It is the only Tier II junior league sanctioned by USA Hockey, and acts as an alternative for those who would not or did not make the roster of a team in the Major Junior Canadian Hockey League (CHL) nor Tier I United States Hockey League (USHL). Douglas brings up a story about the impact of Gomez with a current coach of the Mexican National Team: We had a chance to meet him when I was playing goal for a pee wee team from Mexico; we were playing a tournament in Anaheim and the Devils were playing the Ducks, said Andres de la Garma, now a coach in Mexicos national hockey program. If you are wondering about NHL players and leaders with Hispanic and Latinx Heritage, you can start by recognizing that Toronto Maple Leafs superstar and elite goal scorer Auston Matthews grew up . 20072009: New York Islanders The Florida State University center was the second overall pick in the 2013 NHL draft. Sure, youre going to get the occasional off-color joke, but long as you give it back youre fine. Confident and committed, Alex Meruelo introduced as Coyotes' new owner. 201920 season: The NAHL approved of two expansion teams: the Maine Nordiques in Lewiston, Maine, and the New Mexico Ice Wolves in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The remaining nine are split evenly between defensemen and goaltenders. Before the sport actively expands across borders, the NHL and its member clubs should make efforts to get the Hispanic-American population in their neighborhood and marketplaces actively involved as hockey fans. Guerin is the first player of Hispanic descent to play in the NHL. This article is about the junior league in the United States. 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 highest-ranked player in the 247Sports state rankings is Lake Wales wide receiver/defensive back Carlos Mitchell at No. The NHL Shield, word mark and image of the Stanley Cup and NHL Conference logos are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. The NHL is unique because it is extremely diverse. 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. Vasilevskiy was on the ice for every minute of the Lightnings run to the Cup. Six countries, Canada, the United States, Sweden, Finland, the Czech Republic, and Russia, have the most players on each of the NHLs 32 teams. As the 2019 Ted Lindsay Award winner, he has demonstrated a consistent level of performance. #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. 200809 season: The Southern Minnesota Express moved to Detroit and became the Motor City Machine. The Mexicans have won a total of 169 medals at the World Junior Championships, including 54 gold medals. With a metro population of almost 22 million, Mexico City is an obvious candidate. 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. Some of the most notable names include Johnny Boychuk, Michael Frolik, and Jiri Hudler. 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. As of the 2019-2020 NHL season, there are 31 black players in the league. The three Latino stars of the 2023 NFL Draft. This number is likely to have increased or decreased in the intervening years. These are the top-ten players of Asian descent by career points, goals, and assists. 17-23. Stream exclusive ESPN+ games and play Fantasy Hockey. Nikita Kucherov, who was born in Russia, scored a record-breaking 29 points in the season. At 24-years-old, this Mexican-American is part of a youth movement that is rebuilding a franchise that hasnt won the Stanley Cup Trophy since 2001, and has only been to the playoffs twice since 2008. Artemi Panarin signed a seven-year, $81.5 million contract with the New York Rangers in 2019. Percentage of Active NHL Players by . Two-time Stanley Cup winner with the New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins. Texarkana Bandits moved to Chesterfield, Missouri, and became the St. Louis Bandits. Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews, who grew up in Arizona and whose mother is a native of Hermosillo, Mexico, is . 2009present: Pittsburgh Penguins. NHL Totals by Nationality - Active Players Career Regular Season Stats The Russian Hockey Teams Fate For The 2018 Olympics Is Still Up In The Air, How To Make The Perfect Shot In Field Hockey, Boston Bruins Win Close Game Against Columbus Blue Jackets 3-2. 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 . Gomez scored 756 points (181 goals, 575. A Mexican hockey player will also face a slew of cultural challenges when he enters the NHL. This season will include 103 exclusive regular-season games across ESPN, ESPN+, Hulu and ABC. Malhotra was born in Canada to Indian parents, but he is of Hispanic descent. The Toronto Maple Leaf, with 20 Canadians, leads the league, while the Winnipeg Jets, with 15 Americans, are in second place. One of those teams, the Arizona Coyotes (who relocated from Winnipeg, Canada, in 1996), made history in 2019 when Alex Meruelo, a Cuban American executive, became the first person of Latino descent to become majority owner of an NHL franchise. The Topeka RoadRunners were sold and rebranded as the Topeka Pilots.