Friday, March 02, 2007

 

Where's Dick Irvin Jr. When I Need Him?

Other than Tommy McHattrick, star of the Toronto St. Pats in the 1920's (Tommy was notorious for saying the Rosary before every game while impregnanting his wife and getting drunk on Jameson, reciting Yeats in the middle of a donnybrook, and crying after every win), Marc-André Cliche has to be the best hockey name ever. Somehow, I missed the fact that this kid played for the 2007 World Juniors team. How did his name not get more attention? From La belle province? Oui. From hyphenated-name, small-town Québec? Oui (Rouyn-Noranda). Obvious Habs worshipper? Oui (flowing locks, right wing, #10). Well-dressed smoker who listens to techno on the bus and reads Tintin and Astérix to relax? I don't know, but I'm going to lean towards oui, oui, oui, oui, and oui. Unfortunately, Cliche plays for the Lewiston MAINEiacs, the only QMJHL team in the U.S., as well as front runner in the "Worst Hockey Name, Ever" category. It would have been much better if he played for Trois-Rivières or Chicoutimi. Still, this has to be the best hockey name of all time. I challenge anyone think of a better one.

Cliche was traded from the Rangers to the Kings in February, as part of the Sean Avery deal.

Image taken from NY Rangers.com

Comments:

I think its pronounced Cleesh - they actually talked about the kid and how he has already had it with questions and comments about his moniker.

As for better names there was the Finnish goalie from the 70s, Janni Fivhola
 


Robin Bigsnake for sure.

- anonymous (e)
 


Wascally Wabbit
 


Bob Beers is one of my all-time favourite hockey names. I'm also a fan of Tony Twist.
 


Don't forget the great Mush March.
 


The definitive ode to Ryan Smyth:
http://theoryofice.blogspot.com/2007/03/soul-of-nowhere.html

i'm sorry, i don't know how to do links properly.
 


I get it. You all like that post. But it's been linked to about four times in the comments. Enough is enough, people. :)
 


Cliche was actually one of my absolute favourite Canadian players at the WJHC's. He didn't have much in the way of offensive flair, but he endeared himself to me through a series of excellent "extra effort"-type defensive plays. He seemed to be a very hard working and intelligent player.

Strictly based on their respective performances at the tourny, I thought of Cliche as just a slightly poor man's Mike Richards in his own zone and without the offensive pop. I wonder if that translates to the bigs, and if so to what level of effectiveness.
 


Aw Black Dog, you ruin the fun. I remember seeing that name a while ago and loving it. He was in some trade that involved a "Jan Marek", which also stuck with me because I have a friend who named their camera (it's complicated) Jean-Marek.
 


Katie - take that back!

I may be getting up there but I have rarely (never) been accused of ruining the fun.

I am an escalator of fun.
 


Yeah, Bob Beers is a pretty awesome name.

Wasn't there a Bob Corkum too?

And Jeff Buekeboom....
 


No love for Corey Pecker and Mike Pudlick?

Sheesh...
 


This comment has been removed by the author.
 


'MAINEiacs' may be one of the stupidest team names ever, but they make up for it with one of the best hockey logos ever, imho:

http://tinyurl.com/3ar9up
 


MAINEiacs is indeed bad, but you need a whole different level of bad to describe Omaha Ak-sar-ben Knights.
 


Pete Peters has to rank up there, just for sheer "what were his parents thinking"-ness
 


Andy: Shouldn't this be on Hot Oil?
 


I always thought it'd be cool if Satan became a Devil.

That reminds me of the other favourite hockey name: Miro Satan.

Pete Peters has to rank up there, just for sheer "what were his parents thinking"-ness

Awesome alliteration, indeed.

Andy: Shouldn't this be on Hot Oil?

I can't tell if you are trying to compliment or insult me. And where's the baseball metaphor? :)
 


I get it. You all like that post. But it's been linked to about four times in the comments. Enough is enough, people. :)

Yeah. Besides, I did it first. :)

Saku Koivu has always been one of my favourite names to say. And Zarley Zalapski. And Valeri Zelepukin, before I learned how to pronounce it properly.
 


Hey I like Hot Oil, it was a compliment.
 

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