Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2015 3:41:26 GMT -6
The number of Americans making it to the NHL is at an all time high. The USA is producing more and more players (percentage wise) each season, compared to any other country. Listed are the current % of NHL players from each respective country, compared to 20 years ago (in parenthesis):
1. Canada 50.3 (62.9) difference: -12.6
2. USA 24.7 (18.4) difference: +6.3
3. Sweden 7.9 (3.5) difference: +3.4
4. Czech Republic 4.0 (3.6) difference: +0.4
5. Russia 3.6 (7.3) difference: -3.7
6. Finland 3.6 (2.4) difference: +1.4
7. Slovakia 1.3 (1.0) difference: +0.3
8. other countries 3.8 (2.0) difference: +1.8
Figures tend to show, aside from the USA, Scandinavian countries, as well as Germany, Switzerland, etc. are increasing their participation rates in the sport. I don't believe that participation rates are down in Canada, rather the game has grown in such a way in the US and Europe, that it was inevitable that the % of Canadian NHL players would be at an all time low. Russia, as well, is at an all time low, since the collapse of Communism in 1991-92. However, this could be due to many Russians preferring to play in the KHL.
As for individual states, Michigan overtook Minnesota for the first time in recent memory, in NHL born players. New York has had the largest increase in NHL players in the last 20 years:
1. Michigan 17.2 (19.3) difference: -2.1
2. Minnesota 16.7 (22.2) difference: -5.5
3. New York 11.8 (5.9) difference: +5.9
4. Massachusetts 7.2 (22.2) difference: -15.0
5. California 5.4 (1.5) difference: +3.9
6. Wisconsin 5.4 (2.2) difference: +3.2
7. Pennsylvania 4.5 (0.7) difference +3.8
8. Connecticut 4.5 (2.2) difference: +3.3
9. Illinois 3.6 (5.9) difference: -2.3
10. Ohio 1.4 (3.0) difference: -1.6
*other states 22.2 (14.8) difference: +7.4
*note: other states compromise mainly non-traditional hockey markets, and less populated states (i.e Texas, Florida, North Dakota, Colorado, Alaska, etc)
