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What's in a (hockey) name?

I disappointed a great many people yesterday on Twitter when I reminded / told people that Tore Vikingstad had retired from international competition. That's right, hockey fans, there is now no reason to watch the World Championships in Germany. Or, at least, there's no reason to watch Norway. (They don't have those swinging-cool curling pants in hockey, either, you know.)

Much of the Vikingstad's newfound North American celebrity was almost entirely due to two things. One, he's a hockey player. And two, his last name contains the word "Viking" in it. And that's pretty much it. (As a side note, and those of you who watched the Olympics probably remember this, his name's approximately pronounced "toe-ra vee-king-staadt".)

Well, that got me to thinking...what are some of the pretty cool hockey names out there? Past and present - why limit ourselves? Not nicknames, though that might be for another day. I'm talking real names.

What makes a good hockey name? To me, it's a strong name that flows off the tongue that can be fun to say. It's classic and withstands the test of time. Simply put, it's a name that you read or hear and immediately think to yourself, "that guy has got to be a hockey player."

Star-divide

So this is the audience participation part of the program, boys and girls. Leave your candidates in the comments, and let's see who can come up with the best names. Maybe I'll put up a poll in my post next week and have the people decide on who has the best hockey name. In the meantime, I'll get you started with my own list. In no particular order....

So what do you got?

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Needs more Ziggy Palffy.

"Grind now, shine later." - Wesley Johnson

by Afino on May 6, 2010 8:20 AM CDT reply actions   1 recs

antti niemi

simply for some of the nicknames:

anti-goal, etc. when he earns a shut-out, pat foley says “another niemi no-no.”

by redfaction37 on May 6, 2010 8:40 AM CDT reply actions  

Owen Nolan

The curse shall be ended.
Battle of California

by Megalodon on May 6, 2010 8:51 AM CDT reply actions  

Arturs Irbe.

"Grind now, shine later." - Wesley Johnson

by Afino on May 6, 2010 9:52 AM CDT reply actions  

Zarley Zalapski

Fatang Fatang.

by NeverendingOptimism on May 6, 2010 9:57 AM CDT reply actions  

Oops, Already there. shoot, um.

Ron Tugnutt!

Fatang Fatang.

by NeverendingOptimism on May 6, 2010 9:59 AM CDT reply actions  

Ilkka Sinisalo
Sheldon Kannegeisser
Walt Poddubny
Petri Skriko

by RobQ on May 6, 2010 9:59 AM CDT reply actions  

WHERE’S DAVID LEGWAND

On the Forecheck/Twitter/CLS
"What do you think this is? Major League Baseball?"- Shea Weber

by Chris Burton on May 6, 2010 10:02 AM CDT reply actions  

Ummm…. I would guess that he’s probably at home. Why? ;o)

There's nothing quite like the sound of a frozen puck hitting the glass. It makes me happy.

Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community.

by Cassie McClellan on May 6, 2010 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions  

Heh. Ow. Sweet surname at any rate.

On the Forecheck/Twitter/CLS
"What do you think this is? Major League Baseball?"- Shea Weber

by Chris Burton on May 6, 2010 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions  

It’s definitely up there when it comes to hockey names, yeah.

There's nothing quite like the sound of a frozen puck hitting the glass. It makes me happy.

Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community.

by Cassie McClellan on May 6, 2010 2:44 PM CDT up reply actions  

I don’t think he’s been seen since the ’98 draft

Cheers, Complaints, homerism and bashing of mediocre pop musicians in 140 Characters
"DO NOT get stuck behind Kyle Wellwood in the buffet line. This isn't really etiquette, but it will prevent you from starving to death"- Down Goes Brown on Etiquette for Jason Spezza's wedding

by Kevin Sellathamby on May 6, 2010 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions  

EIGHT POINTS IN SIX PLAYOFF GAMES BABY

On the Forecheck/Twitter/CLS
"What do you think this is? Major League Baseball?"- Shea Weber

by Chris Burton on May 6, 2010 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions  

To me it’s not close. Looking at and pronouncing the name Joe Dziedzic represents everything good about hockey.

by mepex on May 6, 2010 10:24 AM CDT reply actions  

Terry Sawchuck (One of my favorite hockey names ever)
Pavel Bure
Alex Goligoski

John Madden…wait, maybe not.

by jameshstephenson on May 6, 2010 10:31 AM CDT reply actions  

John Madden…wait, maybe not.

