AHL Nationality Breakdown

Players in the American Hockey League (AHL) were approximately 80 percent Canadian until the early 1990s. The proportion of American players hovered around 15 percent, with Europeans making up the remaining five percent.

After the collapse of Soviet union in 1991, the proportion of European players began to rise as players from the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia signed contracts with North American teams. At the same time, American players gradually increased their presence in the AHL. In the early 2000s, the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (started in 1996) began pushing high-caliber American players into professional leagues, and the proportion of American players rose to over 25%.

The proportion of Canadian players in the AHL has steadily declined over the years, settling at below 50 percent.

The chart below shows the relative proportions of different nationalities in the AHL from the 1977-1978 season onwards. Data used in the chart can be found on the nationality totals statistics pages.

Canada

Regular Season

Canadian AHL players - 2024-2025 leaders

Playoffs

Canadian AHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs

United States

Regular Season

American AHL players - 2024-2025 leaders

Playoffs

American AHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs

Sweden

Regular Season

Swedish AHL players - 2024-2025 leaders

Playoffs

Swedish AHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs

Russia

Regular Season

Russian AHL players - 2024-2025 leaders

Playoffs

Russian AHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs

Czech Republic

Regular Season

Czech AHL players - 2024-2025 leaders

Playoffs

Czech AHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs

Finland

Regular Season

Finnish AHL players - 2024-2025 leaders

Playoffs

Finnish AHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs

Slovakia

Regular Season

Slovak AHL players - 2024-2025 leaders

Playoffs

Slovak AHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs

Germany

Regular Season

German AHL players - 2024-2025 leaders

Playoffs

German AHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs

Switzerland

Regular Season

Swiss AHL players - 2024-2025 leaders

Playoffs

Swiss AHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs

Latvia

Regular Season

Latvian AHL players - 2024-2025 leaders

Playoffs

Latvian AHL players - 2023 leaders - playoffs

Italy

Regular Season

Italian AHL players - 2016-2017 leaders

Playoffs

Italian AHL players - 2014 leaders - playoffs

Belarus

Regular Season

Belarussian AHL players - 2024-2025 leaders

Playoffs

Belarussian AHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs

Austria

Regular Season

Austrian AHL players - 2024-2025 leaders

Playoffs

Austrian AHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs

Ukraine

Regular Season

Ukrainian AHL players - 2015-2016 leaders

Playoffs

Ukrainian AHL players - 2012 leaders - playoffs

Denmark

Regular Season

Danish AHL players - 2024-2025 leaders

Playoffs

Danish AHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs

France

Regular Season

French AHL players - 2024-2025 leaders

Playoffs

French AHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs

United Kingdom

Regular Season

British AHL players - 2023-2024 leaders

Playoffs

British AHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs

Kazakhstan

Regular Season

Kazakh AHL players - 2010-2011 leaders

Playoffs

Kazakh AHL players - 2011 leaders - playoffs

Norway

Regular Season

Norwegian AHL players - 2024-2025 leaders

Playoffs

Norwegian AHL players - 2024 leaders - playoffs

Hungary

Regular Season

Hungarian AHL players - 2017-2018 leaders

Playoffs

Hungarian AHL players - 2007 leaders - playoffs

Japan

Regular Season

Japanese AHL players - 2023-2024 leaders

Playoffs

Japanese AHL players - 2007 leaders - playoffs

South Korea

Regular Season

South Korean AHL players - 2012-2013 leaders

Playoffs

South Korean AHL players - 2013 leaders - playoffs

Slovenia

Regular Season

Slovenian AHL players - 2021-2022 leaders

Playoffs

Slovenian AHL players - 2013 leaders - playoffs

Croatia

Regular Season

Croatian AHL players - 2016-2017 leaders

Playoffs

Croatian AHL players - 2009 leaders - playoffs

Poland

Regular Season

Polish AHL players - 2004-2005 leaders

Playoffs

Polish AHL players - 2003 leaders - playoffs

Australia

Regular Season

Australian AHL players - 2023-2024 leaders

Playoffs

Australian AHL players - 2019 leaders - playoffs

Romania

Regular Season

Romanian AHL players - 2006-2007 leaders

Playoffs

Romanian AHL players - 2004 leaders - playoffs

Netherlands

Regular Season

Dutch AHL players - 2019-2020 leaders

Playoffs

Dutch AHL players - 2018 leaders - playoffs

Jamaica

Regular Season

Jamaican AHL players - 1993-1994 leaders

Playoffs

Jamaican AHL players - 1993 leaders - playoffs

South Africa

Regular Season

South African AHL players - 2014-2015 leaders

Estonia

Regular Season

Estonian AHL players - 2000-2001 leaders

Haiti

Regular Season

Haitian AHL players - 2007-2008 leaders

Lithuania

Regular Season

Lithuanian AHL players - 2016-2017 leaders

Greece

Regular Season

Greek AHL players - 1980-1981 leaders