The Edmonton Oil Kings have the most Canadians on their roster with 20 players, while the Winnipeg Jets have the most Americans with 15 players. [42] The Kansas City Scouts were originally granted another season of dormancy,[43][44] but were instead sold and relocated to Amarillo as the Amarillo Wranglers to begin play for the 202122 season. Markets with high Latino populations such as Phoenix, Dallas-Fort Worth and Miami have reaped the benefits. [23] The Express were joined by another new Minnesota NAHL franchise, the Albert Lea Thunder. Should College Hockey Players Stay In School Or Turn Pro? From its beginning in 1975, the NAHL was primarily a 612-team league based in the Midwest, known as the Great Lakes Junior Hockey League and changed the name to the North American Hockey League in 1984. 20062007: St. Louis Blues The Dallas Stars hosted learn-to-play programs in Mexico City last season, and the Chicago Blackhawks launched Un Gol on the team website with translated stories and videos. Comparatively, there are 8.9% of the Black or African American ethnicity and 7.5% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. The team will play at the Rochester Ice Center in the metropolitan suburb of Fairport, New York. The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees were relocated to Aston, Pennsylvania and became the Aston Rebels. [7], The NHL began its expansion of player nationalities in the 1970s, when players hailed from the United States, Sweden, and Finland. Once in a while, a few NHL players will come from unexpected places that arent exactly known as hockey hotbeds. Arizona has held youth ball hockey clinics with organizations in areas with large Latino populations, bringing sticks and balls that kids can take home to continue their interest in the game. Only the onset of COVID-19 has curbed the country's momentum in attracting these leagues. "Obviously, we'd be traveling quite a ways and it'd be a lot for a preseason game, but I don't know, that was the first thing that came to mind when somebody brought this kind of topic up to me.". Who is the first Mexican NHL player? The Kings are also among a small group of NHL franchises that employ a Spanish-language radio broadcast team. Four-time NHL All-Star and three-time U.S. Olympic Team member. With a hot climate that isnt exactly prime hockey weather, its not surprising that the NHL hasnt become must-watch entertainment south of the border. Despite not having the history of sports like baseball, boxing, or soccer, the National Hockey League (NHL) hasseen an increase in Latino fans since 2013, while two of the leagues franchises offer Spanish-language radio broadcasts. In his NHL debut, Kaprizov became the first player to accomplish the feat when he scored three points, including an overtime goal. When youre in that locker room, youre one of the boys. Guerin is believed to be the first player of Hispanic-American descent to play in the NHL. 1 overall pick. Names in italics have won the Stanley Cup. 17-23. Its going to be a long time before the Winter Olympics includes matchups with teams such as Mexico, Colombia and Brazil, but that doesnt mean the groundwork hasnt already been laid. We have to stop relying on people wanting to choose hockey on their own. Job Title White, 72.8% Black or African American, 8.9% Hispanic or Latino, 7.5% Unknown, 6.8% 201213 season: The Alaska Avalanche relocated to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and became Johnstown Tomahawks. The highest-ranked player in the 247Sports state rankings is Lake Wales wide receiver/defensive back Carlos Mitchell at No. The number of Latino players has increased across the NHL, minor leagues and colleges in recent years, including Auston Matthews, Max Pacioretty, Al Montoya and Raffi Torres. In the world of soccer, there are so many nationalities represented that it can be difficult to figure out which team stands out among the rest. Percentage of Active NHL Players by . His 28 goals were the most by a NHL defensive player, and he won the Norris Memorial Award. All Rights Reserved. Only four of the 17 countries represented in the league have a single player this season. Pacioretty has also spent his entire career in a Habs uniform, playing in 565 games, scoring 210 goals, and handing out 202 assists. In receiving that award, he also became the first Maple Leafs player to win the trophy since Leafs legend Brit Selby won it, back in 1966. 20072009: New York Islanders NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. Meruelo subsequently hired Xavier Gutierrez, born in Guadalajara, Mexico, to be the Coyote's -- and the league's -- first Latino CEO. Anyone who has ever watched a soccer game in their life finds that excitement familiar. He broke Marian Gaboriks Wild rookie record for most goals in a season on 36 points. A large-scale arena dedicated to hockey does not currently exist in Mexico. Copyright 2020. 