Ducks, Penguins and Swamp Rabbits: The Funny Stories Behind Hockey Team Names

By Andrew Trimble | The Hockey Focus

Hockey players are tough. Their team names? Sometimes considerably less intimidating. A duck, a penguin and a rabbit don’t exactly sound like the beginning of a fierce locker-room speech. But the stories behind those names are part of what makes hockey fun.

Anaheim Ducks: The movie came first

Usually, Hollywood makes a movie about a sports team. Anaheim did things backward. Disney founded the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 1993, naming its NHL franchise after the 1992 film The Mighty Ducks. A fictional youth hockey team helped inspire an actual professional franchise. That’s a pretty impressive promotion for Coach Gordon Bombay.

New York Rangers: A pun that stuck

One of hockey’s most recognizable names began with a little newspaper humor. When George “Tex” Rickard established his NHL franchise in 1926, the press called the team “Tex’s Rangers,” playing on his nickname and the Texas Rangers law-enforcement organization. Rickard adopted the name. Imagine making a joke about someone’s hockey team and having it stitched onto jerseys for the next century.

Pittsburgh Penguins: An Igloo needed occupants

Pittsburgh’s Civic Arena was nicknamed “The Igloo.” Carol McGregor, wife of franchise founder Jack McGregor, suggested Penguins—a name that paired nicely with both Pittsburgh and the building’s nickname. The geography gets a little questionable: penguins don’t live in igloos. Fortunately, nobody requires a wildlife exam before naming a hockey team.

Greenville Swamp Rabbits: Local history wins

Swamp Rabbits sounds like a name invented during a particularly entertaining bus ride. But Greenville’s team adopted it in 2015 to honor the local Swamp Rabbit Trail, which has roots in the historic Swamp Rabbit railroad. Behind the unusual animal identity is a connection to the community. It also gives opposing broadcasters the enjoyable responsibility of announcing a Swamp Rabbits power play.

As a coach, I spend plenty of time thinking about the identity players build together. These names are a reminder that a team doesn’t need to sound intimidating to mean something. Sometimes a movie, a local landmark or a good pun gives fans something memorable to rally around.

What’s the funniest hockey team name you’ve ever played for—or against?