First National Hockey League Player by Country 2025
Country↑ | Name | Debut Season | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Australia | Nathan Walker | 2017–18 |
 | Austria | Reinhard Divis | 2001–02 |
 | Bahamas | Andre Deveaux | 2008–09 |
 | Belarus | John Miszuk | 1963–64 |
 | Belgium | Jan Benda | 1997–98 |
 | Brazil | Mike Greenlay | 1989–90 |
 | Brunei | Craig Adams | 2000–01 |
 | Bulgaria | Alexandar Georgiev | 2017–18 |
 | Canada | Multiple: all but one participant of the first NHL game were Canadian born | 1917–18 |
 | Croatia | Goran Bezina | 2003–04 |
 | Czech Republic | Jaroslav Jirik | 1969–70 |
 | Denmark | Poul Popiel | 1965–66 |
 | Estonia | Leo Komarov | 2012–13 |
 | Finland | Albert Pudas | 1926–27 |
 | France | Andre Peloffy | 1974–75 |
 | Germany | Walt Tkaczuk | 1967–68 |
 | Haiti | Claude Vilgrain | 1987–88 |
 | Indonesia | Richie Regehr | 2005–06 |
 | Ireland | Jack Riley | 1932–33 |
 | Italy | Nelson DeBenedet | 1973–74 |
 | Jamaica | Graeme Townshend | 1989–90 |
 | Japan | Yutaka Fukufuji | 2006–07 |
 | Kazakhstan | Konstantin Shafranov | 1996–97 |
 | Latvia | Charlie Cotch | 1924–25 |
 | Lebanon | Ed Hatoum | 1968–69 |
 | Lithuania | Darius Kasparaitis | 1992–93 |
 | Netherlands | Ed Kea | 1973–74 |
 | Nigeria | Rumun Ndur | 1996–97 |
 | Norway | Bill Johansen | 1949–50 |
 | Paraguay | Willi Plett | 1975–76 |
 | Poland | Joe Jerwa | 1930–31 |
 | Russia | Sweeney Schriner | 1934–35 |
 | Serbia | Stan Smrke | 1956–57 |
 | Slovakia | Stan Mikita | 1958–59 |
 | Slovenia | Anze Kopitar | 2006–07 |
 | South Africa | Olaf Kolzig | 1989–90 |
 | South Korea | Jim Paek | 1990–91 |
 | Sweden | Gus Forslund | 1932–33 |
 | Switzerland | Mark Hardy | 1979–80 |
 | Taiwan | Rod Langway | 1978–79 |
 | Tanzania | Chris Nielsen | 2000–01 |
 | Ukraine | Vic Hoffinger | 1927–28 |
 | United Kingdom | Joe Hall | 1917–18 |
 | United States | George Geran | 1917–18 |
 | Uzbekistan | Arthur Kaliyev | 2020–21 |
 | Venezuela | Rick Chartraw | 1974–75 |
- This list displayed the first player born in each country to play in the National Hockey League (NHL), whose teams are based in the United States and Canada.
- Players who were the first citizens of a given country to play in the NHL but who were not born in that country are not listed.
- Players born in a country that no longer exists will be listed with whatever country their birthplace is now located in.
The National Hockey League, also known as the NHL, is an organization of hockey teams. Teams on the NHL are based in Canada and the United States. The NHL was formed in 1917, and at that time was made up of four Canadian teams. The first US team to enter the NHL was the Boston Bruins, which was added in 1924. The NHL’s championship trophy is the Stanley Cup. The Stanley Cup represents world supremacy in ice hockey.
First National Hockey League Player by Country
The National Hockey League has had players from 46 different countries. The list below displays the first player born in each country to play in the National Hockey League, starting from the league’s beginnings in 1917. The only country not represented in this list includes Canada, because all but one participant in the first NHL game were born in Canada.
What Percentage of NHL Players Are Not American?
Over 75% of players for the National Hockey League (NHL) are non-American. Canadian players are represented the most in the NHL.
How Many Teams Compete in the NHL Today?
League membership started at 4 teams in 1917, rose to 10, and then dropped to six in 1942. These six teams remained the only six teams through 1967. Today, the NHL consists of 32 teams.