201516 season: On May 1, 2015, the NAHL announced that the dormant Dawson Creek Rage franchise was purchased by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights organization to be an expansion team for the 201516 season. Sign up for our newsletter and receive the coolest updates! Beside winning the Stanley Cup someday, Nieto hopes his presence in the NHL inspires young Hispanic players the same way Gomez's career inspired him. With it came a new approach to . More are on the way. Nikita Kucherov, who was born in Russia, scored a record-breaking 29 points in the season. We finally have the right person in place to connect with the Hispanic community and build a genuine relationship. Good to see our Latino Brother (mom is Mexican) Auston Matthews crushing it tonight, 4 goals in #NHL debut. Despite the successes of the Mexican national ice hockey team, there are still many obstacles to overcome. The Amerigol Cup carries on the tradition of the Pan American Ice Hockey Tournament. Hinostroza is one of a select number of NHL players with Latino heritage. While the sport is still growing in these countries, making it hard for them to compete against the nations that usually win metals at such tournaments, the Amerigol Cup gives them a chance to perform on an international stage. Latino hockey players have had a difficult time making it to the NHL. He was instrumental in the Tampa Bay Lightnings championship win, which came after a four-year drought. Playing with the Boston Bruins, he was also the first NHL player of African-descent. 201617 season: The league announced the continued expansion of the East Division by adding the Northeast Generals of Attleboro, Massachusetts. [26], 200910 season: The Janesville Jets were awarded an expansion franchise. Meet Kailer Yamamoto", "Rookie Yip looking to make impression, big club", "Hockey all-time great is proud of his Aboriginal heritage", "Sports of The Times; Hockey's Minority Players Moving Past Trailblazer Stage", "Proud of his First Nations roots, Blues' Berube could make Stanley Cup history", "Ex-Canucks 'Algonquin enforcer' Gino Odjick opens up about post-career, concussion-related struggles", "Number 22 is number one with Nunavummiut", "Former NHLers Tootoo, Bourque to help raise funds for scholarships", "Indigenous players, coach among those seeking 2020 Stanley Cup glory", "Sorry Fred, but Henry came first - A few facts regarding aboriginal hockey players", "First Nations celebrate as Indigenous player Ethan Bear makes NHL debut with Oilers", "Wild GM discusses Nicaraguan background for Hispanic Heritage Month", "Maple Leafs' first ever moms trip means something extra special for Auston and Ema Matthews", "San Jose Sharks rookie Matt Nieto helps his mom fight cancer", "For Canadiens' Max Pacioretty hockey becomes family affair", "From local leagues to the NHL, Cape Breton's hockey history full of Lebanese heritage", "Groundbreaking ex-Canucks player Ed Hatoum fondly remembers time with Seattle Totems", "A 'real hustler,' Alain Nasreddine earned his chance with the Devils", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Race_and_ethnicity_in_the_NHL&oldid=1149991998, This page was last edited on 15 April 2023, at 17:52. AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno contributed to this story. [citation needed] Chuck Robertson was the owner of the Paddock Pool Saints when they won a record seven straight NAHL championships from 1976 to 1983. While NBC covered the league at various points in its history, the network's last relationship with the NHL is the result of NBC Sports acquiring the league's broadcast . Spain is ranked 31st in the world in mens hockey and 26th in womens hockey, according to the International Ice Hockey Federation. Its about what you can do on the ice.. The Coloured Hockey League was an all-black ice hockey league established in 1895. The 26-year-old forward is a reliable member of the Mexican national ice hockey team and is a valuable member of the group. In a league like this, its easy to get along with others. We explore the current situation, and offer plans to fix it. He is the son of a Nicaraguan mother who took the family back to her country for yearly visits during Guerin's childhood. 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. ", "Blacks and Hockey Maintain a Tenuous Relationship", "Thrashers Top NHL With Highest Percentage of Black Players", "CBC targets Chinese hockey fans with Mandarin broadcasts of NHL playoffs", "All Things Considered: As First Black American NHL Player, Enforcer Was Defenseless Vs. Racism", "Q&A: Robin Bawa on the journey that made him the first South Asian NHLer", "Tiger on the prowl around the Aces' goal", "Feschuk: Toronto teenager 'the elite of the elite', "Paul Kariya's Hall of Fame call sparks pride in Asian community", "Oilers' Jujhar Khaira carries pride of South Asian community", "Larry Kwong, the NHL's first player of color, passes away at 94", "Meet Manny Malhotra the only desi player in the National Hockey League", "Martinsen nekter rpe hvilken NHL-klubb som vil ha ham", "Jim Paek helping Korea's Olympic hockey team 'get better every day", "Former Wild player Richard Park instrumental in getting South Korean hockey off the ground", "Stars prospect Jason Robertson hasn't forgotten his roots while forging his own NHL path", "Former San Jose Sharks Player Devin Setoguchi signs with HC Davos of Switzerland", "Draft Day: Dylan Sikura's Journey to becoming a Chicago Blackhawk", "Suzuki feels more confident with Golden Knights", "The next Johnny Gaudreau? To compete in the NHL, you must be at least 18 years old. Torres was born and raised in Toronto, Canada, and is probably the most prominent Latino hockey player in the National Hockey League. Texarkana Bandits moved to Chesterfield, Missouri, and became the St. Louis Bandits. This 10-year veteran is of American, French-Canadian, and Mexican descent. Gutierrez himself touted the possibility of bringing the NHL to Mexico sooner rather than later in a 2020 interview with ESPN. Cale Makar, the 2019 Calder Trophy winner as the leagues top rookie, was named the top prospect in the league. [13] The number of black NHL players was to 26 by the end of the 20th century and sat at 32 in 2016.