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How many black players have ever played in the NHL?

Author

Emily Ross

Published Jan 06, 2026

According to an article by USA Today, 97% of the NHL is white, while the other 3% is made of different ethnicities. Of the 3% of the remaining ethnicities, twenty-six are black.

Who was the first black player in the NHL?

Willie O'Ree, the NHL's first Black player, to receive Congressional Gold Medal. Willie O'Ree, the NHL's first Black player, is having quite the year. On Monday, less than a month after the Bruins retired his No. 22 jersey at TD Garden, President Joe Biden signed the Willie O'Ree Congressional Gold Medal act.

Has Toronto Maple Leafs ever had a black player?

In their 105-year-old history, the Toronto Maple Leafs have had a total of 977 players suit up to don the blue and white. Only eight of these 977 players are black, equaling a total of 0.82% of the team's entire history of players.

Who was the 2nd black player in the NHL?

And A Chatham Maroon. When you hear about the history of Black hockey players in the NHL, most know about Willie O'Ree, who broke the NHL's colour barrier in 1958 when he appeared for the Boston Bruins.

What NHL teams have black players?

The Buffalo Sabres, Edmonton Oilers, and New York Rangers have had 12 black players don their jerseys.

19 related questions found

How many black players have won the Stanley Cup?

Five of them belong to black players: goaltenders Grant Fuhr and Eldon “Pokey” Reddick from the Edmonton Oilers' five championships in the 1980s and 90s; goalie Ray Emery and defensemen Johnny Oduya and Dustin Byfuglien from the Chicago Blackhawks' Cup-winning teams in 2013 and 2015.

Who is the best black NHL player?

Grant Fuhr

Grant Fuhr has been described as the best black hockey player. He has always been described by Wayne Gretzky as the greatest goaltender ever. He was the first black player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. He serves as a role model to young hockey players of any color.

Who was the first black NFL player?

The winds were changing in 1946. The country was recovering from World War II and sports were rapidly growing. Out in Los Angeles, California, running back Kenny Washington was making a name for himself at UCLA. Then, he became the first black player in the NFL.

How many black NFL players are there?

Not every one of these nonwhite coaches were black, but nearly all were. This is nearly a perfect quota achievement, by the flawed logic of “disparate impact” and quotas. But wow—about 70% of NFL players are black.

Who was the first black player for the Buffalo Sabres?

On the 40th anniversary of his NHL debut, Val James was honored by the Buffalo Sabres with his own threads. James became the first Black American to play in the NHL when he made his debut on Nov. 1, 1981.

What is Val James known for?

In 1982, Val became the first American-born black player in the N.H.L., a milestone he said passed without acknowledgment from the league or his team, the Buffalo Sabres. Willie O'Ree, a Canadian, broke the N.H.L.

Who is the biggest player in the NHL?

Robin Lehner (30.43)

In all fairness, Lehner is not a fat goalie like the netminder from the commercial but he is the largest in the NHL in terms of BMI.

How many years did Willie O'Ree play in the NHL?

On 18 January 1958, Willie O'Ree became the first Black hockey player to play in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played professional hockey for more than 20 years, including 45 games with the Boston Bruins. Since 1998, O'Ree has been the NHL's Director of Youth Development and ambassador for NHL Diversity.

What races make up African American?

On average, African Americans are of West/Central African with some European descent; some also have Native American and other ancestry. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, African immigrants generally do not self-identify as African American.

What NFL team is the whitest?

The Whitest Team in the NFL Isn't What You Would Expect (Or Maybe It Is) The Philadelphia Eagles — and by a huge margin. The team's roster consists of 25 white dudes.

When did the NFL allow Black players?

In 1920, Fritz Pollard became the first African-American to play in the NFL during its formative years. However, in the years after Fritz's departure, the NFL owners imposed a “gentleman's agreement” preventing the signing of more black players. The four men below are credited with re-integrating the NFL in 1946.

Who was the second black person to get a PhD?

It was not until 1918, the year Bouchet died, and 42 years after he received his PhD, that Elmer Imes became the second African American to receive a PhD in physics. Further reading: Ronald E. Mickens, ed., Edward Bouchet, The First African-American Doctorate, World Scientific Publishing Company (2002).

Who was the first black person to graduate from Harvard?

Harvard University Archives. Richard Theodore Greener (1844-1922), professor, lawyer, and diplomat, was the first Black graduate of Harvard College, receiving his AB from the College in 1870.

Who was the first black medical student at Harvard?

50 Years of Diversity and Inclusion at HMS and HSDM

1968-1969 marks an enormous shift in the School's commitment to diversity and inclusion, a tradition that began when two black students, Edwin C.J.T. Howard and Thomas Dorsey, graduated from HMS in 1869.

How many black players are in the NHL Hall of Fame?

On Tuesday, O'Ree became only the third black player chosen for the Hockey Hall of Fame, joining 2003 inductee Grant Fuhr and 2010 inductee Angela James. While Fuhr was inducted as a player, O'Ree's inclusion is based on the work he's done after his 45 games (two in 1958 and 43 during the 1960-61 season) in the league.

Who is an African American hockey player?

Willie O'Ree, the first Black player in the NHL, to be honored by the Bruins and is expected to be honored by Congress. The NHL became the last major professional sports league to add Black players to its ranks when Willie O'Ree, then a 22-year-old forward, skated for the Boston Bruins in the late 1950s.

How many periods are there in hockey?

The time allowed for a game shall be three (3) twenty-minute periods of actual play with a rest intermission between periods.