8 of the wackiest nicknames NHL players go by

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Hockey nicknames can be pretty predictable. Many NHL players just throw a “Y” on the end of a teammate’s last name and go from there.

But every once in a while, a truly great one pops up. Whether it’s sparked by a player’s quirks, habits, or a single unforgettable moment, the best nicknames are the ones that don’t go away.

With that in mind, here’s a look at a few NHL monikers that stand out from the usual “Smithy” and “Jonesy” crowd.

1. Quinn Hughes — “Huggy Bear”

We can thank former Vancouver Canucks forward Brandon Sutter for giving captain Quinn Hughes his loveable nickname.

“As soon as we drafted him, I thought ‘Hughesy,’ ‘Huggy Bear,’” Sutter said in a 2019 video posted by the team. “He came in one day, like the third day he was here, and he had a T-shirt on it that had a tiny little bear on it. It was perfect.”

The 25-year-old’s other nicknames include “Hughesy,” “Huggy Dog,” and “Q Ball.”

2. Arber Xhekaj — “WiFi”

When Canadiens defenceman Arber Xhekaj entered the NHL in 2022, some pretty cool nicknames followed the enforcer, such as “Big X” and “The Sheriff.”

Due to the unique spelling of his name, he was given another moniker by veteran blueliner and former defensive partner Chris Wideman, who called him “WiFi” because the letters resemble something you’d see in an internet password.

The label stuck and has since made waves around the NHL. With that said, the 23-year-old is not too fond of it.

“When people are calling me Mr. WiFi and they don’t know my name, that’s a bit tough,” Xhekaj said in a 2023 interview. “But if the fans like it, I like it.”

3. Justin Kirkland — “Costco”

Early in the 2024-25 season, Calgary Flames fans discovered that Justin Kirkland’s teammates call him “Costco” — a nickname based on the store’s generic brand of the same name.

The 28-year-old forward has since embraced the joke. His parents and wife, Madison, even showed up to a recent game decked out in Kirkland apparel from Costco.

4. Artemi Panarin — “The Breadman”

Along with many on-ice gifts, New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin currently owns one of the league’s most iconic nicknames.

Based on the similarity in the pronunciation of his last name to the Panera Bread franchise, legend has it that former Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville cooked up the unique “Breadman” tag during Panarin’s rookie season in Chicago.

Despite suiting up for two different teams since then, the 31-year-old’s nickname has endured.

5. Martin Necas — “Sugar Boo”

Carolina Hurricanes forward Martin Necas is a force to be reckoned with on the ice. But his nickname says otherwise.

For whatever reason, fellow Carolina forward Andrei Svechnikov referred to Necas as “Sugar Boo” in a viral pre-game clip.

The Canes’ social media team has even leaned into the joke on various occasions, keeping the legend of “Sugar Boo” alive.

6. Charlie McAvoy — “Chuckie Bright Lights”

An ode to his remarkable poise in high-pressure situations, Charlie McAvoy’s Boston Bruins teammates playfully refer to the forward as “Chuckie Bright Lights.”

The nickname has garnered so much attention that it’s even featured on officially licensed Bruins T-shirts.

mcavoy nhl t shirt

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7. Sam Montembeault — “Snacks”

Toward the end of the 2022-23 campaign, the Canadiens rocked practice jerseys with every player’s nickname etched on the back. Goalie Sam Montembeault had one of the more unique titles of the bunch, rocking the word “Snacks.”

The name is derived from the netminder’s tendency to eat between periods.

Whether or not he still gets game-time hunger pangs is a mystery, but the title remains.

8. Brock Boeser — “Mr. Sensitive”

With a luscious blonde flow, many Vancouver Canucks fans have compared forward Brock Boeser to Prince Charming over the years.

However, another one of his many nicknames seems to have stood the test of time.

Back in 2020, ex-teammate Jake Virtanen told Global News that Boeser was known around the locker room as “Mr. Sensitive.”

Boeser refused to accept the nickname, which only encouraged fans to keep using it.

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