[20]. Enter Search Term. [27] The Mahoning Valley Phantoms and the USNTDP left the league for the USHL. Players without local family live with billet families in their area and pay a monthly stipend that covers food and other costs. While the number of black players in the NHL has been increasing in recent years, there is still room for growth. The Chicago Hitmen joined the North Division and played at West Meadows Ice Arena in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. You can rent skates at the Iceplex and expect some lively music to match the occasion. The Coyotes serve as the perfect case study for this, as they have both the need for fans and a huge potential market in Arizonas Hispanic population. From Steve Carell's Bruins fandom to Justin Bieber and the Leafs to Lil' Jon and the Golden Knights, here's a group of celebs in each team's corner. The Generals organization also has a Tier III team in the North American 3 Hockey League (previously in the North American 3 Eastern Hockey League prior to the 2016 league merger). List of NHL players born in Buffalo, New York. 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. Wenatchee, Washington, was awarded an expansion franchise for the 200809 season as the Wenatchee Wild. His high-flying offense has earned him a spot among the leagues top 20 goal-scorers. A large-scale arena dedicated to hockey does not currently exist in Mexico. Hispanic players make up a sizable percentage of the hockey worlds players. "That was fantastic," Montoya said. January 1, 2023. 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. [30] The Motor City franchise's new ownership changed the team's nickname from Machine to Metal Jackets.[31]. I think its a sport thats primed to become a part of the Latino community in the U.S., and its important for the NHL to do it.. The Supreme Court's 2018 ruling in Murphy vs. NCAA ushered in a new era of legalized sports betting in the U.S., allowing states to establish their own sports wagering laws and operations. Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season. 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. Dicky Haiek and his entire family have helped Argentinian hockey grow, from inline clinics to success at the LATAM Cup. KIDS THRILLED TO RECEIVE ON-ICE INSTRUCTION AT HOCKEYVILLE CLINICS. Im very proud of the board weve assembled and look forward to working with these great business leaders to develop authentic strategies for reaching out to the Latino community. Where do McDavid, Matthews, Hughes and Oettinger rank? He played in the NHL for over 15 years, and he is currently a television analyst for the NHL Network. [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 are 269 hockey players, with 26 of them being goaltenders. At the Winter Olympics, World Championships, and Pan American Games, Mexican athletes have won a total of 33 medals. The Boston Bruins set the NHL's single-season record for wins. "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.". Pastrnak was named the Honda NHL All-Star Games Most Valuable Player for the 2020 season after leading the league in goals (50), assists (50), and points (102). Latinos support Latinos.". The men in stripes are once again in focus this postseason. Chris Chelios Chelios is the all-time leader in games played by an American, having played in 825 games. Calder Trophy winner in 2017. Marner embraced the comparison, even wearing his number 93 while playing for London. With 81 career points under his belt, Nieto is one of the more experienced players on this young Avalanche roster. Cloud Blizzard rebranded as the St. Gomez became the first Latino player to win the Calder Memorial Trophy (the NHL's Rookie of the Year award), and went on to play for 17 years, for a variety of teams, including the Devils,. Despite not being seen as a stereotypical sport for Latinos, hockeys popularity in Latin America and with Spanish-speakers has grown in recent years. For the fifth year in a row, a greater percentage of players chosen at the NHL draft come from non-traditional hockey markets. 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. COLOR OF HOCKEY: COLUMBIA'S MEN, PUERTO RICO'S WOMEN PREVAIL AT LATAM CUP. [8] In 2011, the NHL was composed of 93% of players who identified as white, with the remaining 7% identifying as varying ethnicities. As the first American-born player to reach 60 goals in a season in the NHL, he accomplished the feat. The Maple Leaf set numerous records during his tenure, including 54 victories and 115 points. Since then, hockey has progressed greatly. Ice hockey is popular both in the United States and in European countries such as Russia, Sweden, and Finland. [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. At the game, which attracted nearly 50,000 people, Montoya spread the gospel of hockey in the parking lot outside the stadium. = Hall of Famers Bold = Currently playing in NHL Italics = Stanley Cup champions With the 2017-2018 NHL season already underway, here are four Latino players who symbolize how the game has grown in the region, while also highlighting how far it has to go. Some of the most notable black players in the NHL today include Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie, Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl, and Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien. This includes both skaters and goaltenders. The Puerto Rico Mens National Team is participating in an international ice hockey tournament for the first time. After three seasons, he competed for Switzerland in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The Alaska Avalanche relocate to Palmer, Alaska, but keep the same name. He had 51 goals and 60 assists in 2009-10 and 2011-2012, respectively, to lead the League in goals. MONTOYA HELPING STARS CONNECT WITH HISPANIC COMMUNITY. [13] The number of black NHL players was to 26 by the end of the 20th century and sat at 32 in 2016.