Fans of ice hockey would definitely agree that it is such an interesting sport to watch, especially when the likes of Wayne Douglas Gretzky, Alexander Ovechkin, and Sidney Crosby are battling it out on the field! Though played across several countries, ice hockey is most popular in Canada where it is considered the official national winter sport. Thus, it comes as no surprise that some of the best known ice hockey players like George Abel, Martin Brodeur, Charline Labonté, and Kim St-Pierre hailed from the nation. Ice hockey, as a sport, is believed to have evolved in the 18th and 19th century United Kingdom before spreading to other countries. Canadian lawyer and athlete James George Aylwin Creighton is credited with popularising the sport in Canadian cities while American industrialist Malcolm Greene Chace is said to have pioneered the sport of ice hockey in the United States. Over the past few decades, the sport has become increasingly popular in the Nordic countries as well. Check out this section to know more about some of the greatest ice hockey players.
More From Ice Hockey Players
This ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.
Vote for Your Favourite Ice Hockey Players
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.
Birthdate: August 7, 1987
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada
Canadian professional ice hockey player Sidney Crosby is the captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Widely regarded as one of the greatest hockey players of all time, he made his professional debut in 2005. Immediately rising to stardom, he has continued to impress the audience with his powerful gameplay.
Birthdate: March 31, 1928
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Floral, Saskatchewan, Canada
Died: June 10, 2016
Celebrities Born On My Birthday?
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.
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.
Birthdate: November 19, 1988
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Buffalo, New York, United States
Birthdate: October 5, 1965
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Quebec City
You May Like
Birthdate: February 28, 1973
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: London, Ontario, Canada
Birthdate: May 6, 1972
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Birthdate: January 12, 1930
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Cochrane
Died: February 21, 1974
Birthdate: May 9, 1965
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Cranbrook, Canada
12
Mark Messier(Former Ice hockey centre who won six Stanley Cups throughout of his career)
Birthdate: January 18, 1961
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: St. Albert, Canada
Birthdate: April 9, 1988
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Winnipeg, Canada
Chicago Blackhawks captain and three-time Stanley Cup-winning ice-hockey player Jonathan Toews became the second-youngest NHL captain ever, at 20. Known as Captain Serious, he is not the one to be found in the middle of any controversy. He was named to the 100 Greatest NHL Players list in 2017.
Birthdate: July 20, 1973
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Örnsköldsvik
Birthdate: September 17, 1985
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Alexander Ovechkin is a Russian ice hockey player who currently captains the Washington Capitals, a popular team which competes in the National Hockey League (NHL). Considered one of the greatest players of all time, Alexander Ovechkin has won prestigious awards, such as the Rocket Richard Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, Hart Memorial Trophy, Lester B. Pearson Award, and Calder Memorial Trophy.
Birthdate: January 25, 1962
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Birthdate: August 9, 1964
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Belleville, Canada
Birthdate: January 3, 1939
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Belleville
Birthdate: January 13, 1997
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Richmond Hill, Canada
Canadian ice hockey player Connor McDavid currently serves as the captain of the NHL team Edmonton Oilers. The two-time Art Ross Trophy-winning player became the youngest NHL captain and has won the gold at the 2016 Ice Hockey World Championships, the 2015 Junior Championships, and the 2013 U-18 Championships.
Birthdate: May 13, 1989
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
P.K. Subban is a Canadian ice hockey player who currently plays as a defenceman for the NHL's New Jersey Devils. In 2013, Subban was adjudged the NHL's top defenceman and was honored with the Norris Trophy. Also known for his philanthropic efforts, Subban promised in 2015 that he would help raise $10 million by 2022 for the Montreal Children's Hospital.
