Why aren't their enough black player's in the NHL?

Question

The last i checked it was only less than 20?

Answer 1

Partly because it is the most global sport so they draw the best talent from around the world and the black population at large are not from the colder climate regions. Most professional hockey players are from Canada, Russia, Switzerland, Finland, Minnesota (see a trend here?).
Another factor has to do with the cost of the game as compared to other sports. First of all the equipment is expensive then factor in the cost of ice time plus the fact that most major cities lack ice arena's and i think that is one reason. If there were a way to make ice more accessible and if equipment cost wasnt a factor I would bet that there are many gifted black atheletes that would excel at ice hockey.
Last of all without a history of great players there arent many role models to look up to like in the other major sports. Lets face it, how many of us want to be like our local sports heroes when we are growing up. I think as society changes so will the percentage of blacks in hockey (and that would be a good thing).

Answer 2

The places where hockey is most popular (to play and watch) usually have a pretty high Caucasian population percentage compared to the US as a whole or much Canada.

Hockey also costs a lot of money to play for the equipment and costs of injuries and (if you don't live in cold enough areas) requires some expensive facilities like ice rinks. African-Americans have a lower median household income than Caucasians in North America as do most minority racial groups.

And "enough" is a somewhat subjective term. To be sure, the percentage of blacks in the NHL is less than the population as a whole but these lows numbers are probably more indicative of other underlying problems in society than just the NHL.

Answer 3

Traditionally the majority of hockey players have come from countries with colder climates, particularly Canada. Canada has a limited number of citizens who are Negroes. As a result only a small number of ***** athletes grew up loving and playing hockey. As a result there is a small percentage of "Black" players in the NHL at this time.

However as the popularity of hockey increases in countries with warmer climates, the US in particular, because of the development of rinks with artificial ice plants you will see more players playing hockey and developing the necessary skills to play in the NHL. Since the United States has a much larger percentage of ***** citizens you will see a corresponding increase of "Black" players in the NHL as you will also see an increase in the percentage of American players in the NHL.

If you look at the number of young hockey players who are playing in states like California it won't be long before Canadian hockey supremacy is a thing of the past. The US is slowly taking over in the development of future stars and a good percentage of them will be African Americans.

Answer 4

I believe there are no barriers here in Canada, for any race to learn and love the game. I think it is simply demographics that result in the numbers. I f Hockey is to grow in popularity, We will probably see more countries and races join the ranks..It wasn't long ago when Europeans weren't in the NHL, but that has changed too. I hope some day to see Hockey as a global sport, although the Canadian Supremecy I love to brag about is receiving lots of competition the list of countries with Professional programs is definately growing..

Answer 5

What is the sport of the world? Soccer. You only need a ball and a field. Same with basketball, there are courts all over the world, they're easy to make. Not many people in the world have access to ice arenas and the money to buy equipment and ice time. It's not so much that blacks can't play, they just have the opportunity to play other sports first.

Answer 6

The others are good, but there are two things I think that were misssed:

1) What is enough? And why do we even care what color their skin is, as long as they can play the game? Hockey usually breaks their ranks down by nationality, unlike other sports, and that's how far it should go.

2) Hockey is not a major School sport, unlike football and basketball. Hockey is usually done outside of school and is not introduced to many people until after. It is far easier to go to school and play football or basketball then it is to get into a hockey league.

Answer 7

Not being disrespectful but the reason not that may blacks play hockey is because the equipment cost too much money and in most black areas hockey is not taught to black children so they grow up liking football and basketball the more taught sports.

Answer 8

Well why aren't there asians is basketball? It's because black players aren't really built to play hockey. The normal black person is big and tall. These traits don't help that much in hockey because you have to be fast (unless your a goalie). If you can't skate fast you are useless on the ice.

Answer 9

Jamie is most accurate.
In Canada we play hockey from 2 years old and all year round. We are proud of our sport and most kids dream of playing hockey.
However, since Canada has a limited ***** population, fewer of them enter hockey.
Also, most ***** athletes are influenced into basketball and football, even in canada. I can just imagine what it is like in the states.

Answer 10

becuase they don't like skating???? really, how should i know?
besides, how would you define "not enough"? i mean, does the number of black player's have to be equal to the number of white players and equal to the number of inuit and asian players??? what's next? banning white player's from the NHL because there are more white player's then black? what does color matter, who cares about the color of you skin or the country you're from or the shape of your feet for all i care, as long as you can play hockey> it's about your skills and about how much you want to play hockey, no about how you look or anything like that!!!!