[9]. On February 9, 2019, the Pittsburgh Penguin franchise broke its record for most games played (916). Songs arrival brings huge promise, as the NHL is trying to increase its foothold in not only China, but the entire Asian market. Several players have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup; some even competed in the Winter Olympics. To compete in the NHL, you must be at least 18 years old. With his 1,000th point, he became the youngest player in NHL history (and the 90th player overall) to accomplish the feat. Puerto Ricans have never played in the NHL. Significant hurdles remain toward that end, including the logistics of hosting. As of the 2019-2020 season, there are a total of 23 Mexican players in the NHL. First Cuban American in NHL takes proactive approach to grow game in Dallas. Its not much, but its definitely a sign of the games growth. No matter how much of a Red Scare the Soviets put up, it was still Canadas game. Despite having the most Canadians, the Toronto Maple Leaf have 11 players, while the Vancouver Canuck have only one. Its a sign of his durability, which will be needed in the uber-competitive Western Conference. Todays Latino players owe a debt of gratitude to former NHL forward Scott Gomez, who paved the way when he became the NHLs first Latino player back in 1998; he was drafted 27th overall by the New Jersey Devils that year, and made his debut during the 1999-2000 season. As the recently appointed director of community outreach for the Stars, he is working to create the change he wants to see. The NHL and teams across the league have made big pushes to tap a massive potential fan base and develop Latino players in the United States and Mexico. Latino hockey players have had a difficult time making it to the NHL. You think of Arizona, I absolutely have to go after the Latino community because they are the consumer base and they are continuing to grow, and they are the labor force and the business ownership, Gutierrez said. When I took a look at how the NHL can expand into the Chinese market, one of the factors working at their disadvantage was the lack of a recognizable superstar. Minnesota Blizzard became the Alexandria Blizzard. Not only that, but theyll be doing it in more ways than one. Internationally, Guerin represented the United States in the Olympics in 1998, 2002 and 2006, and participated in two Ice Hockey World Championships. In the northern city of Monterrey, Major League Baseball set up shop with six games that same year. In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Dario Rodriguez was able to virtually meet Isles Alumni Al Montoya! He hails from Cologne, Germany. The Coyotes also have Spanish-language social media accounts to engage Latino fans. Pastrnak was named the most valuable player (MVP) of the 2020 Honda NHL All-Star Game. In 2007, he became the first player in modern history to score 65 goals in a calendar year. 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. Bruins sweep their way into Central Division Finals. While the tournament no longer exists, teams that won metals in competition, such as the Brazilian National Team, have since continued growth in their ice hockey programs. The tournament played the entirety of its existence in Mexico in Mexico City. Four-time Stanley Cup champion joins the Wild after eight seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees purchased the Wenatchee Wild franchise. He helped the U.S. to a Gold medal at the 2004 World Junior Championships. Draisaitl was selected third overall by the Edmonton Oil Kings in the 2014 NHL draft. There are currently no Puerto Rican players in the NHL. Hes like an inspiration in all Mexican hockey, for sure.. Its about what you can do on the ice.. Many of the leagues top black players have come from Canada. The NHL might have Song waiting in the wings to be their Chinese superstar, but the NHL has had their fair share of recognizable superstars of Latino descent. Mexico now has a national hockey teamand a professional hockey league, and its womens team has been improving dramatically in recent years. 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. This 10-year veteran is of American, French-Canadian, and Mexican descent. "This is a sport that's about passion . "My background, with my mom being Mexican, I'm really proud of where I come from and my heritage," Matthews said. 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. In the 2010-11 season, he amassed nine victories for the New York Islanders, who had a subpar season. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. Players in this team are eager to make the most of their opportunity to represent their country. [5] Other notable alumni from the NAHL include Pat LaFontaine, Mike Modano, Doug Weight, Pat Peake, Brian Rolston, Brian Holzinger, Brian Rafalski, Todd Marchant, John Scott, Connor Hellebuyck, and George Parros. November 23, 2022 by Adam. If no results appear, use Enter to do a full site search. 