Ha!

I got a chuckle.

"Grind now, shine later." - Wesley Johnson

by Afino on May 6, 2010 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions  

Cal Clutterbuck.

"My face is my mask."

by Jake Shapiro on May 6, 2010 10:57 AM CDT reply actions  

Konowalchuk

If we hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominos will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate.

by HBK on May 6, 2010 11:05 AM CDT reply actions  

I love all of the Finnish names…

Jari Kurri
Teemu Selanne
Essa Tikkanen
Joni Pitkanen
Sami Kapanen

Something about them make me think of a clean sheet of ice…

Support Coyotes Hockey - Five For Howling
(Oh, and go Philly teams as well!)

by Jordan Ellel on May 6, 2010 11:05 AM CDT reply actions  

agreed. Finns Rule!

reijo ruotsalainen
per djoos
mikko makkela
jyrki lumme
risto stiltanen
kari takko
juha ylonen

by john ogrodnick on May 6, 2010 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions  

Per Djoos is actually Swedish – still a great name, tho.

There's nothing quite like the sound of a frozen puck hitting the glass. It makes me happy.

Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community.

by Cassie McClellan on May 6, 2010 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions  

Can't go wrong with Reijo Ruotsalainen

The poor Rangers staffer who had to sew that name in arced, drop-shadow letters…

Lighthouse Hockey: Playing the NHL Lotto

by Dominik on May 6, 2010 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions  

Jaroslav Halak

Raymond Bourque (have to say Raymond)

Brad Bombardir

Valeri Zelepukin

by Matthew Ventolo on May 6, 2010 11:23 AM CDT reply actions  

Valeri Zelepuki
Valeri Kharmalov

Cheers, Complaints, homerism and bashing of mediocre pop musicians in 140 Characters
"DO NOT get stuck behind Kyle Wellwood in the buffet line. This isn't really etiquette, but it will prevent you from starving to death"- Down Goes Brown on Etiquette for Jason Spezza's wedding

by Kevin Sellathamby on May 6, 2010 11:24 AM CDT reply actions  

Sorely missing Radek Bonk.

Also, Mikko but not Saku??

And, I don’t know about the rest of the world, but Jean Beliveau is a pretty standard name in Quebec, as are Felix Potvin and Marcel Dionne. Unless we’re going with the name recognition factor… anyways, great list!

by James.P on May 6, 2010 11:55 AM CDT reply actions  

Simply put, it’s a name that you read or hear and immediately think to yourself, “that guy has got to be a hockey player.”

Common names apply, too. They don’t have to be goofy or exotic. I was trying to not be too repetitive in my list, which is why I only mentioned on Koivu and not both.

There's nothing quite like the sound of a frozen puck hitting the glass. It makes me happy.

Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community.

by Cassie McClellan on May 6, 2010 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions  

Darren Puppa

"Playing Detroit in the playoffs is like paying your taxes. You either pay now or pay later." - Suisun Dan

by Nael M. on May 6, 2010 12:00 PM CDT reply actions  

The best one is Grant Clitsome of the Blue Jackets!

by Fred Poulin on May 6, 2010 12:06 PM CDT reply actions  

Garth Butcher

Assistant *to* the Managing Editor, Mile High Hockey

by David Driscoll-Carignan on May 6, 2010 12:33 PM CDT reply actions  

Darren Pang really is a great name for a goalie as well, because if you’re going to get beat as much as Pang did, you want some help from the posts. Unfortunately, he really didn’t get that either. But he’s a great color guy…Holy Jumpin’!!

