How do you think about the answers? He was rewarded for his tremendous legacy in 2002 when he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Have all hockey arenas dropped Rock'n'Roll Part 2 from their PA systems, or can we separate the art from the man? https://thehockeywriters.com/10-greatest-american-players-ever But what about names like Radek Faksa (center for the Dallas Stars) or Alexander Ovechkin (left wing/captain of the Washington Capitals)? After Giles former Irish manager Eoin Hand benefited by having the likes of Seamus (Jim) McDonagh, Chris Hughton, Gary Waddock, and Michael Robinson available through the granny rule. Can you get anymore North American than that? Well, the NHL is based in North America, so it would be safe to assume that the players either come from Canada or the United States. He finished his career off in the Swiss League and left a legacy in the NHL that will not go unnoticed when looking back at his journey. His number still hasn’t been retired by the team and it remains to be seen if it’ll ever climb up the rafter. WCW's New Blood Faction: Where Are They Now? Zmolek Doug. 1983 Jordin Tootoo, Canadian hockey player; 1985 Melody Gardot, American jazz singer, born in New Jersey; 1987 Gerard Piqué, Spanish football player; 1987 Martin Spanjers, American actor; 1992 Rebop Rundgren, son of Michelle Gray & Todd; 1992 Danielle White, American singer; 1996 Paul Mescal, Irish actor (Normal People), born in Maynooth, Ireland All-time American NHL players scoring leaders | NHL statistics for all American players. We should even give some honorable mentions to some players that didn’t make the list. This caused the Quebec Nordiques to go all-in during the 1990 Draft and select the player first overall. Conlon might not be well known in North America just yet, but he’s already pretty popular across the pond. Ireland, Jim McFadden, 100 goals. Although the places of birth of players are generally places we’ve become accustomed to, there have been several instances of players joining the NHL who are from countries of the grid or away from the norm that the NHL is used to seeing. The gap between the two nations (20.4%) is the narrowest ever. Let us know take a look at some other lesser known countries to be represented in the NHL. He was the first and only Nigerian born player to ever play in the NHL. He played in the league from 1990 to 1994 with the Boston Bruins, New York Islanders and Ottawa Senators. He split time in both Indonesia and Saskatchewan during his adolescence and by age seven, he permanently stayed in the Western Canadian province and pursued a career as a professional hockey player. Although he grew up in British Columbia, Canada, Kolzig never applied for a Canadian citizenship. Bill Guerin, RW (1992-2010) Career NHL stats: 1,263 games, 429 goals, 427 assists. But it answered your question. NJ Devils Vs. Toronto Maple leafs? Judging by their names and styles of play, you’d figure they were born in Quebec, but no sir! The defenseman would also enjoy a short stint with the Penguins in the mid 70s. Yutaka was credited with the loss for giving up the game winning goal, the only one he let in. In 22 goals, he scored his first NHL goal and tallied two … This is probably something you never knew about, but the Netherlands actually has roots in the NHL with 70s player Ed Kea. Conlon Helpful, I know. He began as a member of the late Atlanta Flames organization and later joined the Blues. NCAA tourney's 5 biggest snubs, TV's Tori Roloff reveals she suffered a miscarriage, Don't post a selfie with your vaccine card, experts warn, Valderrama shares tip for maintaining mental acuity, Uproar over magazine cover depicting queen, Meghan, Why this photo of Markle sends a powerful message, 2 dead, 13 injured after shooting at Chicago party, Sharon Osbourne denies allegation from ex-'Talk' host, Only unbeaten women's team not going to NCAA tourney, Fauci issues warning: 'We're not in the end zone yet'. Jim McFadden One of just two Irish natives on this list, McFadden was born in Belfast and raised in Manitoba. In 69 career NHL games, Ndur netted two goals and five total points. There are many NHL players that are of Irish descent, in fact there was an article in THN about it not too long ago but there are seven players actually born in Ireland or Northern Ireland, Sid Finney, Bobby Kirk, Jim McFadden, Sammy McManus, Jack Riley and of course Owen ***** Nolan (my favorite player) Yes, this in fact the brother of Robyn, who we touched on earlier in this article. His career almost lasted a decade from 1974 to 1983. Sadly, the former NHL d-man fell to his death in September of 1999 drowning in a swimming pool. Top 25 Michigan-born hockey players of all time - mlive.com Natalie Jaresko – former Ukrainian Minister of Finance. Judging by his name, you’d think the Leafs forward was born