Birthdate: December 13, 1969
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Pskov
22
Jaromír Jágr(Czech Ice Hockey Player and An Olympic, World, and European Champion)
Birthdate: February 15, 1972
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Kladno, Czechia
23
Petr Čech(Former Czech Footballer Who Played as a Goalkeeper)
Birthdate: May 20, 1982
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Pilsen, Czechia
Petr Čech is a Czech retired football player who is currently serving as a performance and technical advisor for the popular English club Chelsea. During his playing career, Čech played as a goalkeeper and is often counted among the greatest goalkeepers of all time. Petr Čech is also considered the greatest goalkeeper in the history of the Premier League.
Birthdate: August 4, 1921
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Montreal
Died: May 27, 2000
Birthdate: September 17, 1997
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: San Ramon, California, United States
Birthdate: June 5, 1980
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Peterborough, Canada
Birthdate: August 16, 1987
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Vancouver, British Columbia
Carey Price is a Canadian ice hockey goaltender. Currently an important member of the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL, Price is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalies in Montreal Canadiens history. Also regarded as one of the world's best goaltenders, Carey Price helped the Canadian national ice hockey team win a gold medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Birthdate: July 20, 1978
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Yekaterinburg, Russia
Birthdate: July 2, 1979
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: London, Canada
Canadian–American–Swiss ice-hockey player Joe Thornton, or “Jumbo Joe,” currently plays for the NHL team Toronto Maple Leafs. He previously played for the San Jose Sharks and the Boston Bruins. He is one of 13 players with 1,000 NHL assists and also won an Olympic gold for Canada.
Birthdate: February 20, 1942
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Sault Ste. Marie, Canada
Birthdate: July 7, 1969
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Burnaby, Canada
Birthdate: September 20, 1951
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Thurso
Birthdate: August 5, 1937
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
Died: August 11, 2003
Birthdate: March 2, 1982
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Åre
Birthdate: December 23, 1986
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Mount Vernon
36
Chris Pronger(Olympic gold medalist at the 2002 and 2010 Winter Olympics)
Birthdate: October 10, 1974
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Dryden, Canada
Birthdate: January 22, 1957
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Montreal
38
Ray Bourque(Former Ice Hockey Player - Holds Records for Most Career Goals, Assists & Points By a Defenceman in the NHL)
Birthdate: December 28, 1960
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Saint-Laurent, Montreal, Canada
39
Pavel Bure(Former ice hockey player who played the right wing position)
Birthdate: March 31, 1971
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Birthdate: November 28, 1984
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, Canada
Birthdate: July 16, 1983
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Winnipeg
Birthdate: May 20, 1940
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Sokolče, Vlachy, Slovakia
Died: August 7, 2018
43
Don Cherry(Former Ice Hockey Player and Co-Host of the NHL Broadcast 'Coach's Corner')
Birthdate: February 5, 1934
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Kingston, Canada
If you’re an NHL fan, you must be knowing the name Don Cherry. He had a long hockey career, but he played only one NHL game -the majority of his games came at the AHL. He later gained fame as a co-host of CBS' Coach's Corner. Don Cherry is known for his outspoken opinions, and the knack for inviting controversies.
Birthdate: April 10, 1985
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Birthdate: February 7, 1990
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Markham, Ontario, Canada
Birthdate: June 1, 1961
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Weston, Ontario
Birthdate: January 23, 1969
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Mimico, Ontario, Canada
Birthdate: September 28, 1962
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Spruce Grove
Birthdate: May 31, 1990
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Landsbro, Sweden
Erik Karlsson is a Swedish ice hockey player who currently plays for the San Jose Sharks of the NHL. An important member of the Sweden men's national team, Karlsson was part of the team that won the silver medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics. He also helped his national team win the bronze medal at the 2010 IIHF World Championship.
Birthdate: March 10, 1987
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Savonlinna, Finland
Tuuka Rask a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender. He currently plays for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Highly skilled, he won the Vezina Trophy as the league's top goaltender during the 2013-14 season. He also played for the national team at the 2014 Winter Olympics. His brother, Joonas Rask, is also a professional ice hockey player.
