The Philadelphia Flyers may have lost on Thursday night, but the fans won as we were introduced to several of the players’ nicknames on the broadcast.
Some of the nicknames are self-explanatory, while others were improved by learning more about them.
Without any further ado, here is the official ranking of the Flyers’ team nicknames from Wednesday night’s broadcast.
7. Tyson Foerster as “Forey”
This is as hockey player as it gets. A typical hockey nickname just takes the player’s last name, or a syllable of it, in this case, and adds the “ey” sound at the end.
It can be viewed as classic or boring, depending on who you ask, but I lean toward the latter side of things. How about “Trees” as a play on forest? Or TyFo, as some fans have called him. Even Tofu would be better than Forey.
6. Jamie Drysdale as “Jim”
Zegras started calling Drysale “Jim” during their time in Anaheim together, and it’s carried over into Philadelphia. The two former Ducks have had a connection off the ice for years, and the Flyers are seeing that pay dividends on the ice as well.
Personally, I’ve taken to calling him “Jim Jam,” which would move him up the rankings, but just plain Jim it is.
5. Matvei Michkov as “Mike”
This is a nickname that was confusing at first, but it’s stuck to the Russian phenom for nearly a year now.
Zegras has given out a few of the new nicknames, and it’s fitting that the guy the Flyers sent to Anaheim for the forward is the one who gave Michkov his. The team was watching the Mike Tyson fight together, and Ryan Poehling noticed that the young Russian has a thick neck just like the boxing legend.
There are plenty of nicknames that could come from either Matvei or Michkov, or a play on his initials, yet somehow “Mike” has stuck.
4. Trevor Zegras as “Ziggy”
We’re getting less original as we move along, as Ziggy is an easy play on Zegras’s last name. But it fits the flashy Zegras so well.
He’s off to a hot start with the Flyers, leading the team with 16 points in as many games. He’s added some flash to the offense, and his nickname reflects that.
There have been a few Ziggys throughout history, and Zegras is looking to make a name for himself in Philadelphia.
3. Noah Cates as “Capes”
Now, when this one popped up on the screen, I wasn’t initially a fan. I assumed it was hockey players doing the hockey player thing of changing a letter or a mispronunciation sticking as a new nickname.
But the explanation changed everything.
This isn’t simply a nickname based on Cates’ name, but rather on the recovery system that the center wears on the plane, which looks like a cape.
Zegras had also referred to Cates as “Caper” in other quotes, which might move him up above Taco on the nickname ranking.
2. Rick Tocchet as “Taco”
Trevor Zegras gave his new head coach a new moniker in training camp, and it’s stuck.
“I think with a guy like (Zegras), his personality is great for a room. He smiles and I think he calls me ‘Taco’ now… I don’t know what he’s calling me,” Tocchet said back in September. “But I like the fact that he’s a good kid and he wants to learn. But, you know, there are certain parts of his game he knows he has to clean up and he’s willing to learn.”
It’s kind of crazy that Tocchet has spent his entire life around the NHL and had yet to be referred to as the Mexican dish. It’s a simple transformation from Tocchet to Taco, and the Flyers should be leaning fully into it with Taco Tuesday specials down at the rink on game nights.
1. Garnet Hathaway as “Gart Angry”
There was a clear favorite on social media once this graphic was revealed on the broadcast. That, of course, is Garnet Hathaway’s nickname as “Gart Angry” or “Gart Mad” depending on the day.
Hathaway has been a fourth-line staple for the Flyers in recent years, and he’s certainly earned a reputation as someone who is hard to play against throughout his career.
The 34-year-old winger has played in all 16 games this season and is the only one to do so without recording a point. He’s been helping out with a team-high 58 hits, but perhaps a goal here or there could turn Gart Angry into Gart Happy.
Hopefully, we’ll be given more insight into the Flyers’ locker room and nicknames throughout the team as the season moves along. If not, I just might have to dish out some nicknames myself.
