why aren't there more black guys in hockey?

[VTHodge]

Minorities just got a late start in hockey. Remember the professional sports in general are not really that old. For the NHL, forty years ago there were only 6 teams, all of them in the Canada and the northern US.

Black (and to a lesser degree Asian) players are starting to make an impact. I think geography is the #1 factor. As the geographic makeup of the NHL gets more American and as the population of Canada gets more diverse, the NHL will have more players of different ethnicities.

Also, the ice is typically about 1 inch thick. Half inch ice, then white paint, quarter inch ice, then lines and ads, then another quarter inch on top.

 

[AnimeKnight]

I believe it has something with economy standing

Let's look at the sports that's generally dominated by blacks

basketball
track & fields
boxing

What do they have in common?
They are all low maintenance sports... meaning you can just go to local high school and start playing. Except boxing.. but it is still low maintenance cost.

Now let's look at the sports that's generally dominated by whites

golf
tennis
hockey

They all require a higher maintenance to play. Golf with its course, clubs...etc. Tennis you need to pay for the coach. Hockey with all it's skating equipments.

Asians are dominates in the games that does not require much physical demands such as table tennis, DDR, and computer gaming

I am not trying to offend anyone about social standing or economic standing.

 

[jiggahertz]

I saw a piece on ESPN recently that many credit blacks for inventing the sport. I'm not sure how true this is. Btw, there is actually a black history hall of fame.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Kntx

Originally posted by: Narmer
Why is the cost of equipment even an issue when it's provided by the clubs or schools?

Because unless you are getting paid to play... it's not! If you want to get setup with new equipment you're looking at $600-$1000. If you have a kid in hockey, They grow out of it yearly. But because of this there is a fairly large market in used equipement (as long as you can deal with the smell, lol).

Isn't football gear pretty expensive too though? I don't see any shortage of black people in football. I guess you can argue you can play a pickup game of football with just a ball, access to a park and some guys though...whereas its hard to learn to skate without a pair of skates.

 

[HgrdGman]

I remeber paying $600 for practice Ice time and that was at five in the morning, plus $200 for Jersey's and then $600+ for decent EQ, didn't see many black players.

But in-line hockey was alot cheaper and there where several very good black players and goalies. So, I'm gonna go with option 3.

 

[cheesygoldfish]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: NFS4
We don't like cold weather. PERIOD!

heh my sister loves cold weather. she also hates fried chicken..yeah she is weird. WTF does not like fried chicken? pfft

waggy, you're black?

 

[cheesygoldfish]

Originally posted by: Narmer

Originally posted by: Kntx

Originally posted by: Narmer
Why is the cost of equipment even an issue when it's provided by the clubs or schools?

Because unless you are getting paid to play... it's not! If you want to get setup with new equipment you're looking at $600-$1000. If you have a kid in hockey, They grow out of it yearly. But because of this there is a fairly large market in used equipement (as long as you can deal with the smell, lol).

But what's the difference between this and football? Expensive stuff as well, right?

not really

ever heard of tackle football w/o equipment?

 

[randomint]

Originally posted by: cheesygoldfish

Originally posted by: Narmer

Originally posted by: Kntx

Originally posted by: Narmer
Why is the cost of equipment even an issue when it's provided by the clubs or schools?

Because unless you are getting paid to play... it's not! If you want to get setup with new equipment you're looking at $600-$1000. If you have a kid in hockey, They grow out of it yearly. But because of this there is a fairly large market in used equipement (as long as you can deal with the smell, lol).

But what's the difference between this and football? Expensive stuff as well, right?

not really

ever heard of tackle football w/o equipment?

yeah you can develop your skills quite a bit without the use of protective equipment whereas in hockey, you need to be skating at an early age to be anywhere near NHL standards by the time you grow up.

 

[FlashG]

Black people have zamboni-itus?

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: FlashG
Black people have zamboni-itus?

They have swollen zambonis?

 

[cheesygoldfish]

Originally posted by: randomint

Originally posted by: cheesygoldfish

Originally posted by: Narmer

Originally posted by: Kntx

Originally posted by: Narmer
Why is the cost of equipment even an issue when it's provided by the clubs or schools?