[9]. The Los Angeles Kings created a model for their Jr. Kings program before playing exhibition games in Beijing in 2017 and have carried it into Mexico City. He has already lived up to every ounce of the hype, playing in all 82 regular season games of his rookie season, scoring 40 goals and dishing out 29 assists. We need to have a facility that can accommodate an NHL game. Any type of NHL game in Mexico would represent a massive stride in his league's effort to reach Latino fans in general. While lineup cards used to find players from Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg and Massachusetts, the NHL now welcomes players from Russia and across Europe. This includes both skaters and goaltenders. The Fresno Monsters were awarded an expansion franchise. In 2008, the Rangers traded Montoya to the Arizona Coyotes, and he went on to win three of five games. Nathan Walker of the Washington Capitals is a native of Australia, where ones more likely to grow up playing rugby and cricket instead of lacing up skates. The mid-September to mid-October initiative kicks off the team's season-long Hockey is for Everyone calendar advocating for diversity and inclusion in the sport of hockey at all levels. If theyre successful, they might fulfill the vision the NHL had for hockey in Arizona following the original Winnipeg Jets relocation in 1997. [45] Corpus Christi, Jamestown, and Springfield returned after a one-season pandemic-related hiaturs. Gomez ranks in the NHLs top-200 all-time with 1,079 games played, he ranks fourth on the Devils all-time list with 484 points in their uniform (he has 756 total career points), and, in addition to the Calder Trophy, he also won two Stanley Cups (2000, 2003), and was a two-time All-Star (2000, 2008). More recently, the Stars hired retired goalie Al Montoya, the first Cuban American player in the NHL, as their director of community outreach with the specific goal of engaging potential Latino . The NHL postseason has begun. Former Captain of the Montreal Canadiens, Alternate Captain for the Vegas Golden Knights, and member of the 2014 US Olympic Team. As the nation recognizes Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month and its Sept. 15 start date, the Kraken are joining in the celebration with fan events and exhibits. Fans are invited to stop by the Kraken Community Iceplex Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 to check out exhibits informing all of us about NHL figures from the Latinx and Hispanic community. "That's something we need to look into," Gutierrez said. This article is about the junior league in the United States. The Austin Bruins joined the Central Division and played at the Riverside Arena in Austin, Minnesota. The Pittsburgh captain captured the Stanley Cup for the third time in his career and the second time in a row. During the playoffs and Stanley Cup final, Gomez helped the Devils win the Stanley Cup by scoring ten points. The top teams of the NAHL playoffs meet in a predetermined location to play in the Robertson Cup Championship Tournament. The NHL is conducting research on venues and locations, Daly said. "I was saying a couple years ago, 'How cool would it be to just play an exhibition game in Mexico City?'" The Maple Leaf set numerous records during his tenure, including 54 victories and 115 points. Note: An asterisk (*) denotes a franchise relocation. [46], 2022-23 Season: The Minnesota Magicians were purchased and relocated to Eagle River, Wisconsin as the Wisconsin Windigo. Eleven of the NHLs 229 players are from the Dominican Republic, including the majority of those who play in the league. .skin { background-color: #da2662; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position: top center; background-attachment: fixed;}.row { background-color: #da2662;}.template__content { background-color: #da2662;}.template--one-column__content--one { background-color: #da2662;}.btn-primary { color: #ffffff; background-color: #8A1538 ; border-color: #8A1538 ;}.btn-primary:hover { color: #ffffff; background-color: #f7195c ; border-color: #f7195c ;}.btn-secondary { color: #ffffff; background-color: #FF6720 ; border-color: #FF6720 ;}.btn-secondary:hover { color: #ffffff; background-color: #FF854D ; border-color: #FF854D ;}.cms-image__image { margin-top: -5px;}.marketing-template .marketing-section-intro__title { color: #ffffff;}.marketing-template .marketing-section-intro__description { color: #8d193b;}.marketing-template .marketing-section-intro__subtitle {color: #ffffff;}.marketing-template .leading-dots {color: #000;}.marketing-template .cms-wysiwyg p {color: #000;max-width: 100%;}.marketing-template .cms-wysiwyg h2 { color: #ffffff;}.marketing-template .cms-wysiwyg h5 { color: #ffffff;}.marketing-template .cms-wysiwyg h3 { color: #ffffff;}.marketing-template .cms-wysiwyg h4 { color: #ffffff;}. Mexican players, in addition to representing an exciting opportunity for the NBA and NHL, should be given the necessary support. In addition to black and white players, other races and ethnicities represented in the NHL include players of Asian, Latino, and Middle Eastern descent. For the defunct professional league, see, Learn how and when to remove this template message, USA Hockey National Team Development Program, Superior International Junior Hockey League, "NAHL releases 2022-23 regular season schedule", "Contact Us - North American Hockey League - NAHL", "North American Hockey League [1984-2019] history and statistics at hockeydb.com", "NAHL releases 2021-22 regular season schedule", "NAHL team in Lewiston, Maine approved for the 2019-20 season", "NAHL team in Maryland approved for the 2018-19 season", "Anchorage Wolverines junior hockey team hires a coach and plans to move into Sullivan Arena", "NAHL team in El Paso, Texas approved for 2021-22 season", "NAHL team in New Mexico approved for the 2019-20 season", "NAHL team in Rochester, New York approved for the 2023-24 season", "NAHL team in Hooksett, NH approved for the 2023-24 season", "North American Hockey League [1984-2015] history and statistics", "NAHL announces relocation of Brookings Blizzard to St. A new East Division was formed composed of Aston, Johnstown, New Jersey, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Traverse City North Stars franchise purchased by the Soo Eagles and joined the league from Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League. In 2018, the largest racial category for players in MLB was Latino at 29.5%, but only 10% of the head coaches were Latino. A game in Mexico would most certainly need to involve some combination of Matthews and the Coyotes, Kings, Stars or any other franchise with a relatable bond to the Latino community. Ice Hockey Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Al Montoya, Max Pacioretty, and Alec Martinez are three of the few Latino players in the NHL, and they are the only ones left. Other Latin American countries such as Brazil, Chile, and Argentina are also putting teams together, according to the International Ice Hockey Federation. Marie, Michigan; 19952005), This page was last edited on 17 March 2023, at 01:27. The future looks bright for Dominican hockey players, and it will be exciting to see how they continue to progress in the years to come. The Puerto Rican Mens National Team is looking to qualify for the 2017 World Championships after performing well at the Amerigo Latam Cup. Dicky Haiek and his entire family have helped Argentinian hockey grow, from inline clinics to success at the LATAM Cup. [22] However, the Express' home city of Owatonna was granted another NAHL team for 200809, named the Owatonna Express. Mexico now has a national hockey teamand a professional hockey league, and its womens team has been improving dramatically in recent years. Ice hockey is the most popular sport in Canada, where it is the national winter sport. Back in the 1980s it seemed like hockey was a sport only played in Canada and a few scattered enclaves across the northeastern United States. The past two years, the Florida Panthers have hosted the Amerigol Cup at their practice facility. Join local fans and skaters of all skill levels Oct. 8 when the Kraken Community Iceplex host a Hispanic and Latinx Month public skate at 3:30 - 5:15 p.m. Mitch Marner had 97 points (35 goals, 62 assists) in 72 games for the Toronto Maple Leaf. Anthony Sanchez from Southwest Detroit took part in our Street Hockey in the D at home program over the Summer. The New Mexico Mustangs joined the South Division and played at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. The Wenatchee Wild organization left the NAHL and joined the Canadian Junior A British Columbia Hockey League. Gomez was one of the first Latinos to reach the NHL in 1999 Bill Guerin was the first and he played 16 seasons for seven teams, winning the Stanley Cup twice with New Jersey. [48], 2023-24 Season: NAHL approved a new team in the East Division to be located in Rochester, New York that will be known as the "Rochester Junior Americans" ("Jr. Amerks"), a nod to Rochester's American Hockey League (AHL) team, the Rochester Americans ("Amerks"), a minor league affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. There is still one area of the world that the NHL has only made a few attempts to draw interest in, but it might be one of their best options. How Many Mexican Hockey Players Are There? The Anaheim Ducks started providing materials in Spanish for their SCORE program, which uses hockey themes to teach school children educational themes, healthy living and character building. The NHL is a melting pot of cultures. 