Famous 20th Century Ice Hockey Players

Vote for Your Favourite 20th Century Ice Hockey Players

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 1 
Wayne Gretzky
(One of the Greatest Ice Hockey Players in the History of the National Hockey League)
Wayne Gretzky
17
Birthdate: January 26, 1961
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Brantford, Canada
Nicknamed "The Great One,” Wayne Gretzky is a four-time Stanley Cup Champion and a six-time All-Star record-breaker. The Hockey Hall of Fame inductee played for four NHL teams from 1979 to 1999, was the leading scorer in NHL history, and served as the head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes.
 2 
Jaromír Jágr
(Czech Ice Hockey Player and An Olympic, World, and European Champion)
Jaromír Jágr
7
Birthdate: February 15, 1972
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Kladno, Czechia

Legendary Czech ice hockey player Jaromír Jágr is known as one of the finest right wingers of his time. A 2-time World Champion and an Olympic gold medalist, he is also known for his stints with NHL teams such as the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Boston Bruins.

 3 
Mario Lemieux
(One of the Greatest Ice Hockey Players of All Time)
Mario Lemieux
7
Birthdate: October 5, 1965
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Montreal, Canada

Canadian former professional ice hockey player Mario Lemieux spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Penguins, playing parts of 17 National Hockey League (NHL) seasons. A gifted playmaker and fast skater, he is considered to be one of the best players of all time. With a 0.754 career goals-per-game average, he ranks second in NHL history, behind only Mike Bossy.

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 4 
Martin Brodeur
(Canadian-American Former Professional Ice Hockey Goaltender)
Martin Brodeur
10
Birthdate: May 6, 1972
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 5 
Bobby Hull
(One of the Greatest Ice Hockey Players of All Time)
Bobby Hull
8
Birthdate: January 3, 1939
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Point Anne, Belleville, Canada
Died: January 20, 2023
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 6 
Teemu Selänne
(Former Finnish Ice Hockey Player Who Played as a Winger)
Teemu Selänne
4
Birthdate: July 3, 1970
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Helsinki

Teemu Selänne is a Finnish retired ice hockey player who played as a winger. Dubbed the Finnish Flash, Teemu is the highest scoring player from Finland in the history of the National Hockey League (NHL). In 2017, he became only the second Finn after Jari Kurri to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

 7 
Gordie Howe
(Canadian Professional Ice Hockey Player)
Gordie Howe
4
Birthdate: March 31, 1928
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Floral, Saskatchewan, Canada
Died: June 10, 2016
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 8 
Chris Chelios
(American Former Professional Ice Hockey Defenseman)
Chris Chelios
8
Birthdate: January 25, 1962
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 9 
Peter Forsberg
(One of the Greatest Players in the History of Ice Hockey)
Peter Forsberg
5
Birthdate: July 20, 1973
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Örnsköldsvik, Sweden

Peter Forsberg is a Swedish former ice hockey player. Forsberg is considered one of the greatest players in the history of ice hockey. He is best known for winning a gold medal at the 1994 and 2006 Winter Olympics. Peter Forsberg was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame and the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

 10 
Maurice Richard
(Canadian Professional Ice Hockey Player)
Maurice Richard
6
Birthdate: August 4, 1921
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died: May 27, 2000
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 11 
Dominik Hašek
(Former Czech Ice Hockey Player Who Played as a Goaltender)
Dominik Hašek
4
Birthdate: January 29, 1965
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Pardubice, Czechia

Dominik Hašek is a Czech retired ice hockey player who played as a goaltender. He is counted among the greatest goaltenders and is credited with leading his national team to its first Olympic gold medal. In 2014, he was made an inductee of the Hockey Hall of Fame. In 2017, Hašek was mentioned in the 100 Greatest NHL Players list.

