Race and ethnicity in the NHL

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]

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

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
	Victor Bartley	Ottawa, ON	D	1998–2015	NSH, MTL	Bi-racial, Taiwanese	[17]
	Robin Bawa	Duncan, BC	RW	1987–1999	WSH, VAN, SJS, ANA	Punjabi	[18]
	Chris Beckford-Tseu	Toronto, ON	G	2007–2008	STL	Jamaican-Chinese[19]	[20]
	Jacob Bryson	London, ON	D	2021–present	BUF	Bi-racial, Korean
	Matt Dumba	Regina, SK	D	2013–present	MIN	Romanian-German-Filipino
/	Spencer Foo	Edmonton, AB	RW	2017–2018	CGY	Chinese
	Yutaka Fukufuji	Kushiro, Japan	G	2006–2007	LAK	Japanese
	Taro Hirose	Calgary, AB	LW	2018–present	DET	Japanese
	Josh Ho-Sang	Toronto, ON	RW	2018–present	NYI	Jamaican-Jewish-Chinese	[21]
	Peter Ing	Toronto, ON	G	1989–1994	TOR, EDM, DET	Bi-racial, Chinese	[22]
	Paul Kariya	North Vancouver, BC	LW	1994–2010	ANA, COL, NSH, STL	Japanese-Scottish	[23]
	Steve Kariya	North Vancouver, BC	RW	1999–2000	VAN	Japanese-Scottish
	Jujhar Khaira	Surrey, BC	LW	2014–present	EDM, CHI	Punjabi	[24]
	Larry Kwong	Vernon, BC	C	1947–1948	NYR	Chinese	[25]
	Manny Malhotra	Mississauga, ON	C	1998–2016	NYR, DAL, CBJ, SJS, VAN, CAR, MTL	Punjabi-French	[26]
	Andreas Martinsen	Bærum, Norway	LW	2015–present	COL, MTL, CHI	Ugandan Indian-Norwegian	[27]
	Jon Matsumoto	Ottawa, ON	C	2010–2012	CAR, FLA	Japanese-German
	Jim Paek	Seoul, South Korea	D	1987–2003	PIT, LAK, OTT	Korean	[28]
	Richard Park	Seoul, South Korea	RW	1996–2010	PIT, NYI, MIN, VAN	Korean	[29]
	Jason Robertson	Arcadia, CA	LW	2019–present	DAL	Scottish-Filipino	[30]
	Nicholas Robertson	Arcadia, CA	LW	2020–present	TOR	Scottish-Filipino
	Bobby Robins	Peshtigo, WI	RW	2014–2015	BOS	Bi-racial, Filipino
	Raymond Sawada	Richmond, BC	RW	2008–2011	DAL	Japanese-Italian
	Devin Setoguchi	Taber, AB	RW	2007–2018	SJS, MIN, WPG, CGY, LAK	Bi-racial, Japanese	[31]
	Kiefer Sherwood	Columbus, OH	RW	2018–present	ANA, COL	Bi-racial, Japanese
	Kole Sherwood	New Albany, OH	RW	2018–present	CBJ, NSH	Bi-racial, Japanese
	Devin Shore	Ajax, ON	C	2015–present	DAL, ANA, CBJ, EDM	Bi-racial, Filipino
	Jonas Siegenthaler	Zürich, Switzerland	D	2018–present	WSH, NJD	Swiss-Thai
	Dylan Sikura	Aurora, ON	C	2018–present	CHI, VGK, COL	Slovak-Japanese	[32]
	Jordan Spence	Sydney, Australia	D	2021–present	LAK	Bi-racial, Japanese
	Tim Stapleton	La Grange, IL	C	2008–2012	TOR, ATL, WIN	Irish-Filipino	[33]
	Jamie Storr	Brampton, ON	G	1994–2004	LAK, CAR	Bi-racial, Japanese
	Nick Suzuki	London, ON	C	2020–present	MTL	Japanese-Scottish	[34]
	David Tanabe	White Bear Lake, MN	D	1999–2008	BOS, CAR	Japanese	[35]
	Mike Wong	Minneapolis, MN	C	1975–1976	DET	Chinese-Native
	Kailer Yamamoto	Spokane, WA	RW	2017–present	EDM	Bi-racial, his father is half-Japanese and his mother is half-Hawaiian	[36]
/	Brandon Yip	Vancouver, BC	RW	2009–2014	COL, NSH, PHX	Bi-racial, Three quarter-Chinese and one quarter-Irish	[37]

