It’s pretty obvious that I like hockey. See here, here, here, and here if you aren’t convinced.
Today, I want to talk about one of my favorite things: the best names in hockey. At least, in the NHL.
And for the record, I don’t mean the best players. I literally mean the best names.
The Best Names in Hockey
Justin Abdelkader
Pronounciation: Ab-dul-kay-der
Hometown: Muskegon, Michigan
Current Team: Detroit Red Wings
I love Abby. When I was growing up and my dad and brother would watch Red Wings games, I thought Abdelkader was his nickname. Like Terminator. Nope. Real name.
And he’s American. I remember listing off some Red Wings players to my coworker and including their home country. When I got to Abdelkader, she said “WOAH! Where’s THAT guy from?!” “…Muskegon.”
Nick Bjugstad
Pronunciation: B-you-g-stad
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Current Team: Florida Panthers
I don’t really know much about Bjugstad, but I love saying his name. Byooooogstad. It’s just fun.
Sergei Bobrovsky
Pronunciation: Bob-rov-ski
Hometown: Novokuzentsk, Russia
Current Team: Columbus Blue Jackets
I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to say “Sergei Bobrovsky” in anything but a Russian accent.
Dustin Byfuglien
Pronunciation: Buff-lin
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Current Team: Winnipeg Jets
So. Many. Unnecessary. Letters. Why not just spell it Buflin? It’s still fun to say.
Kyle Chipchura
Pronunciation: Chip-chur-uh
Hometown: Westlock, Alberta, Canana
Current Team: Arizona Coyotes
I feel like I need to sing Chipchura’s name to the chim-chimney song from Mary Poppins.
Carlo Colaiacovo
Pronunciation: Coe-lee-ah-cah-voe
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Current Team: Philadelphia Flyers
I feel like I could say Colaiacovo over and over and over again and it would still make me smile.
Valtteri Filppula
Pronunciation: Val-tare-y Fil-pul-uh
Hometown: Vantaa, Finland
Current Team: Tampa Bay Lightning
It’s no secret that Fil is my favorite hockey player. I even named my cat after him. It’s taken me a long time to figure out how to spell his name correctly, but it’s just awesome to say.
Back when he played for the Red Wings (also known as “the good ol’ days”), we called him Filp. But Randi‘s mom couldn’t figure out how to say that, so she called him Flip. Also good.
Tomáš Hertl
Pronunciation: Like Turtle, but with an H
Hometown: Prague, Czech Republic
Current Team: San Jose Sharks
Sing it with me: Teenage Mutant Ninja Hertls
Jyrki Jokipakka
Pronunciation: Yurk-y Yokie-pah-kuh
Hometown: Tampere, Finland
Current Team: Dallas Stars
A few weeks ago, the Red Wings played the Stars, and the announcers intentionally kept saying Jokipakka’s name. How can you not?! Yurki Yokipakka. It’s awesome. I love the European j-just-kidding-it’s-a-y.
Rob Klinkhammer
Pronunciation: Clink-hammer
Hometown: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Current Team: Edmonton Oilers
I love imagining Thor saying this guy’s name in anger. KLINKHAMMA!
Lauri Korpikoski
Pronunciation: Core-pih-coe-ski
Hometown: Turku, Finland
Current Team: Arizona Coyotes
These Fins and their crazy names. Seriously.
David Krejčí
Pronunciation: Cray-chee
Hometown: Šternberk, Czech Republic
Current Team: Boston Bruins
That Krejčí, man, he’s crazy.
Ben Lovejoy
Pronunciation: Love-joy
Hometown: Concord, New Hampshire
Current Team: Pittsburgh Penguins
I thoroughly enjoy the idea of a man with such a loving name playing a relatively violent sport.
Henrik Lundqvist
Pronunciation: Lundk-vist
Hometown:Åre, Sweden
Current Team: New York Rangers
He’s got a V in his name. Not a U. You have to say it with a Swedish accent.
Roberto Luongo
Pronunciation: Loo-ong-oh
Hometown: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Current Team: Florida Panthers
His name reminds me so much of Lupita Nyong’o. Also a great name.
Johnny Oduya
Pronunciation: Oh-do-ya?
Hometown: Stockholm, Sweden
Current Team: Chicago Blackhawks
Every time the Wings play the Blackhawks, I laugh at Oduya’s name. Oh do ya? Oh do ya?
TJ Oshie
Pronunciation: Oh-shee
Hometown: Mount Vernon, Washington
Current Team: St. Louis Blues
If you’ve never heard of TJ Oshie, you just aren’t American. Or you didn’t watch the Winter Olympics last year. Either way, he and his name are awesome.
Alex Ovechkin
Pronunciation: Oh-vetch-kin
Hometown: Moscow, Russia
Current Team: Washington Capitals
With a nickname like Ovi, you can’t hate this guy’s name. And he just loves playing hockey, and does some awesome charity work. He’s just great.
Tuukka Rask
Pronunciation: Two-kuh Rask
Hometown: Savonlinna, Finland
Current Team: Boston Bruins
Toooooka. Tooooka.
Jordin Tootoo
Pronunciation: Too-too
Hometown: Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
Current Team: New Jersey Devils
I love Jordin Tootoo. One of the biggest crimes in all of hockey is that he no longer wears the number 22. (Get it?!) Oh, and his birthday is February 2. It’s like they planned this.
Which one is your favorite? Is there a player I missed? Let me know in the comments!
So true facts, I know nothing about Hockey aside from the fact that now Sergei Bobrovsky is my new favorite player. DO THE THING, WIN THE POINTS! (No, but seriously, how can you not love that name?) Also, with this post I am pretty sure I took a tour around the world. Or at least, to the parts of the world that love Hockey and also love awesome names.
Thanks for this highly entertaining start to my Friday. (I’m just getting off work, so I needed the pick me up, lol.)
Isn’t it great?! I seriously can’t choose a favorite name. It would probably be Jyrki Jokipakka, followed by Justin Abdelkader. My boyfriend and I lovingly call Abdelkader Applecaker, and now that’s all we hear when the announcers say his name!
And Bobrovsky is a goalie, so you can just cheer for him to stop the puck. Easy enough! 🙂
That’s kind of fantastic. You may have inspired me to attempt to watch a hockey match, if only to see if I catch any of these names in the commentary. (I don’t have anything against Hockey, it’s just not a thing where I am.)
Ha such a fun round up! Ben Lovejoy is the best!
xo, Alice
Thanks, Alice! 🙂
Great reading! I don’t think I ever considered the names before but you bring out some interesting ones. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! 🙂
I totally don’t know anythng about hockey except that it’s one of the few sports I actually jump at the chance to attend. I seriuosly love watching it.
Thanks, Lana! If you want to know more, I’ve got blog posts about penalties and the lines on the ice 🙂
This is awesome. I have only heard of Ovi because I live in MD, but thanks for sharing!
That’s totally fair, because he’s a great player! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Lynne!
Love this. My personal favorite is Boone Jenner on the jackets. I just think it’s both insanely hick and super awesome!
So true!
Haha I was JUST talking about Tootoo abandoning the number 22 yesterday! I personally like Gustav Nyquist just so I can scream “I LYKE NYQ” when he scores. Which is often, as we both know.
Randi with an i
Sean and I lovingly call him Nick. I like to think I’m on a first name basis with Filppula and Nyquist, also known as Fil and Nick.
Most definitely Klinkhammer is my favorite name on this list! After this weekend’s SNL with Chris Hemsworth, I can’t imagine anyone but Thor saying it. 🙂
Yes! I’m glad I’m not the only one who can hear it perfectly 🙂