List of countries with their first NHL player explained

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

Country of birth Name Debut year
Nathan Walker[1] 2017–18
Reinhard Divis[2] 2001–02[3]
Andre Deveaux[4] 2008–09[5]
John Miszuk[6] 1963–64[7]
Jan Benda[8] 1997–98[9]
Alexandar Georgiev[10] 2017–18[11]
1989–90[12]
Craig Adams[13] 2000–01[14]
Multiple: all but one participant of the first NHL game were Canadian born 1917–18[15]
Goran Bezina[16] 2003–04[17]
Jaroslav Jirik[18] [19] 1969–70[20]
1965–66[21]
Leo Komarov[22] [23] 2012–13[24]
Albert Pudas[25] [26] 1926–27[27]
1974–75[28]
Walt Tkaczuk[29] [30] [31]
Claude Vilgrain[32] 1987–88[33]
2005–06[34]
Jack Riley[35] 1932–33[36]
1973–74[37]
Graeme Townshend[38] 1989–90[39]
Yutaka Fukufuji[40] 2006–07[41]
Konstantin Shafranov[42] 1996–97[43]
Charlie Cotch[44] 1924–25[45]
Ed Hatoum[46] 1968–69[47]
Darius Kasparaitis[48] 1992–93[49]
1973–74[50]
Rumun Ndur[51] 1996–97[52]
1949–50[53]
1975–76[54]
Joe Jerwa[55] 1930–31[56]
Rod Langway[57] 1978–79[58]
Sweeney Schriner[59] [60] 1934–35[61]
Stan Smrke[62] [63] 1956–57[64]
Stan Mikita[65] 1958–59[66]
Anze Kopitar[67] [68] 2006–07[69]
1989–90[70]
Jim Paek[71] 1990–91[72]
Gus Forslund[73] 1932–33[74]
1979–80[75]
2000–01[76]
Joe Hall[77] 1917–18[78]
1917–18[79]
Vic Hoffinger[80] 1927–28[81]
Rick Chartraw[82] 1974–75[83]
Arthur Kaliyev[84] 2020–21

Former countries

Country Name Debut Year
1980–81[85] [86]
Udo Kiessling[87] 1981–82[88]
[89] 1961–62[90]
[91] 1924–25
[92] Stan Mikita[93] 1958–59
1963–64
1978–79[94]
[95] Stan Smrke[96] 1956–57
[97] Ivan Boldirev[98] [99]

