A Walk Down Memory Lane
Back in 1991, the NHL celebrated its 75th anniversary by naming celebrity captains to represent each of the league’s then 21 teams. Larry King, Mr. Rogers, and Ralph Macchio were among the household names that wore the C for their squad.
Well, I thought that it’s high time we bring back this tradition. So, here is the list of names that I think should serve as celebrity captains for each of the NHL’s 32 franchises.
Let’s go!
Anaheim Ducks: Snoop dogg
Being a 40 minute drive from Hollywood, there’s no shortage of famous Anaheim Ducks fans, but I think the “C” goes to Snoop D-O-double G, Snoop Dogg. The Dogg Father can often be seen at the Honda Centre rocking a Ducks jersey, sippin’ on gin and juice, with his mind on hockey and hockey on his mind.
Snoop Dogg hanging out with NHL commissioner, Gary Bettman.
Snoop talks Ducks hockey!
Arizona Coyotes: Alice cooper
Glam rock and sports jocks don’t usually mix, but when it comes to Alice Cooper all bets are off. The longtime Phoenix resident is a huge Arizona Coyotes fan, to the point that the franchise even had an Alice Cooper bobblehead night! Thus, the godfather of shock rock earns the celebrity captaincy for the desert dogs.
Mike Smith showing Alice Cooper is goalie mask, with a portrait of… Alice Cooper!
Alice talking about how Gordie Howe and the Red Wings of yesteryear got him into hockey. He may be a Detroit boy, but he’s a Coyotes fan through-and-through!
Boston Bruins: Bill Burr
The Boston-born comedian and star of Old Dads is a fan of all Beantown squads. His rants are epic and hilarious, so there’s no doubt in my mind that ol’ Billy Bobblehead could whip up some emotions in the locker room.
(Side note: Burr’s 2023 film Old Dads tells a story that is alarmingly similar to my own life story. He and I even look alike! It’s wild!)
Bill Burr does a little bit of trolling before his show in Montreal… that is a true B’s fan!
The Great One and Bill Burr discuss hockey- and it gets just as silly as you imagine!
Buffalo Sabres: Chad Michael Murray
Chad Michael Murray rockin’ the legendary Buffaslug jersey at a Sabres game.
Calgary Flames: Bret "The Hitman" Hart
Not only is the Calgary-born WWF wrestling champion a die-hard Flames fan, he was also a founder of the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL. For his dedication to hockey in Calgary, Hitman gets the C.
The Hitman himself posing in his Flames threads.
Bret Hart has his banner raised by the Calgary Hitmen, to honour his commitment to the sport, and the city of Calgary.
Colorado Avalanche: Trey Parker
The Colorado Avalanche we all know and love drawn in the art style of South Park creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Erin Andrews
Erin Andrews making her hockey alliance known!
Carolina hurricanes: Stephen Colbert
After an accident left both Carolina goaltenders injured mid-game, David Ayres had to come in and save the day. His story warmed the hearts of many, including Stephen Colbert, who invited him onto his show not long after!
Chicago Blackhawks: Vince Vaughn
Chicago royalty: Tom Morello and Vince Vaughn, repping their home team’s sweaters
Vince Vaughn drops the puck at a Hawks game back in the day.
Dallas Stars: Pantera
A good captain motivates their teammates and intimidates their opponents, and that’s why Arlington, Texas metal quartet, Pantera gets the celebrity captaincy for the Dallas Stars. The band are huge Stars fans, even composing a fight song for the team that they played in the dressing room en route to their 1999 Stanley Cup victory. That song has since become the Dallas Stars goal song, played after every home team tally at American Airlines Center.
After the Stars won the Stanley Cup back in ’99, to celebrate the occasion, the Abbott brothers of Pantera threw a FIVE DAY LONG party in honour of the champions- true captain material.
Heavy metal legend, Vinnie Paul, posing with Craig Ludwig of the Dallas Stars.
The Stanley Cup going for a swim in Vinnie Paul’s pool during the 5-day party Pantera threw to honour the Stars’ Stanley Cup triumphs.
Detroit Red Wings: Kristen Bell
If Kristen Bell was in the Red Wings lineup in 1996, she probably would’ve dropped the gloves and fought Claude Lemieux herself. The Good Place star is a devoted Red Wings fan, and has even become friendly with Kris Draper.
Kristen Bell talks about her Red Wings fandom.
Kristen Bell and her husband pose in their Red Wings sweaters!
Edmonton Oilers: Todd McFarlane
The Oil Drop jersey, designed by Todd Mcfarlane, in all it’s glory!
Todd McFarlane, rockin’ the Oil Drop jersey he designed, with a small Wayne Gretzky figurine on his desk. A TRUE Oilers fan!
Florida Panthers: ariana Grande
Ariana Grande has been going to Florida Panthers games since she was two years old. In fact, she was hit twice by errant pucks as a kid, resulting in the Panthers offering her a ride on the zamboni between the first and second period of a home game.
A good captain is tough, and Ariana Grande fits the bill.
Ariana Grande, all grown up, rockin’ her sweet Florida Panthers threads!
A young Ariana Grande riding the Florida Panthers’ zamboni, in those fantastic 90’s Panthers threads.
L.A. Kings: Will Ferrell
There are tons of celebrities to choose from at any given Kings home game, but none more animated than Anchorman star, Will Ferrell. I think his intermission interviews would be as entertaining as the game itself.