 12 
Brett Hull
(Canadian–American Former Ice Hockey Player and General Manager)
Brett Hull
13
Birthdate: August 9, 1964
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Belleville, Ontario, Canada
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 13 
Sergei Fedorov
(Russian Former Professional Ice Hockey Player and the Current Head Coach)
Sergei Fedorov
6
Birthdate: December 13, 1969
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Pskov, Russia
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 14 
Bobby Orr
(One of the Greatest Ice Hockey Players of All Time)
Bobby Orr
4
Birthdate: March 20, 1948
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Parry Sound, Canada
Canadian ice-hockey star Bobby Orr is known for his 12-year NHL career, 10 of which were spent playing for the Boston Bruins. His Stanley Cup win in 1970 marked the Bruins’ first title in 29 years. Post-retirement, the septuagenarian Hockey Hall of Fame inductee has also experimented with golf.
 15 
Joe Sakic
(Canadian Professional Ice Hockey Executive and Former Player)
Joe Sakic
7
Birthdate: July 7, 1969
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Burnaby, Canada
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 16 
Guy Lafleur
(Canadian Professional Ice Hockey Right Winger)
Guy Lafleur
8
Birthdate: September 20, 1951
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Thurso, Quebec, Canada
Died: April 22, 2022
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 17 
Chris Pronger
(Canadian Former Professional Ice Hockey Defenceman and a Former Advisor to the Florida Panthers)
Chris Pronger
6
Birthdate: October 10, 1974
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Dryden, Ontario, Canada
Height: 6'6" (198 cm)
 18 
Mark Messier
(Canadian Former Professional Ice Hockey Centre)
Mark Messier
2
Birthdate: January 18, 1961
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: St. Albert, Alberta, Canada
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 19 
Tim Horton
(Canadian Professional Ice Hockey Defenceman)
Tim Horton
13
Birthdate: January 12, 1930
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Cochrane, Ontario, Canada
Died: February 21, 1974
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 20 
Hayley Wickenheiser
(Canadian Former Ice Hockey Player and Four-Time Olympic Gold Medalist)
Hayley Wickenheiser
7
Birthdate: August 12, 1978
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Shaunavon, Canada
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 21 
Stan Mikita
(Canadian Ice Hockey Centre)
Stan Mikita
5
Birthdate: May 20, 1940
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Sokolče, Vlachy, Slovakia
Died: August 7, 2018
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 22 
Luc Robitaille
(Canadian–American Professional Ice Hockey Executive and Former Player)
Luc Robitaille
6
Birthdate: February 17, 1966
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 23 
Nicklas Lidström
(Swedish Former Professional Ice Hockey Defenceman)
Nicklas Lidström
3
Birthdate: April 28, 1970
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Krylbo, Avesta, Sweden
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 24 
Grant Fuhr
(Canadian Former Ice Hockey Goaltender)
Grant Fuhr
5
Birthdate: September 28, 1962
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 25 
Steve Yzerman
(Canadian Former Professional Ice Hockey Player)
Steve Yzerman
7
Birthdate: May 9, 1965
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Cranbrook, Canada
 26 
Paul Kariya
(Canadian Former Professional Ice Hockey Winger)
Paul Kariya
3
Birthdate: October 16, 1974
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 27 
Mats Sundin
(Swedish Former Professional Ice Hockey Player Centreman)
Mats Sundin
5
Birthdate: February 13, 1971
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Bromma, Sweden
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
 28 
Eric Lindros
(Canadian Former Professional Ice Hockey Player)
Eric Lindros
5
Birthdate: February 28, 1973
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: London, Ontario, Canada
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
 29 
Jacques Plante
(Canadian Professional Ice Hockey Goaltender)
Jacques Plante
4
Birthdate: January 17, 1929
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel, Quebec, Canada
Died: February 27, 1986
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 30 
Patrick Roy
(Canadian Former Professional Ice Hockey Goaltender and Coach)
Patrick Roy
9
Birthdate: October 5, 1965
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 31 
Henri Richard
(Canadian Professional Ice Hockey Player Who Played Centre)
Henri Richard
4
Birthdate: February 29, 1936
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died: March 6, 2020
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 32 
Phil Esposito
(The First Ice Hockey Player to Score More Than 100 Points in a Season)
Phil Esposito
0
Birthdate: February 20, 1942
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 33 
Börje Salming
(Swedish Ice Hockey Player)
Börje Salming
2
Birthdate: April 17, 1951
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Kiruna, Sweden
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 34 
Bobby Clarke
(Canadian Former Professional Ice Hockey Centre)
Bobby Clarke
5
Birthdate: August 13, 1949
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Flin Flon, Canada
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 35 
Pavel Bure
(Russian Former Professional Ice Hockey Player Who Played the Right Wing Position)
Pavel Bure
4
Birthdate: March 31, 1971
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 36 
Terry Sawchuk
(Canadian Professional Ice Hockey Goaltender)
Terry Sawchuk
5
Birthdate: December 28, 1929
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Died: May 31, 1970
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 37 
Ray Bourque
(Former Ice Hockey Player - Holds Records for Most Career Goals, Assists & Points By a Defenceman in the NHL)
Ray Bourque
3
Birthdate: December 28, 1960
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Saint-Laurent, Montreal, Canada
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 38 
Jean Béliveau
(Former Ice hockey Centre)
Jean Béliveau
2
Birthdate: August 31, 1931
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Trois-Rivières, Canada
Died: December 2, 2014
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 39 
Bob Probert
(Canadian Professional Ice Hockey Player)
Bob Probert
10
Birthdate: June 5, 1965
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Windsor, Canada
Died: July 5, 2010

