The Most Famous

HOCKEY PLAYERS from United States

This page contains a list of the greatest American Hockey Players. The pantheon dataset contains 676 Hockey Players, 67 of which were born in United States. This makes United States the birth place of the 6th most number of Hockey Players behind Sweden, and Finland.

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary American Hockey Players of all time. This list of famous American Hockey Players is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography's online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of American Hockey Players.

1. Art Langley (1896 - 1967)

With an HPI of 57.02, Art Langley is the most famous American Hockey Player. His biography has been translated into 15 different languages on wikipedia.

John Arthur Langley (June 25, 1896 – March 5, 1967) was an American ice hockey player who competed in the 1924 Winter Olympics. Born in Melrose, Massachusetts, he was a member of the American ice hockey team, which won the silver medal. He died in Eustis, Florida.

2. Justin McCarthy (1899 - 1976)

With an HPI of 52.77, Justin McCarthy is the 2nd most famous American Hockey Player. His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Justin Jeremiah "Jerry" McCarthy (January 25, 1899 – April 8, 1976) was an American ice hockey player who competed in the 1924 Winter Olympics. He was a graduate of the Massachusetts Agricultural College in 1921, (later, the University of Massachusetts), where he was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. He played for the Boston Athletic Association ice hockey team and was captain of the B.A.A team that won the 1923 United States Amateur Hockey Association championship. Selected for the USA squad, McCarthy was the captain of the American ice hockey team, which won the silver medal. He died in Centerville, Massachusetts.

3. Irving Small (1891 - 1955)

With an HPI of 51.98, Irving Small is the 3rd most famous American Hockey Player. His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Irving Wheeler Small (July 19, 1891 – December 12, 1955) was an American ice hockey player who competed in the 1924 Winter Olympics. He was a member of the American ice hockey team, which won the silver medal in the 1924 Chamonix games.

4. Johnny Gaudreau (1993 - 2024)

With an HPI of 51.36, Johnny Gaudreau is the 4th most famous American Hockey Player. His biography has been translated into 23 different languages.

John Michael Gaudreau (August 13, 1993 – August 29, 2024) was an American professional ice hockey winger who played 11 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played Division I college ice hockey for the Boston College Eagles for three seasons beginning in 2011, and was selected in the fourth round, 104th overall, by the Calgary Flames in the 2011 NHL entry draft. Nicknamed "Johnny Hockey", he was named the 2014 recipient of the Hobey Baker Award as the best player in the NCAA, and, during his first full NHL season in 2014–15, was selected to play in the 2015 NHL All-Star Game, as well as being named to the annual NHL All-Rookie team. Gaudreau was a Calder Memorial Trophy finalist for the NHL's best rookie, and won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy as the league's most gentlemanly player for the 2016–17 season. In 2022, Gaudreau signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he spent his last two seasons. Gaudreau was noted as helping to grow opportunities for smaller hockey players; despite measuring in at 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m), he was a seven-time NHL All-Star, and finished fourth in Hart Memorial Trophy voting twice. Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed by a drunk driver while cycling on August 29, 2024, in Oldmans Township, New Jersey.

5. Taffy Abel (1900 - 1964)

With an HPI of 50.00, Taffy Abel is the 5th most famous American Hockey Player. His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.

Clarence John "Taffy" Abel (May 28, 1900 – August 1, 1964) was an American professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers and Chicago Black Hawks between 1926 and 1934. Born in 1900 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, United States, as a Native American Ojibwe, he was forced to hide his Native American ancestry until 1939. He was a silver medalist in ice hockey at the 1924 Winter Olympics and the U.S. flagbearer for those games, making him the first Native American to play, and to win a medal, in the Winter Olympics. He was a member of two Stanley Cup championship teams. On November 16, 1926, he became the first United States–born Native American player to become an NHL regular, with the New York Rangers. He is a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.

6. Tim Thomas (b. 1974)

With an HPI of 49.73, Tim Thomas is the 6th most famous American Hockey Player. His biography has been translated into 19 different languages.

Timothy James Thomas Jr. (born April 15, 1974) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender who mainly played in the National Hockey League (NHL), most notably with the Boston Bruins. He was born in Flint, Michigan and is a graduate of Davison High School. Thomas played college hockey for the University of Vermont for four years, from 1993–1997, during which he was drafted 217th overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. He played for several years in the minor leagues and Europe, before making it to the NHL at age 28, with the Boston Bruins. He finally emerged as the Bruins' starting goaltender at age 32. Thomas is a two-time winner of the Vezina Trophy (2009 and 2011) as the NHL's best goaltender, and was a member of Team USA in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Thomas won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs. He was the oldest player in NHL history to win the award at age 37. Thomas is one of four American-born players to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, along with Brian Leetch, Jonathan Quick, and Patrick Kane.