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://wwos.nine.com.au/news/nathan-walker-scores-nhl-goal-for-st-louis-blues/2d881463-c9be-4d58-9a86-c9b429f5473f NHL goes mad for 'Thunder from Down Under' Nathan Walker after Aussie scores first goal for St Louis Blues
  2. http://vansunsportsblogs.com/2011/07/04/the-2011-invitees-part-one-in-a-two-part-epic/ The 2011 Invitees: Part One in a Two-Part Epic
  3. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=41826 Reinhard Divis
  4. http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=20721 Andre Deveaux
  5. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=55196 Andre Deveaux
  6. Miszuk was born in the Byelorussian SSR of the former USSR, which became the country of Belarus in 1991.
  7. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=3748 John Miszuk
  8. http://www.sihrhockey.org/public_intl_hockey.cfm?letter=b&c=belg SIHR – Global Hockey Facts: Belgium
  9. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=315 Jan Benda
  10. Georgiev was born in Bulgaria, but represented Russia at the 2019 IIHF World Championship.
  11. https://www.newsday.com/amp/news/region-state/niemi-canadiens-defeat-rangers-3-1-to-snap-6-game-skid-1.16918700
  12. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=2025 Mike Greenlay
  13. Adams was born in Brunei prior to its independence from the UK, while it was still a protectorate
  14. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=25067 Craig Adams
  15. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yApkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=v3oNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4195%2C5753042 Rosters of First NHL game
  16. Bezina was born in the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in the territory now known as Croatia.
  17. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=45138 Goran Bezina
  18. 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.
  19. Web site: First Czech NHL player dies in plane crash . 2011-07-17 . https://archive.today/20120719151637/http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/07/11/first-czech-nhl-player-dies-in-plane-crash/ . 2012-07-19 . dead .
  20. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=10802 Jaroslav Jirik
  21. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=4346 Poul Popiel
  22. Web site: Johnston on Leafs: Holzer making most of chance . 2013-02-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160310002729/http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2013/02/08/toronto_maple_leafs_korbinian_holzer_making_most_of_chance/ . 2016-03-10 . dead .
  23. Komarov was born in the Estonian SSR of the former USSR, which became the country of Estonia in 1991. However, he represents Finland.
  24. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=90107 Leo Komarov
  25. http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=14056 Albert Pudas
  26. 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.
  27. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=22312 Albert Pudas
  28. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=6674 Andre Peloffy
  29. http://kings.nhl.com/v2/ext/news/kingsclips/12-23-10.pdf LA Kings News Clips 12–23–10
  30. 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.
  31. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=5415 Walt Tkaczuk
  32. http://devils.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=517987 Earthquake hits home for Vilgrain
  33. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=5578 Claude Vilgrain
  34. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=46410 Richie Regehr
  35. Riley was born in Ireland while it was a constituent country of the United Kingdom.
  36. Web site: Jack Riley Stats.
  37. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=6794 Nelson DeBenedet
  38. Book: Harris, Cecil . Breaking the Ice: The Black Experience in Professional Hockey . registration . Insomniac Press . 2005 . Toronto . 1894663802 . 153.
  39. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=6198 Graeme Townshend
  40. http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=21496 Yutaka Fukufuji
  41. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=70188 Yutaka Fukufuji
  42. Shafranov was born in the Kazakh SSR of the former USSR, which became the country of Kazakhstan in 1991.
  43. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=11084 Konstantin Shafranov
  44. Cotch was born in the Russian Empire, in territory now known as Latvia.
  45. http://www.greatesthockeylegends.com/2015/09/charlie-cotch.html Charlie Cotch
  46. http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=12877 Ed Hatoum
  47. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=8757 Ed Hatoum
  48. Kasparaitis was born in the Lithuanian SSR of the former USSR, which became the country of Lithuania in 1990.
  49. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=2652 Darius Kasparaitis
  50. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=2657 Ed Kea
  51. http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=15082 Rumun Ndur
  52. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=14095 Rumun Ndur
  53. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=12375 Bill Johansen
  54. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=4320 Willi Plett
  55. Jerwa was born in the former country of the Russian Empire, in territory that is now known as Poland.
  56. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=17104 Joe Jerwa
  57. http://ourhistory.canadiens.com/player/Rod-Langway Rod Langway
  58. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=2952 Rod Langway
  59. Schriner was born in the former country of the Russian Empire, in territory that is now Russia.
  60. Book: Podnieks, Andrew . Players: The ultimate A–Z guide of everyone who has ever played in the NHL . Doubleday Canada . 2003 . Toronto . 0-385-25999-9 . 770.
  61. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=4823 Sweeney Schriner
  62. http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8449089 Stan Smrke
  63. Smrke was born in the Kingdom of Serbs,Croats and Slovenes, in territory that is now known as Serbia.
  64. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=10051 Stan Smrke
  65. 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.
  66. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=3711 Stan Mikita
  67. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06306/734999-61.stm Malkin not lock as NHL's no. 1 rookie
  68. Kopitar was born in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, in territory that is now Slovenia.
  69. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=83457 Anze Kopitar
  70. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=2774 Olaf Kolzig
  71. http://www.keia.org/Publications/Exchange/03Exchange09.pdf Can I Play, Too?; Korean Athletes In U.S. Sports; Jim Paek, the First Korean to Hoist the Stanley Cup
  72. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=4108 Jim Paek
  73. http://www.keia.org/Publications/Exchange/03Exchange09.pdf Swedish Ice Hockey Year By Year
  74. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=20344 Gus Forslund
  75. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=2151 Mark Hardy
  76. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=28653 Chris Nielsen
  77. http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8446669 Joe Hall
  78. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=2097 Joe Hall
  79. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=24545 George Geran
  80. Hoffinger was born in the Russian Empire, in territory now known as Ukraine
  81. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=22862 Vic Hoffinger
  82. http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=12252 Rick Chartraw
  83. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=907 Rick Chartraw
  84. https://thehockeynews.com/news/arthur-kaliyevs-unusual-road-to-hollywood
  85. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=5154 Anton Stastny
  86. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=5156 Peter Stastny
  87. http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=13190 Udo Kiessling
  88. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=8731 Udo Kiessling
  89. Not to be confused with the modern day Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
  90. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=1625 Alex Faulkner
  91. Not to be confused with modern day Russia.
  92. Not to be confused with modern day Slovakia.
  93. http://www.wpxi.com/sports/28017462/detail.html NHL Great Stan Mikita Has Oral Cancer
  94. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=2394 Willie Huber
  95. Not to be confused with either the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
  96. http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=14385 Stan Smrke
  97. Not to be confused with either the Kingdom of Yugoslavia or the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
  98. http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=12033 Ivan Boldirev
  99. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=458 Ivan Boldirev

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