Has there ever been a more dedicated celebrity fan? We’re not too sure…
Will Ferrell, L.A. Kings superfan, hyping up the crowd at a game.
Minnesota Wild: The Hanson Brothers
They made the State of Hockey proud!
Montreal Canadiens: Jay Baruchel
Canadian actor, Jay Baruchel, is best known for his appearances in Knocked Up and She’s Out of My League, and although he was born in Ottawa, Baruchel backs the bleu, blanc, et rouge. He’s even written a book about being a Habs fan called Born Into It: A Fan’s Life.
How dedicated of a fan is Jay Baruchel? Let’s find out! ⬆️
Habs fans are die-hard by default, but Jay might take the cake.
Nashville Predators: Carrie Underwood
Country music superstar Carrie Underwood is a regular at Preds games, often dropping by to sing the national anthem before puck drop. The American Idol champion loves the Predators so much, she actually married one of them — longtime Preds centre and former captain, Mike Fisher.
Carrie Underwood and her husband, former Predators’ captain, Mike Fisher.
Watching your husband exchange punches with Ryan Getzlaf can be quite stressful, as Carrie Underwood shows here.
New jersey devils: patrick warburton
Just look at this picture of Patrick Warburton and tell me he doesn’t deserve the C. He even brought his fandom to one of his 10 episodes of Seinfeld.
THAT is captain material!
You GOTTA support the team!
new york islanders: christie brinkley
Supermodel Christie Brinkley is my selection for the New York Islanders celebrity captain. She took her son to an Isles game back in the early 2000s and fell in love with the team, dropping ceremonial pucks, and starring in Islanders commercials. The love affair continues to this day.
Christie Brinkley is FULLY immersed in this Islanders game…
… so much so that they even grabbed her for a commercial!
new york rangers: liam neeson
Liam Neeson takes in a Rangers game with the King of New York.
Liam Neeson explains how he became a Rangers fan.
ottawa senators: tom green
Tom Green rockin’ a Sens jersey. Stylish, as always!
Philadelphia flyers: Rob McElhenney
Mascot extraordinaire, and now a famous actor! Is there anything Gritty can’t do?
Pittsburgh Penguins: Michael Keaton
Batman posing with a Crosby jersey!
Batman taking in a Penguins playoff game.
St. Louis Blues: Jon Hamm
T.J. Oshie Hamm? It’s got a nice ring to it!
Jon Hamm the die-hard hockey fan showing off just how Canadian he is in this Skip the Dishes commercial.
San Jose Sharks: Neil Young
The godfather of grunge was born in Canada, but he’s made California his home since 1967. Since then he’s become a folk music legend, a rock and roll icon, and, apparently, a big fan of the San Jose Sharks. The Sharks even ran a promotion featuring the tag line “Keep on rockin’ in the teal world”, a play on the lyrics of Young’s hit 1989 song, Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World.
Ok, that’s clever!
seattle Kraken: Macklemore
Macklemore and Marshawn Lynch, partial Kraken owners, pose with the O.G. Kraken home threads.
Macklemore filming a music video on a Zamboni? That is captain material!
Tampa Bay Lightning: Hulk Hogan
Vinny LeCavalier poses with Hulk and his daughter, Brooke, after winning the ’04 Stanley Cup.
Hulk hyping up the Tampa crowd during a 2004 Lightning game.
toronto maple leafs: mike myers
Celebrity captain Mike Myers cheering on the Maple Leafs.
Mike Myers promoting the Stanley Cup Playoffs in this old commercial- that’s captain material.
Vancouver Canucks: Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds is surprised by the Sedin twins and Stan Smyl as he receives the Governor General’s award.
Relive some of the best Canucks moment with celebrity captain Ryan Reynolds!
Vegas Golden Knights: Lil Jon
Atlanta-based rapper Lil Jon was a huge Atlanta Thrashers fan until the team was moved to Winnipeg. He’s since shifted his allegiances to the Vegas Golden Knights, and can often be found rinkside with Golden Knights celebrity Alternate Captain, Gordon Ramsey.
Lil Jon repping the iconic Atlanta Blueland jersey.
Head coach Lil Jon? We’re here for it.
Washington Capitals: pat sajak
Pat is not afraid to show his hockey loyalty!
Pat Sajak, longtime Capitals season ticket holder, takes in a game in L.A.
Winnipeg Jets: Chris jericho
One half of the AEW Golden Jets duo talks NHL Jets!
Not only a die-hard Jets fan, but also a PROUD Winnipegger! Listen closely to this soundbite where Chris snaps back at a fan telling him to “go back to Toronto!”
Future celebrity captains
There are tons of celebrity fans out there worthy of a C or at least an A, like Viggo Mortensen who actually wore a Montreal Canadiens t-shirt under his armour everyday while filming Lord of the Rings. Other potential future celebrity captains include Jenna Fischer (St. Louis Blues), Pamela Anderson (Vancouver Canucks), and Stephen King (Tampa Lightning). In fact, we might have to have a captaincy review in Carolina ever since we did up a Canes jersey for stand-up comedian Theo Von for his show at PNC Arena.
But, for now, this is the definitive list of the NHL’s celebrity captains. If you enjoyed this article, sign up for my 4 Shots with Keener newsletter. Every week I send out my thoughts on hockey jerseys and hockey culture right to your email inbox. It’s often controversial and always fun, and not about hockey.
Theo Von in his custom Keener Jerseys Rat King Hurricanes jersey.