Support Coyotes Hockey - Five For Howling
(Oh, and go Philly teams as well!)

by Jordan Ellel on May 6, 2010 1:49 PM CDT reply actions  

Stanislav Neckar.

It is NOT pronounced how it looks.

A few more:
Kelly Bucheberger
Dale Hawerchuk
Andy Moog

"Ovechkin, what is good in life?"

"To crush your enemies. To see them driven before you. And to hear the lamentations of their captain."

by Wheeler on May 6, 2010 2:05 PM CDT reply actions  

I knew that. Neckar is pronounced “nets-KARSH” – or something very close to that, anyways. Crazy Slavic names!

There's nothing quite like the sound of a frozen puck hitting the glass. It makes me happy.

Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community.

by Cassie McClellan on May 6, 2010 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions  

you're forgetting vikingstad's norwegian teammate!

Mats Zucharella Aasen

Nucks Misconduct's Ambassador, Squid Provider, and Chief Puck Bunny. Now making the NM publishing crew much less of a sausage party. Also on Twitter.

by missy on May 6, 2010 2:31 PM CDT reply actions  

wow, i've been spelling it wrong!

it’s “zuccarello”

Nucks Misconduct's Ambassador, Squid Provider, and Chief Puck Bunny. Now making the NM publishing crew much less of a sausage party. Also on Twitter.

by missy on May 6, 2010 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions  

I always thought Bruno St. Jacques had a pretty sweet hockey name.

by David Getz on May 6, 2010 2:47 PM CDT reply actions  

Larry Playfair. Because he definitely didn’t. One year, he had 181 PIMs… in 37 games! One of his D partners in Buffalo: Lindy Ruff.

He may never make the NHL, but he lives on in my fantasy hockey team names: Wacey Rabbit.

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on May 6, 2010 2:52 PM CDT reply actions  

Bill Hajt

So simple, yet so awkward.

Lighthouse Hockey: Playing the NHL Lotto

by Dominik on May 6, 2010 3:26 PM CDT reply actions  

Can’t believe I just thought of one of my faves:

Branko Radivojevic

I joked with my wife that I wanted to name my first son Branko…I was told that I will not be permitted to name any children :(

Support Coyotes Hockey - Five For Howling
(Oh, and go Philly teams as well!)

by Jordan Ellel on May 6, 2010 4:01 PM CDT reply actions  

You can always sneak it in as a nickname – no matter what the kid’s actual name is.

There's nothing quite like the sound of a frozen puck hitting the glass. It makes me happy.

Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community.

by Cassie McClellan on May 6, 2010 4:29 PM CDT up reply actions  

Orland Kurtenbach, all the way.

Canucks fans talking about the Canucks: Pass it To Bulis!

by skeeter_dan on May 6, 2010 4:36 PM CDT reply actions  

If youre going with Canucks, you have to give a nod to Stan Smyl.

by john ogrodnick on May 6, 2010 9:18 PM CDT up reply actions  

Karlis Skrastins
Jim Carey
Pete Peeters
Dit Clapper
Darius Kasparaitis
any player with the first name Helmut
had he made it, Sinuhe Wallinheimo would have been a shoo-in…

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http://bettmansnightmare.blogspot.com/

by Bettman's Nightmare on May 6, 2010 4:58 PM CDT reply actions  

HELMUTUS BALDERIS

"Grind now, shine later." - Wesley Johnson

by Afino on May 6, 2010 6:24 PM CDT up reply actions  

Great post, Cassie.

I always loved Oleg Tverdovsky.

http://sacrificethebody.blogspot.com/
Sacrifice the Body - Examining the NHL through statistical analysis, reasoned thought, and blind conjecture.

by IAmJoe on May 6, 2010 5:00 PM CDT reply actions  

Thanks!

There's nothing quite like the sound of a frozen puck hitting the glass. It makes me happy.

Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning community.

by Cassie McClellan on May 6, 2010 8:53 PM CDT up reply actions  

Last names only

Zetterberg
Spacek
Vlasic
Brind’Amour
Horton
Backes
Bonk
Clutterbuck

Other Full names
T.J. Oshie
Owen Nolan
Ziggy Palffy

by tarlinian on May 6, 2010 10:22 PM CDT reply actions  

Joe Nieuwendyk
Petr Klima
Petr Svoboda
Sergio Momesso
Hakan Loob
Shaun Van Allen
Joel Otto
Kevin Dineen
Saku Koivu
Kirk McLean
Chris Chelios
Todd Bertuzzi

by Costa24 on May 7, 2010 12:35 AM CDT reply actions  

Ooh, and how about Pat Verbeek.

by Costa24 on May 7, 2010 12:36 AM CDT up reply actions  

Between Dineen and Verbeek, it makes me fondly remember the Whale.

"Grind now, shine later." - Wesley Johnson

by Afino on May 7, 2010 8:04 AM CDT up reply actions  

I want to nominate a linesman: Thor Nelson.

Anyone named Thor has to figure on some list about awesome names.

by James.P on May 7, 2010 8:06 AM CDT reply actions  

Love the list here

I’m going to say Darcy Wakaluk, love that last name.

by Jeremy Blasko on May 7, 2010 2:34 PM CDT reply actions  

Orest Kindrachuk
Juda Widing
Vic Venasky
Gilles Marotte
Blake Wheeler
Bates Battaglia (sounds like a prize fighter from a 1930’s boxing movie ….. “Tonight, Bates Battaglia goes up againts Kid Galahad for the Welterweight Champeeenship at the War Memorial Coliseum. Tickets only $2.50.”)

by mz3stanley on May 7, 2010 3:00 PM CDT reply actions  

It’s already up here, but let’s hear it for the Tugger – Ron Tugnutt. I remember an ESPN Top 10 from about 10 years ago. It was Top 10 Athletes whose names sound like an adult film star. Who was #1? . . . . . . . RON TUGNUTT!! Although, today you could also go with David Legwand!

Darius Kasparitis is up here already, too, but I like his name. It sounds like a nasty disease. Like, I travelled through the African rainforest, was bitten by a tsetse fly, and contracted a horrible case of Kasparitis.

Finally, my new addition: Vlastimil “Vlasti” Kroupa. His name sounds like a hot cereal. “Mom, can I have some more Vlastimil . . . uh, I mean: Malt-O-Meal?”

by DrummerMan on May 7, 2010 7:05 PM CDT reply actions  

I’ve notice there’s a bit of a trend…lots of “chuck” names.

Sawchuck, Konawalchuk, Andreychuck, Tkachuk, Kindrachuk…there are plenty more, too.

I think the “chuck” sound in a name immediately makes one think “hockey player” (at least it does for me). Probably one of the more common and popular hockey name sounds.

It’s possible there’s an algorithm here for “the perfect hockey name”.

by jameshstephenson on May 7, 2010 10:05 PM CDT reply actions  

I’m joining the fun a bit late, but I couldn’t resist submitting those of my favorites that haven’t been mentioned yet.

Maxim Afinogenov
Lonny Bohonos
Sheldon Brookbank
Carlo Colaiacovo
Jussi Jokinen
Sergei Krivokrasov
Roman Kukumberg (this one is cool, obviously)
Manny Legace
Marek Malik
Rumun Ndur
Randy Robitaille
Brendan Shanahan
Janis Sprukts
Wes Walz
Marek Zidlicky

by Kaonashi on May 11, 2010 6:38 PM CDT reply actions  

My #1 with a bullet is Fido Purpur.

Writer for The Copper & Blue and primary shareholder of Zorg Industries

"Never be ashamed of who you are" -- Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg

by Bruce McCurdy on May 11, 2010 8:03 PM CDT reply actions  

Aldo and Bep Guidolin
Modere ‘Mud’ Bruneteau

Please allow me to adjust my pants, so that I may dance the good time dance, and lead the onlookers and innocent bystanders into a trance.

by Smoboy41 on May 12, 2010 3:43 PM CDT reply actions  


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