2009present: Pittsburgh Penguins. The number of Latino players has increased across the NHL, minor leagues and colleges in recent years, including Auston Matthews, Max Pacioretty, Al Montoya and Raffi Torres. #15 of 73 The Greatest New Jersey Devils of All Time #127 of 207 The Greatest San Jose Sharks Of All Time #95 of 99 The Best Hispanic Athletes 2 Al Montoya Goaltender. Bob Condor /. On January 18, 1958, Willie O'Ree became the first Black Canadian to play in the NHL. Two-time Stanley Cup winner with the New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins. Malhotra was born in Canada to Indian parents, but he is of Hispanic descent. Seeing NHL top prize 'incredible' experience for attendees at Latin American/Caribbean tournament. With 10 Americans, the Los Angeles Kings are tops among the NHLs clubs, followed by the New York Rangers (9) and the Chicago Blackhawks (8). Gaudreau, a candidate for the Calder Memorial Award as the leagues top rookie, led all rookies in assists (40) and points (37). This number has been steadily increasing since the late 1990s, when there were only a handful of black players in the league. A few have even made it to the National Hockey League (NHL). Sidney Crosby, captain of the Pittsburgh Penguin team, was named the 2019 NHL All-Star Games Most Valuable Player. He has not played in an NHL game this season, as he has not played in the minors. The NHLs first-ever Cuban-American player, and Paciorettys teammate, has one of the most important and most underrated jobs in the game: backup goalie. Watch: NAHL Weekend Recap, Apr. In line after the Boston Bruins, the Montreal Canadians have 12 players, followed by the Boston Bruins with 13. Its been a major initiative of the Gary Bettman era that the NHL expand its borders. Several other countries, including Switzerland, Germany, and Slovakia, have also risen to prominence. Raphael Diaz, a Swiss-born Montreal Habs defenseman, was born in Switzerland. Hockey is one of the fastest growing sports among Latinos in North America. The NHL launched a Spanish-language platform on its website in 2019, providing content from native Spanish-speaking reporters The league also began celebrating Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month to amplify the stories of people who have made contributions to the game. Several players have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup; some even competed in the Winter Olympics. The men in stripes are once again in focus this postseason. With the renewed support and gate receipts, they might finally be able to move forward on the new arena they always wish they had when Gila River Arena continuously threatens them with eviction. 45). One of the eight states on the list is Arizona, home of the Arizona Coyotes. The Latin America swing will run from February through May, and the top 60 players will have status for the North America swing. The Cup is the oldest junior hockey trophy in the United States and is named in honor of Chuck Robertson, a pioneer of junior hockey in the NAHL and youth hockey in the state of Michigan. How to watch [37][38][39][40] The Fairbanks Ice Dogs and Kenai River Brown Bears both temporarily relocated to Minnesota and closer to the other teams in their division until mid-April 2021 due to pandemic-related travel restrictions to Alaska. By kickoff for that Monday Night Football matchup, Davis was already well known among fans at Estadio Azteca. The Texas Tornado relocated back to North Richland Hills, Texas, and became Lone Star Brahmas. MLS is a leader in providing an inclusive . 3 Rhett Rakhshani Right Wing. The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees purchased the Wenatchee Wild franchise. There are NHL fans who think Scott Gomez, born in Alaska from Mexican and Columbian parents, was the first player of Hispanic heritage to play in the NHL. Its not much, but its definitely a sign of the games growth. [25] The Fargo-Moorhead Jets were approved for dormancy. The idea of full-fledged expansion beyond the United States and Canada remains far-fetched, but the NHL is seeking to follow in the footsteps of other North American leagues by expanding outside of its traditional fan base. The Mexicans have won a total of 169 medals at the World Junior Championships, including 54 gold medals. The NHL Shield, word mark and image of the Stanley Cup and NHL Conference logos are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. In February 1992, Bill Guerin became the first Hispanic player in the history of the NHL when he made his debut for the New Jersey Devils. Mexico is ranked 32nd in the IIHF mens rankings and 35th in the IIHF womens rankings. Who takes home the Cup? The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is in its 48th season of operation in 2022-23. After three seasons, he competed for Switzerland in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Gomez wasn't the first NHL's player of Hispanic heritage -- Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin, who's part Nicaraguan, debuted with the Devils in 1991-92 -- but he is perhaps the most. Other notable Hispanic hockey players include Mike Gartner, who was born in Mexico to an American father, and goalie Al Montoya, who is of Cuban descent.