in Russia, but he’s actually the first and only player in the league to hail from the great land of Estonia. present: STL Bill Guerin: Right Wing Nicaraguan and Irish [1] American Four-time NHL All-Star and three-time U.S. Olympic Team member. Fresh off being the Irish’s captain during the 2018-19 season, Peake made his NHL debut last year. Adams would go on to make some history at the draft by becoming the final player ever selected by the Hartford Whalers. The oldest, of course -- the kids born nearest the cut-off date, who can be as much as almost a year older than kids born at the other end of the cut-off date. Get your answers by asking now. Born in the birth place made famous by Borat, Evgeni Nabokov is a part of a select few NHLers who hail from the country. When it comes to hockey, Canadian born players dominate the league. We're adding a bit of parmesan cheese to this article with Nelson DeBenedet. Robyn's little brother went undrafted, but managed to secure a deal alongside his brother with the Flames. A Historical Analysis / Return To Players by Birthplace. Greatest American-Born NHL Players. Thanks to the likes of Conor McGregor and various films, you can’t help but think of Irishmen as prototypical fighters or beer drinkers. Last update: Jan, 2021. He enjoyed a terrific career as a Shark and is currently ranked 20th on the all-time list for regular season wins. Although his run was short-lived, we’ll never forget the impact it had around the league. When it comes to hockey, Canadian born players dominate the league. The great Rob Langway made history in more ways than one, joining the NHL as the first ever player to hail from Taiwan. His decision proved to be the right one as Kopitar excelled in his junior stint. Komarov holds a rare dual citizenship with passports of Russian and Finnish decent. He recently retired from the game in January of 2016. A big misconception is that Olaf Kolzig was born in Germany. Seriously though, his name is Craig Adams. He was drafted first overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. During his 18-year NHL career, he played for the Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Phoenix Coyotes, Calgary Flames, Minnesota Wild, as well as playing a season with the ZSC Lions of National League A. Irish-born Canadian ice hockey player Owen Nolan poses in the jersey of the Quebec Nordiques following his first round, first place selection in the NHL Draft at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on June 16, 1990. Subban and his brother Malcolm, Jarome Iginla, Wayne Simmonds, Kyle Okposo, and Seth Jones. He enjoyed a great career which was mostly remembered for his seasons with the San Jose Sharks, where he became a 40-goal scorer. In every pro sport, a certain region or country dominates the game. Other non-Irish born players that starred for John Giles' while he was Irish manager included QPR's Terry Mancini. Does the NHL need something like the Rooney Rule, so a guy like Ted Nolan can at least get an interview? Boris Lushniak – former Acting Surgeon General of the United States. The territory is located in Southeast Asia and holds a population of just above 400,000. Subscribe to our Free Newsletter. He was drafted by the Habs in 1977 and would become a top tier defender, winning two Norris Trophies as the league’s top defenseman during his long run as a Washington Capitals player. He would ultimately rise to the occasion and become a massive prospect. It’s shame if it doesn’t. That honor instead goes to Mike Greenlay. How he chose to pursue a career in the NHL we’ll never understand, but Toronto fans are thankful he did, given his style of play and the effort he puts forward every night. A lot. Although NHL games take place in North America, entry into the … It was his parents who actually were born in Germany, which would lead to the goaltender representing the country on the international stage. Born in a small Italian community that has a population of merely 18,433 inhabitants, Nelson would become the first ever player to lace the skates with a passport of Italian decent. In every pro sport, a certain region or country dominates the game. Fun fact, he's also the uncle of NHL stars Jeff Beukeboom and Joe Nieuwendyk. Player: Born In: Date of Birth: Debut Year: Final Year: Jimmy Archer: Dublin, Ireland: 1883-05-13: 1904: 1918: Tommy Bond: Granard, Ireland: 1856-04-02: 1876: 1884: Joe Cleary: Cork, Ireland: 1918-12-03: 1945: 1945: Bill Collins: Dublin, Ireland: 1863-00-00: 1887: 1891: P.J. His actual place of birth is quite shocking and it's a huge rarity for an NHL player to emerge from such a destination. His style of play, size and name indicated that he was a Western Canadian kid, but on the contrary, Regehr was actually born in Brazil. (see all Asian hockey news)*Click on the header to sort the players (Rank: ranking by