7. Chris Chelios (b. 1962)

With an HPI of 48.74, Chris Chelios is the 7th most famous American Hockey Player. His biography has been translated into 20 different languages.

Christos Konstantinos Chelios (born January 25, 1962) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He was a three-time Stanley Cup champion: one with the Montreal Canadiens and two with the Detroit Red Wings. Chelios played for the Canadiens, Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, and the Atlanta Thrashers. When he was called up from the AHL's Chicago Wolves to play for the Thrashers during the 2009–10 NHL season, Chelios was the oldest active player in the National Hockey League (NHL) and the second-oldest of all time. He had played the most games of any active player in the NHL, was the last player from the 1981 NHL Entry Draft still active (or any draft from 1986 and earlier), and had the most career penalty minutes of any active player. He is the former record-holder for most games played in the NHL by a defenseman, is eighth overall with 1,651 games played, holds the record for most career playoff games played with 266 and is tied with Gordie Howe for most NHL seasons played with 26. On May 1, 2009, he appeared in the playoffs for an NHL record 24th time, having missed the playoffs only once. Chelios is also the record-holder for most career postseason losses, with 117 (also the most in any professional sport in North America). He only lost one Game 7 in his career, however, a 3–2 OT loss in the 1985 Adams Division Finals against the Nordiques. In 2017, Chelios was named one of the "100 Greatest NHL Players" in history. Chelios is of Greek heritage. His cousin, Nikos Tselios, also played professional hockey and is a former first round draft pick of the Carolina Hurricanes. Chelios was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 8, 2013, and inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2018.

8. Mark Howe (b. 1955)

With an HPI of 46.41, Mark Howe is the 8th most famous American Hockey Player. His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Mark Steven Howe (born May 28, 1955) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman and left winger. From 1973 to 1995, he played six seasons in the World Hockey Association (WHA) and sixteen seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). Howe is the son of Gordie and Colleen Howe, younger brother of Marty Howe, and nephew of Vic Howe. From 1973 to 1980, Mark played alongside his father Gordie and brother Marty, which resulted in two consecutive Avco World Trophies. Despite the enormous shadow cast by his father and splitting time between two leagues, Howe shone as one of the best two-way NHL defensemen of the 1980s, being a three-time runner-up for the Norris Trophy and making the Stanley Cup finals three times as a player. He is a member of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011. The Howe family received the Wayne Gretzky International Award in 2000, for major contributions to the growth and advancement of hockey in the United States.

9. Mike Modano (b. 1970)

With an HPI of 44.55, Mike Modano is the 9th most famous American Hockey Player. His biography has been translated into 23 different languages.

Michael Thomas Modano Jr. (; born June 7, 1970) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He played as a center and spent most of his career with the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars franchise. He spent the final season of his career with his hometown Detroit Red Wings. As the all-time goal-scoring and points leader amongst American-born players in NHL history, Modano is widely regarded as one of the greatest American-born ice hockey players of all time. He was drafted first overall by the North Stars in 1988, and after the team moved to Texas he helped the Stars win the Stanley Cup in 1999. Modano is considered one of the most influential figures in popularizing ice hockey in Texas and the southern United States. Modano was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 17, 2014. In 2017, he was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players. In 2019, he was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame.

10. Dustin Brown (b. 1984)

With an HPI of 44.51, Dustin Brown is the 10th most famous American Hockey Player. His biography has been translated into 22 different languages.

Dustin James Brown (born November 4, 1984) is an American former professional ice hockey right winger. Brown spent his entire NHL career with the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL), who drafted him 13th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He served as team captain from 2008 to 2016; during this time he led the Kings to the 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cup championships, becoming the first Kings captain and second American captain (behind Derian Hatcher) to win the Stanley Cup. During the 2012–13 NHL lockout, he played for ZSC Lions in the Swiss National League A. Brown was noted for his physical playing style, consistently ranking among NHL leaders in hits and penalties drawn, and his reserved, lead-by-example approach to his captaincy of the Kings. Internationally, Brown has represented the United States at three World Championships, winning a bronze medal in 2004, and two World Junior Championships. He won a silver medal as an alternate captain of the United States national team at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Brown received the 2011 NHL Foundation Player Award for his extensive charity work in the Los Angeles community, and the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2014.

People

Pantheon has 67 people classified as American hockey players born between 1891 and 2001. Of these 67, 61 (91.04%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living American hockey players include Tim Thomas, Chris Chelios, and Mark Howe. The most famous deceased American hockey players include Art Langley, Justin McCarthy, and Irving Small. As of April 2024, 67 new American hockey players have been added to Pantheon including Art Langley, Justin McCarthy, and Irving Small.