In 1928, Manitoba’s own Nikolas “Nick” Wasnie began his NHL career. He would go on to play for five teams in seven years, scoring 57 goals in the process. But his true and lasting fame wasn’t his on-ice statistics, it was his legacy as the first Nick in NHL history.
He was followed by Nick Metz and then Hickey Nicholson and then 209 more Nicks of different stripes. Nicks, Nics, Niks, Nicolases, Nikitas, Nicklauses, Nicos, Nikolais, Nicholsons, Nikolishins — they all belong to a close-knit fraternity of people named, I guess, for the Greek goddess of victory, Nike.
But those initial seasons were lean years for Nicks. In the first two-thirds of the 20th century, Nicks weren’t nearly as common as they would become. The late 1970s brought an explosion in Nick births, I don’t know why, and in 2015 a record nine Nicks began their NHL careers.
No team in NHL history has laid claim to more Nicks than the Washington Capitals of recent years, but in their first few decades Nicks were few and far between. They had Paul Nicholson in the inaugural season (four goals, five assists, minus-29, thanks for coming out). In time they added Nick Kypreos and Andrei “Niko” Nikolishin, but the true Nick era didn’t begin until the drafting of Nicklas “Nicke” Backstrom in 2006.
Tottenham host Everton on matchday two of the Premier League Two of the Premier League’s winless sides from matchday one, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton, face off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Saturday, August 24 at 15:00 UK time. The Lilywhites come into the fixture after a 1-1 draw against Leicester City at the King…
Korda regained her place as world number one in March of this year (Getty Images) World number one Nelly Korda has admitted she “messed up” her chance of winning a second major of 2024 as she lost a two-stroke lead over the final five holes at the AIG Women’s Open. Korda was closing in on her seventh win…
Why are the Maple Leafs looking for a winger? Originally posted on TheLeafsnation | By Jon Steitzer | Last updated 8/28/24 The return of 32 Thoughts included the most cherished of all content, vague speculation about the Toronto Maple Leafs. Elliotte Friedman dropped in the line, “I think there are things percolating out there, including Toronto considering left-wing options,”…
ATLANTA (AP) — Rookie Spencer Schwellenbach retired 19 hitters in a row and the Atlanta Braves took two of three in their series with NL East-leading Philadelphia, beating the Phillies 3-2 Thursday night. After Schwellenbach (5-6) surrendered a one-out single to Bryce Harper in the first, he didn’t allow another batter to reach safely until…
Rafael Nadal – Carlos Alcaraz doubles next match at Olympics: TV schedule, scores, results for Paris 2024 tennis© Provided by Sporting News Carlos Alcaraz will team up with legendary Spanish star Rafael Nadal for the men’s doubles tennis tournament at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Two players at opposing ends of their careers will carry Spain’s…
Spain’s Carloz Alcaraz, left, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, right© AP/Andy Wong Paris is gearing up for the tennis men’s singles showdown between Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, set for 12.00 cet on Sunday at Roland Garros. When Alcaraz’s semifinal in Paris ended Friday afternoon — before Djokovic played in his later semifinal that night — the…