Because unless you are getting paid to play... it's not! If you want to get setup with new equipment you're looking at $600-$1000. If you have a kid in hockey, They grow out of it yearly. But because of this there is a fairly large market in used equipement (as long as you can deal with the smell, lol).

and if you want to practice any hockey skills, you MUST go to a rink

But what's the difference between this and football? Expensive stuff as well, right?

not really

ever heard of tackle football w/o equipment?

yeah you can develop your skills quite a bit without the use of protective equipment whereas in hockey, you need to be skating at an early age to be anywhere near NHL standards by the time you grow up.

 

[FlashG]

Originally posted by: b0mbrman

Originally posted by: FlashG
Black people have zamboni-itus?

They have swollen zambonis?

They might have a fear of the zamboni /sarcasm

 

[zinfamous]

black female coworker says: "We don't like ice; and we don't like cold weather."

 

[xboxist]

Blacks were likely to be the originators of ice hockey as we know it today. There was an actual CHL (Colored Hockey League) that started back in the late 1800s, and fizzled out in the early 30s, I believe. It was considered lost, unrecognized history until recently. There is a book called "Black Ice" which covers everything regarding this.

I don't recall specifics, but it was based around the freed slaves that used the Underground Railroad to travel north. And then they played hockey, or something.

 

[theknight571]

I'll speak to the expenses of playing youth hockey....

My son (8) plays hockey (house level), and really the major expense is Ice Time.

Our ice bills (includes referee and scorekeeper fees) were about $170 a month. (14 kids on the team each paying $170/month)

Other expenses were: Registration: $70 and Equipment: $200 (approx)

Sometimes we luck out and can get hand-me-downs for equipment, but this year he needed new shoulder pads, shin pads, and skates.

Equipment can get real expensive though... I've seen $300 skates, and $160 sticks. (Note... my son has an "old fashioned" wooden stick... $20 )

 

[cheesygoldfish]

Most parents give up on their kids after a few months in hockey if they aren't any good

 

[Patt]

Originally posted by: darkxshade
In high school, I had a black history teacher and he said the reason you don't see a lot of black hockey players is because the only thing that's black in hockey is the puck and it gets slapped around all the time.

Funniest explanation so far

However, in truth I believe the expense, access to icetime and lack of popularity are the largest cause.

For those who claim there aren't too many, I rarely follow hockey, and I can come up with the following list:

Jerome Iginla
Georges Laraque
Mike Greer
Grant Fuhr
Anson Carter
Freddy Braithewaite
Donald Brashaer ...

That is just off the top of my head. Seems like some inroads have been made.

 

[meltdown75]

Originally posted by: theknight571
I'll speak to the expenses of playing youth hockey....

My son (8) plays hockey (house level), and really the major expense is Ice Time.

Our ice bills (includes referee and scorekeeper fees) were about $170 a month. (14 kids on the team each paying $170/month)
Other expenses were: Registration: $70 and Equipment: $200 (approx)

Sometimes we luck out and can get hand-me-downs for equipment, but this year he needed new shoulder pads, shin pads, and skates.

Equipment can get real expensive though... I've seen $300 skates, and $160 sticks. (Note... my son has an "old fashioned" wooden stick... $20 )

That's $2380 per month just for ice & ref fees! :shocked:

Wow. I guess I should count myself lucky living where I do, but you're in Michigan and I didn't think it would be that different. Over here ice time ranges from $150-$200 /hr for prime time. For pickup hockey it is ~$120 per hour because it is usually after 10pm.

How many times a week does your son play?

$160 sticks is nothing... Bauer Vapor Lite sticks retail for $299+tax (NHLers can go through several per week!!!)

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004

Originally posted by: DukeN
Also because hockey is a gay man's sport.

You are a jackass

indeed. Hockey players much tougher than football players. They hit harder, with less leverage to withstand the impact.

 

[mpitts]

Originally posted by: DukeN
Also because hockey is a gay man's sport.

I didn't realize you were such a big fan.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004

Originally posted by: DukeN
Also because hockey is a gay man's sport.

You are a jackass

indeed. Hockey players much tougher than football players. They hit harder, with less leverage to withstand the impact.

This is probably the funniest thing I've heard in a long time.

Thank you for the humor. :thumbsup::laugh:

 

[theknight571]

Originally posted by: meltdown75

Originally posted by: theknight571
I'll speak to the expenses of playing youth hockey....

My son (8) plays hockey (house level), and really the major expense is Ice Time.

Our ice bills (includes referee and scorekeeper fees) were about $170 a month. (14 kids on the team each paying $170/month)
Other expenses were: Registration: $70 and Equipment: $200 (approx)

Sometimes we luck out and can get hand-me-downs for equipment, but this year he needed new shoulder pads, shin pads, and skates.