Franchise career

These are the top-ten point, goal, and assist scorers in any franchise history. 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; * = Active player; Bold = Currently Playing

Points Player GP G A Pts P/G Team Paul Kariya (LW) 606 300 369 669 1.10 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Matt Dumba* (D) 462 68 127 195 .42 Minnesota Wild Paul Kariya (LW) 164 55 106 161 .98 Nashville Predators Devin Setoguchi (RW) 267 84 75 159 .60 San Jose Sharks Manny Malhotra (C) 344 53 92 145 .42 Columbus Blue Jackets Paul Kariya (LW) 168 36 87 123 .73 St. Louis Blues Richard Park (RW) 316 45 75 120 .38 New York Islanders Devin Shore* (C) 209 29 53 82 .54 Dallas Stars Nick Suzuki* (C) 127 28 54 82 .65 Montreal Canadiens David Tanabe (D) 329 21 61 82 .25 Carolina Hurricanes

Goals Player G G/G Team Paul Kariya (LW) 300 .50 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Devin Setoguchi (RW) 84 .31 San Jose Sharks Matt Dumba* (D) 68 .15 Minnesota Wild Paul Kariya (LW) 55 .34 Nashville Predators Manny Malhotra (C) 53 .15 Columbus Blue Jackets Richard Park (RW) 45 .14 New York Islanders Richard Park (RW) 37 .17 Minnesota Wild Paul Kariya (LW) 36 .21 St. Louis Blues Devin Setoguchi (RW) 32 .27 Minnesota Wild Devin Shore* (C) 29 .14 Dallas Stars

Assists Player A A/G Team Paul Kariya (LW) 369 .61 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Matt Dumba* (D) 127 .27 Minnesota Wild Paul Kariya (LW) 106 .65 Nashville Predators Manny Malhotra (C) 92 .27 Columbus Blue Jackets Paul Kariya (LW) 87 .52 St. Louis Blues Devin Setoguchi (RW) 75 .28 San Jose Sharks Richard Park (RW) 75 .24 New York Islanders David Tanabe (D) 61 .19 Carolina Hurricanes Nick Suzuki* (C) 54 .43 Montreal Canadiens Devin Shore* (C) 53 .25 Dallas Stars

NHL career

These are the top-ten point, goal, and assist scorers in NHL history. 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; * = Active player

Points Player Pos GP G A Pts P/G Paul Kariya LW 989 402 587 989 1.00 Manny Malhotra C 991 116 179 295 .30 Devin Setoguchi RW 516 131 130 261 .51 Richard Park RW 738 102 139 241 .33 Matt Dumba* D 462 68 127 195 .42 Devin Shore* C 326 44 71 115 .35 David Tanabe D 449 30 84 114 .25 Nick Suzuki* C 127 28 54 82 .65 Jujhar Khaira* LW 258 24 39 63 .24 Brandon Yip RW 174 29 27 56 .32

Goals Player Pos G G/G Paul Kariya LW 402 .41 Devin Setoguchi RW 131 .25 Manny Malhotra C 116 .12 Richard Park RW 102 .14 Matt Dumba* D 68 .15 Devin Shore* C 44 .13 David Tanabe D 30 .07 Brandon Yip RW 29 .17 Nick Suzuki* C 28 .22 Jujhar Khaira* LW 24 .09

Assists Player Pos A A/G Paul Kariya LW 587 .59 Manny Malhotra C 179 .18 Richard Park RW 139 .19 Devin Setoguchi RW 130 .25 Matt Dumba* D 127 .27 David Tanabe D 84 .19 Devin Shore* C 71 .22 Nick Suzuki* C 54 .43 Jujhar Khaira* LW 39 .15 Kailer Yamamoto* RW 32 .30

