Best Canadiens name of all time is...

posted by Dave Stubbs at 0h36 EST on Dec 26


0ossie.jpg

Centreman Oscar Ingolfur (Ossie) Asmundson, photographed in the Rangers uniform in the early 1930s.
Courtesy Society for International Hockey Research

... Oscar Ingolfur Asmundson.

Not far behind, all from the earlier days of the club: brothers Sprague and Odie Cleghorn; Louis Berlinquette; Rosario (Lolo) Couture; Napoleon (Bunny) Dame; Marcel (Ching) Dheere and Rosario (Kitoute) Joannette.

The late Oscar played two games for the Canadiens (that's one more than Corey Locke or Tomas Vokoun) in 1937-38, two of the 111 he played for the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Eagles, New York Americans and the Habs from 1932-38.

Ossie, who had Icelandic roots, arrived in Montreal from the Americans for cash on Oct. 28, 1937 and was dealt to Cleveland of the American league for cash in November 1938.

If he was but a blip on the Canadiens radar through the team's 100 seasons, his name will fittingly be among those on a monument the club will erect in its Centennial Plaza outside the Bell Centre next year.

Visit the Society for International Hockey Research and get yourself a membership. Worth well more than the 30 annual bucks for the serious fan. Check out their free Canadiens trivia quiz here. 



From the Society for International Hockey Research, a fabulous tool for academics and serious fans of hockey:

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Habs-Fan-In-KY's picture
Submitted by Habs-Fan-In-KY on Fri, 12/26/2008 - 23:35.
Let us not forget the great....Zarly Zalapski!!!!! That's a killer set of initials!!

Keith's picture
Submitted by Keith on Fri, 12/26/2008 - 17:37.
My all time favorite hockey name has to be Per Djoos (not sure about the spelling), but it sounds like Pear Juice when you say it, played for the Red Wings in the 1990's I believe.

Submitted by knucklesnilan on Fri, 12/26/2008 - 13:16.
2 other great names are from the NFL, Chris Muatuamalafaala and from soccer, Karl Heinze-Rummeneige. I also agree with Pekka and Reijo and another fav. Hakaan Loob. Great Habs name - Gaston Gingras... Go Habs Go !!

longbow's picture
Submitted by longbow on Fri, 12/26/2008 - 10:39.
My favorite athletes names: Reijo Ruotsalainen Pekka Rautakallio Manu Tuiasosopo Very glad I was never a play by play man. Don't forget to watch our juniors tonight.Go Canada Go ! Also keep voting.Price and Komisarek especially.

yourhabs's picture
Submitted by yourhabs on Fri, 12/26/2008 - 09:17.
Hah, that's awesome, I've got to admit, I have never heard of him, but that doesn't surprise me since he's only played like 25 games in the NHL and it was almost 80 years ago. http://yourhabs.com - My Montreal Canadiens Blog

The Cat's picture
Submitted by The Cat on Fri, 12/26/2008 - 08:06.
Coolest athlete name to pronounce is German soccer player: Bastian Schweinsteiger.

SlovakHab's picture
Submitted by SlovakHab on Fri, 12/26/2008 - 07:07.
Talking about the best names: NHL. com has an awesome pool - Which former NHLer has the best Christmas inspired name? Dave Christian, Scott Garland, Kyle Greentree, Claude Noel, Tommi Santala, Garth Snow

Robert L's picture
Submitted by Robert L on Fri, 12/26/2008 - 03:10.
Unbeknownst to you Dave, you have just given me a Christmas present. I had thought about joining the SIHR before, and this was the reminder and push that I needed. I'll be signing up today. As for the best, coolest, and all time most original name on the Canadiens, it is a slam dunk for Sprague Cleghorn. Nicknamed "Peg" by team mates, Cleghorn was basically a criminal on ice. His actions would make Chris Nilan look like a schoolgirl by comparision.

Keith's picture
Submitted by Keith on Fri, 12/26/2008 - 17:41.
Yeah especially when the owner of the Canadiens at the time, Leo Dandurand, compared his actions to what an animal would do. Imagine what would happen if the Habs had him in the line-up today, scary thought!