Unlikely Hockey Homelands
The Minors
1990s NHL Captains
Legendary Backups
Olympic Magic
100

This Los Angeles Kings captain and two-time Stanley Cup winner is the pride of Slovenia.

Who is Anže Kopitar?

100

This AHL team, based in Utica, New York, shares its name with the Roman god of fire and is affiliated with the New Jersey Devils.

Who are the Utica Comets?

100

This forward captained the Montreal Canadiens from 1981 to 1989, leading the team to a Stanley Cup victory in 1986.

Who is Bob Gainey?

100

This goalie, known as “The Hamburglar,” became an Ottawa Senators sensation in 2015 after going 20-1-2 during a surprise playoff push.

Who is Andrew Hammond?

100

This country shocked the world by winning gold at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, the first to feature NHL players.

Who is the Czech Republic?

200

This defenseman, born in Brazil but raised in Canada, played most of his career with the Calgary Flames before winning a Stanley Cup with the Los Angeles Kings.

Who is Robyn Regehr?

200

Before moving to their current home in California, this AHL team, now affiliated with the Anaheim Ducks, was known as the Norfolk Admirals.

Who are the San Diego Gulls?

200

This New York Islanders captain hoisted four consecutive Stanley Cups from 1980 to 1983 and was known for his clutch playoff performances.

Who is Denis Potvin?

200

This Finnish goalie backed up for the Anaheim Ducks during their 2007 Stanley Cup-winning season and is remembered for his clutch playoff performances.

Who is Ilya Bryzgalov?

200

This team won silver in the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, losing to the "Olympic Athletes from Russia" in a thrilling final.

Who is Germany?

300

This forward, born in Jamaica, was the NHL’s first player from the Caribbean and played for teams like the Bruins and Islanders.

Who is Graeme Townshend?

300

This former AHL team, which relocated to become the Stockton Heat, was named after a famous California city’s historical connection to gold mining.

Who were the Adirondack Flames?

300

This defenseman captained the Calgary Flames during the 1980s and later became a coach in the NHL.

Who is Jim Peplinski?

300

This journeyman backup is best known for his stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he filled in admirably during their 2009 Stanley Cup run.

Who is Mathieu Garon?

300

This Swedish defenseman captained his team to gold in the 2006 Turin Olympics.

Who is Nicklas Lidström?

400

This goaltender became the first (and only) Japanese-born player to appear in an NHL game with the Los Angeles Kings in 2007.

Who is Yutaka Fukufuji?

400

Named after an iconic American animal, this Colorado-based AHL team serves as the affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche.

Who are the Colorado Eagles?

400

This captain of the Washington Capitals throughout much of the 1980s was known for his strong two-way play and leadership on the ice.

Who is Rod Langway?

400

Often overshadowed by Roberto Luongo, this Canucks backup made a name for himself in shootouts during the early 2010s.

Who is Corey Schinder?

400

This legendary Russian forward led his team to Olympic gold in 1992 as part of the Unified Team.

Who is Pavel Bure.

500

This Australian forward made history as the first player from his country in the NHL and won a Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2018.

Who is Nathan Walker?

500

This AHL team, the affiliate of the Seattle Kraken, plays in the Coachella Valley and is named after a weather phenomenon common to the desert.

Who are the Coachella Valley Firebirds?

500

This defenseman captained the Quebec Nordiques for most of the 1980s and was later inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Who is Peter Stastny?

500

He stood tall in the crease for the Ottawa Senators in their 2007 Cup run, playing a key role as a backup goalie.

Who is Ray Emery?

500

This Finnish goaltender was instrumental in securing a bronze medal in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

Who is Miikka Kiprusoff?