There are a few names on Czechia’s World Junior Championship roster that you might recognize. David Jiricek was the No. 6 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. Jan Mysak, the team’s captain, is a Canadiens prospect. And then there’s a player with one of the most unusual names you’ll find.
Ivan Ivan, a Czechia forward who has the same first and last name, took the hockey world by storm last December when he was on the team’s roster at the canceled World Juniors. While a graphic from December stating that his name was Ivan Ivan Ivan caused a stir, it’s unfortunately just Ivan Ivan.
Reminder that the legend of Ivan exists and is on the ice at the #WorldJuniors once again. pic.twitter.com/rrYD1TEl9A
— BarDown (@BarDown) August 9, 2022
Even though it isn’t thrice as nice, Ivan Ivan might just be the most fun name to say of anyone at the World Juniors. Now, he’s back representing his home country in Edmonton, ready to take on Canada and the rest of the Group A competition.
MORE: Schedule, scores, results for all 2022 World Juniors games
Here is more on how Ivan got his name.
How did Ivan Ivan get his name?
This wasn’t some birth certificate mistake where his dad accidentally filled out the information incorrectly. Ivan’s parents knew what they were doing when they gave him his name.
With Ivan’s name getting buzz all over social media, he explained their reasoning.
Do you remember Ivan Ivan?
Ivan is representing Czechia 🇨🇿 at the 2022 World Juniors and explains the reason behind his unique name!@narodnitym | @CBEHockey | #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/1bHf0TBIAQ
— Elite Prospects (@eliteprospects) August 9, 2022
“A lot of people are thinking my parents did it on purpose. My parents love me and they did it because they want me to be special. I didn’t want to be special because of my name. (I wanted to be special) because of my hockey skills,” he said.
What NHL team drafted Ivan Ivan?
Ivan has yet to be drafted by an NHL team. He has been eligible to be selected since the 2020 NHL Draft and will remain eligible until he turns 21.
Ivan will turn 20 later this month. He will be eligible for the 2023 draft and be considered an overage player.
If he is not taken in the 2023 draft, he will become a free agent and able to sign with any NHL team.
What team does Ivan Ivan play for?
Ivan finished this past season playing with the Cape Breton Eagles of the QMJHL. It was his second season with the team after he joined the club for the 2019-20 season.
He recorded 65 points in 61 games for Cape Breton in the 2021-22 season, leading the team in points and goals (31) and tying for the lead in assists (34). Overall, Ivan has 77 points in 127 games in his QMJHL career.
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