Atlanta Thrashers Set to Become the First Predominately Black NHL Team

Don’t ask me why, but I was looking at an Atlanta Thrasher’s game the other day and the first thing that came to mind is that they have a lot of black players for a professional hockey team.

If you don’t believe me check out this bit of information. In July of 2009, the Atlanta Thrashers signed Anthony Stewart formerly of the Florida Panthers, selected the fourth overall center in the 2009 draft, Evander Kane (pictured), and were able to get Johnny Oduya from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Ilya Kovalchuk. All three of these players are black. In this year’s draft, the Thrashers got Sebastien Owuya, as well as Dustin Byfuglien and Akim Aliu in a multi-player deal with the Chicago BlackHawks –- and you guessed it, they are also black.

If my math is correct, over the past two years the Atlanta Thrashers have had deals, trades or drafts involving more than 20 percent of all the black players in the National Hockey League. It makes sense to me, since the majority of the metropolitian Atlanta area is African American, and given that the ticket sales of the Thrashers are dismal when compared to the Atlanta Falcons and the Atlanta Hawks.

Currently the 19-year-old Kane and 25-year-old Stewart lead the team in goals scored with Kane, Stewart and Byfuglien being third through fifth in total points. To date out of all the above mentioned, Dustin Byfuglien, Johnny Oduya, Evander Kane and Anthony Stewart are all currently on the Thrashers roster. They are still waiting to sign Sweden’s Sebastien Owuya.  So I don’t know if they will or not, but it makes good sense and is smart marketing to do so, especially in the city often called the “black mecca.” –torrance stephens