The globalization of the National Hockey League has been occurring since its inception. The early years saw a largely Canadian league, with some Americans playing. As the league progressed it experienced an influx of European players, at first from Western European countries such as Sweden. After the fall of Communism, players from Eastern European countries, such as the former Czechoslovakia and Soviet Union, joined the league. The NHL eventually saw fewer European players, but more players from Canada and the United States. Today the NHL has players from five continents. The following is a list of countries and the first person born there that played in the National Hockey League. These players are not necessarily the first citizen of each respective country to play in the NHL, as nationality is determined under a nation's nationality law and may differ. Additionally, some countries have had citizens play in the NHL, but have never had a native-born player reach the league.
Most statistical sources in the sport follow the convention of the Hockey Hall of Fame in classifying players by the currently existing countries in which their birthplaces are located.
Current countries
editFormer countries
editNotes
edit- ^ Miszuk was born in the Byelorussian SSR of the former USSR, which became the country of Belarus in 1991.
- ^ Georgiev was born in Bulgaria, but represented Russia at the 2019 IIHF World Championship.
- ^ Adams was born in Brunei prior to its independence from the UK, while it was still a protectorate
- ^ Bezina was born in the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in the territory now known as Croatia.
- ^ Jirik was born in the former area of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia which was part of Nazi Germany. It occupied most of the territory now known as the Czech Republic.
- ^ Komarov was born in the Estonian SSR of the former USSR, which became the country of Estonia in 1991. However, he represents Finland.
- ^ Pudas was born in the former area of the Grand Duchy of Finland which was part of the Russian Empire. It occupied the territory now known as Finland.
- ^ Tkaczuk was born in the Bizone, the combination of the American and British occupation zones of Germany following the defeat of the Nazi regime in World War II.
- ^ Riley was born in Ireland while it was a constituent country of the United Kingdom.
- ^ Shafranov was born in the Kazakh SSR of the former USSR, which became the country of Kazakhstan in 1991.
- ^ Cotch was born in the Russian Empire, in territory now known as Latvia.
- ^ Kasparaitis was born in the Lithuanian SSR of the former USSR, which became the country of Lithuania in 1990.
- ^ Jerwa was born in the former country of the Russian Empire, in territory that is now known as Poland.
- ^ Schriner was born in the former country of the Russian Empire, in territory that is now Russia.
- ^ Smrke was born in the [[Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes]], in territory that is now known as Serbia.
- ^ Mikita was born in the Slovak Republic (1939-1945), a puppet state of Nazi Germany which occupied most of the territory now known as Slovakia.
- ^ Kopitar was born in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in territory that is now Slovenia.
- ^ Hoffinger was born in the Russian Empire, in territory now known as Ukraine
- ^ Not to be confused with the modern day Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
- ^ Not to be confused with modern day Russia.
- ^ Not to be confused with modern day Slovakia.
- ^ Not to be confused with either the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
- ^ Not to be confused with either the Kingdom of Yugoslavia or the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
References
edit- ^ NHL goes mad for 'Thunder from Down Under' Nathan Walker after Aussie scores first goal for St Louis Blues
- ^ The 2011 Invitees: Part One in a Two-Part Epic
- ^ Reinhard Divis
- ^ Andre Deveaux
- ^ Andre Deveaux
- ^ a b John Miszuk
- ^ SIHR – Global Hockey Facts: Belgium Archived 2011-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Jan Benda
- ^ https://www.newsday.com/amp/news/region-state/niemi-canadiens-defeat-rangers-3-1-to-snap-6-game-skid-1.16918700
- ^ Mike Greenlay
- ^ Craig Adams
- ^ Rosters of First NHL game
- ^ Goran Bezina
- ^ "First Czech NHL player dies in plane crash". Archived from the original on 2012-07-19. Retrieved 2011-07-17.
- ^ Jaroslav Jirik
- ^ Poul Popiel
- ^ "Johnston on Leafs: Holzer making most of chance". Archived from the original on 2016-03-10. Retrieved 2013-02-17.
- ^ Leo Komarov
- ^ Albert Pudas
- ^ Albert Pudas
- ^ Andre Peloffy
- ^ LA Kings News Clips 12–23–10
- ^ Walt Tkaczuk
- ^ Earthquake hits home for Vilgrain
- ^ Claude Vilgrain
- ^ Richie Regehr
- ^ "Jack Riley Stats".
- ^ Nelson DeBenedet
- ^ Harris, Cecil (2005). Breaking the Ice: The Black Experience in Professional Hockey. Toronto: Insomniac Press. p. 153. ISBN 1894663802.
- ^ Graeme Townshend
- ^ Yutaka Fukufuji
- ^ Yutaka Fukufuji
- ^ Konstantin Shafranov
- ^ a b Charlie Cotch
- ^ Ed Hatoum
- ^ Ed Hatoum
- ^ Darius Kasparaitis
- ^ Ed Kea
- ^ Rumun Ndur
- ^ Rumun Ndur
- ^ Bill Johansen
- ^ Willi Plett
- ^ Joe Jerwa
- ^ Rod Langway
- ^ Rod Langway
- ^ Podnieks, Andrew (2003). Players: The ultimate A–Z guide of everyone who has ever played in the NHL. Toronto: Doubleday Canada. p. 770. ISBN 0-385-25999-9.
- ^ Sweeney Schriner
- ^ Stan Smrke
- ^ a b Stan Smrke
- ^ a b Stan Mikita
- ^ Malkin not lock as NHL's no. 1 rookie
- ^ Anze Kopitar
- ^ Olaf Kolzig
- ^ Can I Play, Too?; Korean Athletes In U.S. Sports; Jim Paek, the First Korean to Hoist the Stanley Cup Archived 2012-03-19 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Jim Paek
- ^ Swedish Ice Hockey Year By Year Archived 2012-03-19 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Gus Forslund
- ^ Mark Hardy
- ^ Chris Nielsen
- ^ Joe Hall
- ^ Joe Hall
- ^ George Geran
- ^ Vic Hoffinger
- ^ Rick Chartraw
- ^ Rick Chartraw
- ^ https://thehockeynews.com/news/arthur-kaliyevs-unusual-road-to-hollywood
- ^ Anton Stastny
- ^ Peter Stastny
- ^ Udo Kiessling
- ^ Udo Kiessling
- ^ Alex Faulkner
- ^ NHL Great Stan Mikita Has Oral Cancer[permanent dead link]
- ^ Willie Huber
- ^ Stan Smrke
- ^ Ivan Boldirev
- ^ Ivan Boldirev