Popularity) During his eight-year NHL career, McFadden was a Calder Trophy winner (1948) and Stanley Cup champion … For the Wings d-man Ouellet, he was born in France but was raised in Terrebonne, Quebec. Join Yahoo Answers and get 100 points today. He began his career with the Detroit Red Wings in 1973 going undrafted. Is it possible to own an NHL team without having ice hockey experience or being a coach as long as if you are a super fan of a certain team? Owen Liam Nolan is a Northern Irish-born Canadian former professional ice hockey. At the age of 29, the Slovenian still has a lot to offer to the Kings and his country is certainly proud of his accomplishments. Always have, always will. The inking was quite historical, making Richie the first ever Indonesian hockey player in NHL history. To put that into perspective, that’s only a hundred thousand more than the city Adams previously played for in Pittsburgh, which holds a population of over 300,000. His parents were indeed Russian, hence the name, however he grew up in Finland, where he would fall in love with the game and later pursue a career to make the NHL. The move made for some great theater, but the Kings would ultimately lose, going down 6-5. Roussel actually stayed in France for the majority of his youth before moving to Quebec at the age of 16. All players eligible to be drafted in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. At the age of 33, Richie is still actively playing in the German League with EHC Red Bull Munchen. Yes, there are. But every now and then, Americans manage to sneak a great one into their ranks — that outlier of a hockey player who defies expectations and becomes a legend. What made his NHL journey so remarkable is the fact that he didn’t play till the age of 13, spending most of his time focused on baseball and football. He played as a grinder throughout his career and found some big time success with both Carolina and Pittsburgh, winning a Stanley Cup on both teams. * The FIRST ever MN BORN native to play in NHL was Leroy, Goldsworthy (no relation to Bill Goldsworthy) from Two Harbors, MN in the 1928-1929 season. His story of making to the NHL is quite remarkable, as the story goes that North American scouts were actually overseas to take a look at his dad. Two-time Stanley Cup winner with the New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins. New York Mets pitcher P.J. His most remarkable achievement came in 2011 when Graeme created the Jamaican Olympic Ice Hockey Federation. He spent part of last month with the Canucks, and discovered the NHL players like to drink. Leroy Goldsworthy. This Month in Sports Reference We start with the most awkward name from France, although his epic mustache suddenly makes a lot more sense. He earned the 1948 Calder Trophy on the strength of … Charlie Gardiner, born in Edinburgh, won the Vezina Trophy in 1932 and 1934, and … This article will highlight some of the most bizarre countries to be showcased on the NHL stage, with places like Jamaica, Brunei, Taiwan and Nigeria making apperances. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Graeme Townshend managed to crack the NHL after going undrafted. He played junior hockey in his hometown of Jesenice, but later moved to Sweden at the age of 16, seeking greater competition. His father was stationed in the country, but he would later grow up in the Massachusetts area. He was mostly known for his work as an enforcer ,picking up 137 penalty minutes in his short NHL stint. He proceeded to play in Austria and spent the second half of his pro career throughout Europe playing in various leagues. Drafted by the Kings 238th overall, many believed the Japanese goaltender would never see a minute of NHL action, but that all changed one night due to one of the craziest turn of events you’ll ever see. As it turns out, Owen Nolan was both of those, but he also had another accomplishment in his repertoire; being a player in the NHL. Like, this is an Irish athlete saying this. If you expand out to include players of African descent from Canada, Sweden, Finland, and France, then there are 25 players in the NHL. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Major League Baseball Players Born in Ireland. Prominent examples are P.K. Roman Popadiuk – former US Ambassador to Ukraine. Antoine Roussel and Xavier Ouellet are another pair of current NHLers born in France. His final season came as a part of the Hershey Bears in the AHL during the 1975-76 campaign. He learned his craft growing up in Hearst, Ontario. Born in … 20 of the NHL's all-time dirtiest players Hockey is a hard-hitting game, but not everyone abides by the unwritten rules when it comes to the physical side of the sport . Paul MacLean was born in France while his father was serving with the Canadian Armed Forces. In his first appearance he did not play, but he did during his second call up on January 13th, 2007. The league has seen several players with Italian roots such as Tony Amonte, Tom Barrasso, Todd Bertuzzi and Nick Bonino just to name a few, but rarely has the league seen players actually born in Italy like DeBenedet. Are you a Stathead, too? However, the likes of the United States, Russia, Sweden, Finland and several other countries have made a profound impact on the game. Asians who have played in the NHL, drafted by NHL teams or potential NHL prospects. So, how much longer is the NHL going to tolerate Tom Wilson's headhunting? Two-time Stanley Cup winner with the New Jersey Devils. Some of the players … Leroy moved to Edmonton, Alberta when he was 3 years old. Yutaka Fukufuji: Kushiro, JapanWho can forget the remarkable story of Yutaka Fukufuji and his less … Before the goaltender, Konstantin Shafranov hailed from the same destination and was drafted by the Blues in 1996. Getting back to the former Calgary Flame, Robyn only spent nine months in Brazil. Hockey Day Best U.S.-born players 25 and under NHL.com selects dream team to help celebrate Hockey Weekend Across America by Dan Rosen @drosennhl / NHL.com Staff Writer Every Sports Reference Social Media Account. Well, despite his name and North American roots, Adams wad actually born in a lesser known country and is in fact the only NHLer to ever hail from Brunei. Leo Komarov is the only NHL player to be born in Estonia, though he represents Finland in international competition. The Dutch defenseman was born in Weesp, Netherlands, but grew up in Collingwood, Ontario, moving with his family at the age of four. The Nigerian would leave the league for good in 2002 following his AHL stint with the Nortfolk Admirals. Canadians rule the NHL. Although it truly is remarkable that he made the NHL being from Jamaica, it was his contributions after his NHL stint which are most noteworthy. Eight former Fighting Irish have at least 100 NHL games to their credit, with three having played in over 500 games (and Lee is knocking at the door with 493 games). The French invasion began in the 70s when Andre Peloffy was drafted by the Rangers in 1971. Not bad for a kid born in Taiwan! Evgeni holds a dual citizenship as a Kazakh-Russian. He would later join the Leafs in 2008 getting hired as the club’s skating coach. On the national stage, Leo had a choice to play for Russia or Finland and the forward chose to represent his Finnish roots. With the LA Kings stock piling injuries in net, Yutaka Fukufuji, who was the fifth string goalie at the time, was called up to the roster as an emergency backup. Now, more so than ever before, the game is booming overseas with the Russian, Swiss and Swedish leagues all flourishing. Who can forget the remarkable story of Yutaka Fukufuji and his less than likely NHL debut. Like his brother, the two would ultimately move and were raised in Rosthern, Saskatchewan. His dad went by the name of "The Russian Wall” and ultimately Nabokov carried on that legacy as a late round pick, selected 219th overall by the San Jose Sharks in 1994. Players. His stay in the country was brief and he moved to Nova Scotia at the age of two. You can sign in to vote the answer. He was the team’s first coach and helped to organize the first ever camp. Throughout his NHL stint, Ndur played for three different clubs, which included the New York Rangers, Atlanta Thrashers and Buffalo Sabres. These NHLers include Rick Chartraw from Venezuela, Chris Nielsen from Tanzania, Willi Plett from Paraguay, Andre Deveaux from The Bahamas and the great Darius Kasparaitis from Lithuania. Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 10, 4:10AM Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Anze’s success led to a high pick and one that the Kings most certainly do not regret. NHL Will Cover All Of It's Big Games On ABC And ESPN This 2021 For The First Time Since The Nineties Or The 2000s. Guerin has the sixth-most goals among USA-born players (429) and … The World's Most Entertaining Car Website, 10 Times WWE Made A New Star At WrestleMania, 10 Pairs Of WrestleMania Opponents Who Had Issues In Real Life, Every Match From WrestleMania 19, Ranked From Worst To Best, Hulk Hogan's 5 Best Matches As A Heel (& His 5 Best As A Face), 8 Best TNA X Division Wrestlers That Never Went To WWE. Known for its soccer prowess, Brazilian players have been few and far between in the history of hockey, although Robyn was not the first ever player from the country. Still have questions? Victoria Spartz – former Indiana state Senator, Member-elect of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 5th district. Can someone with down syndrome be a hockey goalie? Kolzig enjoyed a tremendous run in the league, holding down the fort for the Caps throughout the mid 90s and into the early 2000s. As a Hockey team, how good or bad are the Los