What should we call Flames players?

Nicknames. They’re an integral part of sports. Rarely is a player called by their first name on a team – when was the last time anyone called Ovi/Ovechkin, Alex? Sid the Kid (which he stole from me, but it’s cool) has been around a few years, and more recently, the league has introduced the Hamburglar – not to mention the legends out there. "The Great One"? "Super Mario"? These have been around forever.

For the Flames, it all started with MayRay (Mason Raymond). Then, Josh Jooris came along this season, and we here at M&G started affectionately referring to him as JoJoo – following the same structure as Raymond. I wanted to see how the other names on the roster would shake out in this same format:

Mikael Backlund: MiBack (he’s got it)

Sam Bennett: SaBen

Brandon Bollig: BranBoll (a healthy treat)

Lance Bouma: LaBoum (a French bomb?)

Paul Byron: PauBy

Joe Colborne: JoCo

Micheal Ferland: MicFer

Michael Frolik: MicFro

Johnny Gaudreau: JoGaud (cause he’s yo’ God)

Markus Granlund: MarkGran

Jiri Hudler: JiHud

David Jones: DavJo

Sean Monahan: SeanMon (he’s too young for me to not include his whole first name)

Drew Shore: DreSh

Matt Stajan: MaSta (the master of faceoffs)

TJ Brodie: TBro

Deryk Engelland: De’Eng

Mark Giordano: MaGio

Dougie Hamilton: DoHam

Corey Potter: CoPot

Kris Russell: KriRu

Ladislav Smid: LadSmi

Dennis Wideman: DenWid

Tyler Wotherspoon: TyWot

Jonas Hiller: JonHi (we could all use more Johnny’s)

Joni Ortio: JoOrt (stock up for summer on your jean shorts!)

Karri Ramo: KaRam

Some of these really don’t work and should not replace already established nicknames – Backs, Ferly, and Gio are imprinted in the minds of Flames fans everywhere. But maybe some might work? Purely for comedic effect, BranBoll, LaBoum, and MaSta stick out (though Matty Franchise is just too good).

What are your favourite Flames nicknames? Would you adopt any of the above list? Have any of your own you would like to catch on? What do you yell at the TV when you’re watching a game? Let us know in the comments!