20082010: Columbus Blue Jackets after having a team in the Tier III Junior A Western States Hockey League. We explore the next moves each team should make this summer and forecast their 2023-24 outlook. Winner of this past years Amerigol Cup, Jamaica, has already put together a long shot Olympic hockey bid. His boss, Alex Meruelo, became the first Latino majority owner when he bought the Coyotes in 2019. "It would be great to bring hockey to Mexico in some way.". The peewee Jr. Kings won a national championship in their division and 15 players have been invited to the teams training camp in El Segundo, California, in August. Thats not to say that Latino players have never made an impact on the NHL before the current wave. In the Amerigo Latam Cup, Puerto Ricos Mens National Team finished second in their division. The Minnesota Wilderness joined the league from the Superior International Junior Hockey League by purchasing dormant St. Louis Bandits franchise. The Eagles originally sought membership with the NAHL for the 201213 season and returned to the NOJHL for the season 201516 season. The Corpus Christi IceRays were awarded a franchise formerly known as the Alpena IceDiggers. However, according to a 2016 report, there were approximately 60 Mexican hockey players in the NHL. 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. "That's something we need to look into," Gutierrez said. Perez talked about how much it meant watching a Latino hockey player like Gomez play for his hometown New Jersey Devils and helping him feel like a player that he could connect with paved the way. That didn't mean a title. by 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. Links in this section are to external sites. 3 Rhett Rakhshani Right Wing. Mexican athletes have also won 553 medals at the national level in this category. How similar are the two? With at least 100 points, he became the 11th United States-born player in NHL history, trailing only Patrick Kane. Markets with high Latino populations such as Phoenix, Dallas-Fort Worth and Miami have reaped the benefits. Xavier Gutierrez, the first Latino team President and CEO in NHL history, joins Hockey Culture with Anson Carter to discuss latinos in hockey. Pacioretty has also spent his entire career in a Habs uniform, playing in 565 games, scoring 210 goals, and handing out 202 assists. Anthony Sanchez from Southwest Detroit joined us for our Street Hockey in the D at Home program. The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees were relocated to Aston, Pennsylvania and became the Aston Rebels. He was the highest-drafted Latino player, going fifth overall in the 2000 draft. Sure, those Soviets an ocean away were getting pretty good at the game, but the heart and sole of hockey was in the snow covered locales of North America. 4 Raffi Torres Left Wing. Its never about race. The Toronto Maple Leaf selected Auston Matthews first overall in the 2016 NHL Draft. [28][29] The Texas Tornado returned to the league after taking a year off while their home arena was undergoing renovations. 1 Scott Gomez Center. We had success in winning two Stanley Cups and being a very influential voice in the marketplace and we couldnt lose sight that there were opportunities for growth everywhere and we need to diversify our audience.. While there are not as many Hispanic players in the NHL as there are players from other ethnicities, the number of Hispanic players in the league is gradually increasing. The Latin America swing will run from February through May, and the top 60 players will have status for the North America swing. Bill Guerin notched 18 seasons in the NHL, playing on two Stanley Cup-winning teams in New Jersey and Pittsburgh. In line after the Boston Bruins, the Montreal Canadians have 12 players, followed by the Boston Bruins with 13. Gaudreau, a candidate for the Calder Memorial Award as the leagues top rookie, led all rookies in assists (40) and points (37). For starters, their new majority owner, Alex Meruelo, is the first majority Hispanic owner in the NHL. An ice rink, in Mexico -- that's somewhat foreign to their arenas," Daly said. [26], 200910 season: The Janesville Jets were awarded an expansion franchise. The top 60 finishers from the Latin America swing will move on to the North America swing, with additional spots being furnished via a mid-season qualifying tournament as well as players from PGA . The NHL has been working to increase diversity in the league, and black players have been a big part of that effort. Montoya is the first Hispanic player to ever be drafted in the first round of the NHL Draft. Dallas hit the jackpot in 2017, but still had work to do to develop Miro Heiskanen, Jake Oettinger and Jason Robertson into franchise cornerstones. In a league like this, its easy to get along with others. Playing with the Boston Bruins, he was also the first NHL player of African-descent. For instance, the NBA marketed a regular-season 2019 sellout in Mexico City between the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs around Suns shooting guard Devin Booker, whose mother is Mexican American.