Angeles Kings? Meanwhile, the percentage of US-born players in the NHL is up to 25.7%, its highest level ever. As we discussed, the family moved around a lot and Indonesia was one of their brief stops. He would go on to start his first NHL game shortly after against the Atlanta Thrashers on January 16th, 2007. Townshend began as a coach following his NHL career and later joined the Sharks organization as their Player Development Coordinator. The Los Angeles Kings made some history in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft when they selected Anze Kopitar 11th overall. who was a goaltender drafted by the Oilers in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft. His death was labelled as accidental. Those two names don’t quite sound North American. Most common folks aren’t even aware Brunei is even a country. Despite his short-comings, it must have been something to get the chance to play alongside his brother in the NHL. Two-time NHL All-Star and member of 2006 U.S. Olympic Team. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. However, the likes of the United States, Russia, Sweden, Finland. Here are 15 NHL players that were born in weird countries, enjoy! There are currently 6 African Americans playing in the NHL. Yes, the French connection is quite strong in the NHL, with several players hailing from the country of love. Who's the stronger team? Despite the fact that he started later than most, Regehr was able to blaze ahead of the others because of his size and smarts, which were demonstrated throughout his NHL career. Right from the get go, Nolan was something special and became known for his dominant role as a power forward. The United States Hockey Hall of Fame forward, who played 1,201 NHL games, ranks second among U.S.-born players in goals (538), fourth in points (1,065), first in … The pick had some major historical significance as the Kings captain became the first ever NHL player to hail from Slovenia. With the Kings trailing 5-4 entering the third, Crawford made the historical decision to put the Japanese goalie between the pipes. Just 16 years ago, the gap was 40.3%. Focusing on the bright side in the Sunshine State, Are you kidding me? The player has turned into an elite NHL center winning two Stanley Cup Championships along with the Frank J. Selke Trophy and Lady Bing Trophy, which he won both last season. Rochester. During his youth, he played hockey and eventually his passion led to a career as an NHLer, enjoying a pretty lengthy career. After a year with another Greek club, Maroussi, the then 28-year old became the first Irish-born player in NBA history when he was picked up by the Orlando Magic and Doc Rivers. Every WWE PPV From 1996, Ranked Worst To Best, Every Version Of Road Dogg, Ranked Worst To Best, 10 Backstage Stories About MVP We Can't Believe, The 5 Best (& 5 Worst) Hulk Hogan Storylines In TNA, 10 Worst Foreign Champions In WWE History, 10 Most Embarrassing Moments Of Kane's Career, Every Version Of Jim Cornette, Ranked From Worst To Best, 10 Worst World Title Changes In WWE History, 10 Most Embarrassing Moments Of 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin's Career, Every WrestleMania Match Of Charlotte Flair's Career, Ranked, 10 Things About Kevin Nash's Career That Make No Sense, The Best ECW Pay-Per-View From Each Year, Ranked. He lasted only three games with the team before getting sent down to the AHL. Coming all the way from Nigeria, Rumun Ndur entered the league in 1994, being selected by the Buffalo Sabres 69th overall. Kolzig hails from Johannesburg, South Africa and is the only African-born skater to ever play in the NHL, a historical accomplishment to say the least. who the hell thumbs down owen nolen by law he was born in ireland you can not change that its done he is irish but as he was raised in canada thats the reason why he was chosen to represent canada in the 2002 winter olympics i guess the person who thunbs down has not a clue about duo citizenships, thats why brett hull is american thats why owen nolan is canadian but that does not change the fact where he was born which still makes owen nolan irish and brett hull is canadian, There are many NHL players that are of Irish descent, in fact there was an article in THN about it not too long ago but there are seven players actually born in Ireland or Northern Ireland, Sid Finney, Bobby Kirk, Jim McFadden, Sammy McManus, Jack Riley and of course Owen ******* Nolan (my favorite player), The only player Ive ever heard of from Ireland is Owen Nolan, but hes from Belfast which is in Northern Ireland, technically part of the UK. He was born in Belfast and brought his Irish roots over to Thorold, Ontario, the place he grew up in and played minor hockey. And that’s because they aren’t; Faksa was born in Opava in the Czech Republic and Ovechkin was born in Moscow, Russia.