Five Greatest Nicknames, How They Got Them In Bruins History

Given names often fall short and the Boston Bruins are no stranger to the classic moniker. In their 100-year history, the All-Centennial team has had some memorable nicknames.

The easy ones are those that are a play on the name on the back of the sweater, but there are also unconventional and unique nicknames that require some digging to unearth the meaning. These are the best unconventional nicknames in Bruins history.

Frank Brimsek — Mr. Zero
Frank Brimsek earned the “Mr. Zero” nickname by recording six shutouts in his first seven games for the Bruins during the 1938-39 season. He also won two Stanley Cups with the Bruins and was awarded the Calder Trophy and the Vezina twice.

Derek Sanderson — Turk
Derek Sanderson accidentally gave up a puck during a youth hockey battle. As a result, the team switched to using sounds instead of names when calling for a puck, with “Gobble, Gobble” for a turkey transforming into the nickname “Turk.”

Terry O’Reilly — Taz
Dubbed “Taz” by former teammate Phil Esposito, Terry O’Reilly reminded him of the Tasmanian Devil cartoon character due to his reckless style of hockey. He played 14 years for the Bruins, making a significant impact on ice.

Rick Middleton — Nifty
Rick Middleton’s “Nifty” nickname was a result of combining quickness and stickhandling with swift instinct, making him a genuine threat to create a goal at any moment.

Brad Marchand — Little Ball of Hate
Brad Marchand gained multiple nicknames, one of which was bestowed by President Barack Obama during a celebratory trip to the White House. Here, Marchand was referred to as the “little ball of hate” due to his impressive performance on the ice.

The Boston Bruins have a number of conventional nicknames as well, but the names listed above certainly stand out among the best. There are countless other nicknames among the Bruins’ roster, often with a player having multiple nicknames.