I have always been passionate about sports. I mean, I’ve been to more than one baseball game in my life, and I’ve seen more than my share of basketball and football games. But when it comes to hockey, I’ve only ever watched the NHL on TV. Still, I knew there had to be more to it than that. Maybe it’s the equipment, the way the players move around, or the history of the sport. Whatever it is, I wanted to know more. So, I did some research. Here’s what I found out.
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Hockey Is Global
First things first, let’s discuss the size of the hockey world. According to the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), there are currently more than 400 million registered ice hockey players worldwide. That’s more than a third of the planet’s population. The IIHF also reports that there are currently around 16 million players per season, with that number increasing by around 2 million per year.
The growth in popularity of hockey around the globe is also visible in the Olympics. There are currently around 100 nations that play hockey. That’s more than half of the total number of competitors. In 2020, 14 countries will be vying for the Gold Medal. With only five weeks left in the season, it’s already the most watched sport in the Olympics. Hockey is a truly global sport.
Why Aren’t There More Black Hockey Players?
If you’re looking for an answer to this question, you’ve come to the right place. In 2019, there were only 13 African-Americans who played in the NHL. That’s less than 1%. This is in comparison to the number of African-Americans playing in the NFL (11%) or NBA (3%). This means that if you’re an aspiring hockey player, you’d have to work your way up from the Junior hockey league level.
The situation doesn’t look much better in Europe. According to a report by the IIHF, out of the 30 NHL teams, there were only five with a completely white roster. The other 25 teams were either all-white or had a majority of white players. In all, there were only 83 professional hockey players of color in the entire NHL in 2019. Out of those 83 players, only eight played in more than 50% of the games. This means that, at least for now, minorities and people of color aren’t really represented in the NHL.
Is It Racial Discrimination?
You may be wondering if this is all a product of racism. After all, there aren’t that many black hockey players, and most of them are in the NHL. Isn’t it possible that the lack of African-Americans in professional hockey is because they’re not welcome?
Perhaps. It’s certainly a factor. It’s also possible that some hockey organizations just don’t perceive the sport to be a lucrative one. Or, perhaps hockey is just not a viable career choice for African-Americans. Regardless, this is a problem that needs to be fixed.
The Equipment
There are a variety of reasons why there aren’t more black NHL players. One reason is the equipment. Sure, you might see some African-American youths playing in the street, using anything from a basketball to a softball as a puck, but that’s about it. Most kids won’t play with actual pucks or figure skates. Instead, they’ll use tennis balls or whatever is around. Still, even if they had the equipment, it’s pretty much a non-issue.
This point was made clear in a tweet by Evander Kane, who plays for the Winnipeg Jets in the NHL. He said: “There’s no question that some people were born with the talent to play sports, while others have to work hard to achieve the same level of performance. When it comes to hockey, it tends to be the equipment that holds people back. The equipment is not designed for people of color, and it shows.”
Kane is right. There isn’t any specific equipment designed for people of color. However, this doesn’t mean that it’s racism that prevents people of color from playing hockey. It’s certainly a factor, but it’s more about talent and opportunity than anything else. Still, if you’re a talented young black hockey player, getting the equipment you need shouldn’t be a problem. Just look at Stephen Curry. The NBA star plays with the same amount of equipment as the average white player. It’s not like he doesn’t have enough basketballs or jerseys.
The Size Of The Roster
Another potential reason for the lack of African-Americans in the NHL is the size of the roster. If you look at the five major sports leagues (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, and PGA), you’ll see that there are more African-Americans playing in the NFL and NBA than in any other league. This is mainly because there are more open roster spots in those leagues. Typically, hockey teams don’t have that many open spots. As a result, there aren’t that many opportunities for African-Americans. Of the 13 African-Americans in the NHL, seven still had to wait their turn behind established players. This is one of the reasons why there aren’t more African-Americans in the NHL. It’s not just racism, although it certainly plays a role. The equipment and the size of the roster are also potential reasons why there aren’t more black NHL players.
Who Plays In The Street?
One of the reasons why some kids don’t play hockey is because it’s considered a sport for older people. If you look at the five major sports leagues, you’ll see that the average age of the players is in the 30s. This means that kids don’t really play hockey in the street. Instead, they’ll play at community centers or on outdoor rinks. Still, this doesn’t mean that racism isn’t a factor. It’s more about opportunity than anything else. Without those community centers and outdoor rinks, there would be no game for African-Americans to play in. This is one of the reasons why there aren’t more black NHL players. It’s certainly not because of equipment or the size of the roster. It’s all about opportunity.
Minorities In The Sporting World
Finally, let’s not forget about the larger sporting world. In 2019, there were only 2,600 professional athletes representing 100 countries around the world. Of those 2,600 athletes, only 33 were African-Americans. That’s only 1% of the entire world’s population. This means that if you’re an athlete, there’s a good chance you’ll play for a country that doesn’t have its equivalent of the NFL, NBA, or NHL. Sometimes, your team will be all-white, but that’s about it. In terms of opportunity, without having a team to play for, it’s unlikely that you’ll end up in the NHL. It doesn’t matter whether you’re black, brown, or white. You don’t have many opportunities when you don’t have a team.
It’s also important to point out that, in most cases, the players don’t see themselves as role models. This was made clear in an interview with Curt Richardson, the Assistant Director of the Black Affairs Office at the United States Olympic Sports Incorporated (USOSI). He said: “The players and everybody associated with the team don’t see themselves as role models. It’s a job. It’s a sport. We’re just trying to be the best hockey players we can be. I think that, for the most part, the players are happy to have the opportunity to play in the NHL, and they just want to do a good job.”
With only 1% of the world’s population playing professional sports, it’s clear that there aren’t many opportunities for professional athletes of any nationality. If you’re a talented young athlete, getting a sports scholarship to a school with a good team seems the best option. Otherwise, if you don’t have the talent to play professionally, signing up with a team in a minor league should be enough to satisfy your need for sports. In some cases, this can even lead to pro opportunities. Just ask Kekuni Blaize, the first Ghanaian-American to play in the NHL.