Bob Probert was a Canadian ice hockey player who played as a forward throughout his career. Most of his achievements as a player were overshadowed by his reputation of being a fighter inside the rink as well as his off-ice antics and brushes with the law. He also supported aspiring hockey players and often bought match tickets for underprivileged children.

 40 
Ron Francis
(Canadian Former Professional Ice Hockey Centre)
Ron Francis
5
Birthdate: March 1, 1963
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Sault Ste. Marie, Canada
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 41 
Jari Kurri
(Former Finnish Olympic Bronze Medal Winning Ice Hockey Player Who Played as a 'Winger')
Jari Kurri
3
Birthdate: May 18, 1960
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland

Finnish retired hockey player Jari Kurri is not just a 5-time Stanley Cup winner but also the first from his country to be part of the Hockey Hall of Fame. An Olympic bronze medal winner, he managed the Finnish team post-retirement. He is married to former Miss Finland, Vanessa Forsman.

 42 
Paul Coffey
(Canadian Former Professional Ice Hockey Defenceman)
Paul Coffey
0
Birthdate: June 1, 1961
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Weston, Ontario, Canada
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 43 
Mike Modano
(American Former Professional Ice Hockey Player)
Mike Modano
0
Birthdate: June 7, 1970
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Livonia, Michigan, United States
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 44 
Mike Bossy
(Canadian Professional Ice Hockey Winger)
Mike Bossy
1
Birthdate: January 22, 1957
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died: April 15, 2022
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 45 
Tony Esposito
(Canadian-American Professional Ice Hockey Goaltender)
Tony Esposito
0
Birthdate: April 23, 1943
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
Died: August 10, 2021
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 46 
Bryan Trottier
(Canadian-American Former Professional Ice Hockey Centre)
Bryan Trottier
2
Birthdate: July 17, 1956
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Val Marie, Canada

Born in the small Canadian town of Saskatchewan, Bryan Trottier grew up to be a successful ice-hockey center. He led the New York Islanders to four Stanley Cup wins and the Pittsburgh Penguins to two. He was also the first Swift Current Bronco player to be named to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

 47 
Scott Niedermayer
(Canadian Coach and Former Ice Hockey Defenceman)
Scott Niedermayer
3
Birthdate: August 31, 1973
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Edmonton, Canada
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 48 
Adam Oates
(Ice hockey player)
Adam Oates
2
Birthdate: August 27, 1962
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Weston, Toronto Weston, Ontario, Canada
 49 
Marcel Dionne
(Canadian Former Professional Ice Hockey Centre)
Marcel Dionne
2
Birthdate: August 3, 1951
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Drummondville, Canada
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 50 
Brendan Shanahan
(Canadian Professional Ice Hockey Executive and Former Player)
Brendan Shanahan
1
Birthdate: January 23, 1969
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Mimico, Ontario, Canada
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)