Equipment can get real expensive though... I've seen $300 skates, and $160 sticks. (Note... my son has an "old fashioned" wooden stick... $20 )

That's $2380 per month just for ice & ref fees! :shocked:

Wow. I guess I should count myself lucky living where I do, but you're in Michigan and I didn't think it would be that different. Over here ice time ranges from $150-$200 /hr for prime time. For pickup hockey it is ~$120 per hour because it is usually after 10pm.

How many times a week does your son play?

$160 sticks is nothing... Bauer Vapor Lite sticks retail for $299+tax (NHLers can go through several per week!!!)

Yup... about $2400/month for the team.

During the season they'll typically skate twice a week on home ice and once elsewhere.

He's been playing house (B) hockey... He's trying out for a travel team (A) for the spring.

If he makes it, which I think he will (proud dad.. ), I think skating with the better players will do him good.

In the fall his house team went 0-23-2. There were 3 kids that could play, the rest should have done I-program again... was a bad bad season.

Travel, from what I gather, will skate 3 times a week on home ice, then once or twice elsewhere... depending on game schedule.

Fortunately for me.. the spring season is short. We'll have to readdress the Travel vs House issue again in the fall.

Edit:

And SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... stop talking about the $300 sticks... he'll want one.

I told him when he's in the NHL they'll give him all the $300 sticks he wants. lol

 

[cheesygoldfish]

Originally posted by: mpitts

Originally posted by: DukeN
Also because hockey is a gay man's sport.

I didn't realize you were such a big fan.

PWNED!!! :thumbsup:

Thats going on my sig :beer:

 

[meltdown75]

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: zinfamous

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004

Originally posted by: DukeN
Also because hockey is a gay man's sport.

You are a jackass

indeed. Hockey players much tougher than football players. They hit harder, with less leverage to withstand the impact.

This is probably the funniest thing I've heard in a long time.

Thank you for the humor. :thumbsup::laugh:

:| you wanna go?

 

[meltdown75]

Originally posted by: theknight571

Originally posted by: meltdown75

Originally posted by: theknight571
I'll speak to the expenses of playing youth hockey....

My son (8) plays hockey (house level), and really the major expense is Ice Time.

Our ice bills (includes referee and scorekeeper fees) were about $170 a month. (14 kids on the team each paying $170/month)
Other expenses were: Registration: $70 and Equipment: $200 (approx)

Sometimes we luck out and can get hand-me-downs for equipment, but this year he needed new shoulder pads, shin pads, and skates.

Equipment can get real expensive though... I've seen $300 skates, and $160 sticks. (Note... my son has an "old fashioned" wooden stick... $20 )

That's $2380 per month just for ice & ref fees! :shocked:

Wow. I guess I should count myself lucky living where I do, but you're in Michigan and I didn't think it would be that different. Over here ice time ranges from $150-$200 /hr for prime time. For pickup hockey it is ~$120 per hour because it is usually after 10pm.

How many times a week does your son play?

$160 sticks is nothing... Bauer Vapor Lite sticks retail for $299+tax (NHLers can go through several per week!!!)

Yup... about $2400/month for the team.

During the season they'll typically skate twice a week on home ice and once elsewhere.

He's been playing house (B) hockey... He's trying out for a travel team (A) for the spring.

If he makes it, which I think he will (proud dad.. ), I think skating with the better players will do him good.

In the fall his house team went 0-23-2. There were 3 kids that could play, the rest should have done I-program again... was a bad bad season.

Travel, from what I gather, will skate 3 times a week on home ice, then once or twice elsewhere... depending on game schedule.

Fortunately for me.. the spring season is short. We'll have to readdress the Travel vs House issue again in the fall.

Edit:

And SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... stop talking about the $300 sticks... he'll want one.

I told him when he's in the NHL they'll give him all the $300 sticks he wants. lol

I played house league when I was a kid even after making the team because my parents couldn't drive me all over the county. "You'll have more fun and get more ice time in house league," they said. I did have a lot of fun in house league, and everyone got equal ice time. However I didn't really improve until I actually started playing on the travel teams anyway, just catching rides and eventually driving myself to games if I had to (juvenile travel, etc)... even though I started out on the 3rd line. Coaching had a lot to to with it. No offense to my house league coaches, who were basically just there to yell "HUSTLE!!"