First Nation/Native American descent

Nat.	Name	Birthplace	Pos	Seasons	Teams Played	Ethnicity	Ref
	Garrett Pilon	Mineola, New York	C	2021–present	WSH	Métis
	Zach Whitecloud	Brandon, Manitoba	D	2018–present	VGK	Dakota-Canadian
	Ethan Bear	Regina, Saskatchewan	D	2017–present	EDM	Cree descent	[38]
	Brandon Montour	Ohsweken, Ontario	D	2016–present	ANA, FLO	Mohawk descent
	Arron Asham	Portage la Prairie, Manitoba	RW	1998–2014	MTL, NYI, NJD, PHI, PIT, NYR	Métis Canadian	[39]
	T.J. Oshie	Mount Vernon, Washington	RW	2008–present	STL, WSH	bi-racial Ojibwe-American
	Carey Price	Vancouver, British Columbia	G	2007–present	MTL	bi-racial Dakelh-Canadian
	Jordin Tootoo	Churchill, Manitoba	RW	2003–2017	NSH, NJD, DET, CHI	Inuit	[40]
	René Bourque	Lac La Biche, Alberta	LW	2005–2017	MTL, CAL, CLB, CHI	metis	[41]
	Michael Ferland	Swan River, Manitoba	LW	2014–2020	CAR, CAL, VAN	cree descent	[42]
	Gino Odjick	Maniwaki, Québec	LW	1990–2002	MTL, NYI, VAN, PHI	bi-racial Algonquian-Canadian	[43]
	Blair Atcheynum	Estevan, Saskatchewan	RW	1992–2001	OTT, NSH, STL, CHI	Cree descent	[39]
	George Armstrong	Skead, Ontario	RW	1949–1971	TOR	bi-racial Ojibwe-Canadian	[39]
	Ted Nolan	Garden River, Ontario	LW	1981–1986	DET, PIT	Ojibwe-Canadian	[44]
	Theoren Fleury	Oxbow, Saskatchewan	RW	1988–2003	CAL, NYR	Métis Canadian	[45]
	Everett Sanipass	Elsipogtog First Nation, New Brunswick	LW	1986–1991	CHI, QUE	Mi'kmaq	[46]
	Craig Berube	Calahoo, Alberta	LW	1986–2003	PHI, TOR, CGY, WSH, NYI	bi-racial Cree-Canadian	[47]
	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
	Scott Gomez	Anchorage, Alaska	C	1999–2016	NJ, NYR, MTL	Mexican American	[49]
	Bill Guerin	Worcester, Massachusetts	RW	1991–2010	NJD, EDM, BOS, DAL, STL SJ, NYI, PIT	Nicaraguan American	[50]
	Auston Matthews	San Ramon, California	C	2016–present	TOR	Half Mexican American	[51]
	Al Montoya	Chicago, Illinois	G	2006–present	NYI, MTL, FLA, WIN	Cuban American	[52]
	Matt Nieto	Long Beach, California	LW	2013–present	COL, SJ	Mexican American	[53]
	Max Pacioretty	New Canaan, Connecticut	LW	2008–present	LV, MTL	Half Mexican American	[54]
	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
	Justin Abdelkader	Muskegon, Michigan	LW	2008–present	DET	Jordanian Americans	[56]
	Ramzi Abid	Montréal, Québec	LW	2000–2014	PHO, PIT, ATL	Lebanese-Canadian	[57]
	Nazem Kadri	London, Ontario	C	2010–present	TOR, COL	Lebanese-Canadian	[58]
	John Hanna	Sydney, Nova Scotia	D	1958–1968	NYR, MTL	Lebanese-Canadian	[59]
	Alain Nasreddine	Montréal, Québec	D	1995–2010	NYI, MTL, PIT	bi-racial Lebanese-Canadian	[60]
	Brandon Saad	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	LW	2011–present	CHI	Syrian American	[61]
	Mika Zibanejad	Huddinge, Sweden	C	2010–present	NYR	bi-racial Iranian Finnish	[62]

• Baseball color line
• Black players in ice hockey
  • List of black NHL players
• Black players in professional American football
• History of African Americans in the Canadian Football League
• Race and ethnicity in the NBA