he retired from playing professionally in 1979.

As of 2019, there are approximately 30 black players in the NHL. While this number is still relatively small compared to other leagues, it is important to note that the NHL has been slowly but steadily increasing its black player population over the past few decades.

The NHL Today

The NHL today is made up of players from all across the world, but there is a significant number of black players in the league. In fact, black players make up about 20% of the league. Some of the most popular and talented black players in the NHL today include P.K. Subban, Wayne Simmonds, and Dustin Byfuglien.

The current black players in the NHL

The current black players in the NHL are as follows:
Dustin Byfuglien, Winnipeg Jets
Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg Jets
Anthony Duclair, Columbus Blue Jackets
Nazem Kadri, Colorado Avalanche
Evan Rodrigues, Toronto Maple Leafs
Chris Tierney, Ottawa Senators
Joel Edmundson, Montreal Canadiens
Sebastien Aho, Carolina Hurricanes
Josh Bailey, New York Islanders

Of the current black players in the NHL, Dustin Byfuglien and Blake Wheeler are by far the most accomplished. Byfuglien is a Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks and has also represented the United States at the Olympics. Wheeler is a two-time All-Star and has represented Canada at the World Championships. Both players are currently among the NHL’s leading scorers.

The Future of the NHL

The National Hockey League is a predominantly white league. In a sport that is becoming increasingly international, the NHL lags behind its competitors in terms of diversity. This is not only an issue for the league, but for the sport of hockey as a whole. The lack of black players in the NHL is a symptom of a much larger problem.

The next generation of black players in the NHL

Although there has been an increase in black players in the NHL in recent years, they still make up a very small percentage of the league. The next generation of black players will be critical in determine how successful the NHL will be in attracting and retaining black players.

There are a number of talented young black players who have already made an impact in the NHL. Hockey is a sport that requires a great deal of skill and athleticism, and these young players have both. They are also exciting to watch and their games are often filled with highlight-reel goals and saves.

The next generation of black players in the NHL will be even more talented and exciting to watch. They will also help to break down some of the barriers that have prevented black players from succeeding at the highest level of hockey. With any luck, they will help to create a more diverse and inclusive league that is better for everyone involved.