Avs Christmas Carol: My Two Front Teeth
On this second day of the 12 Days of Avs Christmas, certain Colorado Avalanche players have a very specific request for Holiday gifts — they’d like their two front teeth.
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Hockey is a very physical came with a lot of moving parts: sticks, pucks, skates, elbows… At one time or another, players get hit in the face with all of those and more. Sometimes they get hit directly in the mouth — and that’s how the hockey smile comes to be.
The hockey smile is renowned in sports. I once heard the NHL gives retiring players a new set of teeth instead of a gold watch. That’s probably an urban legend, but for sure a stellar dental plan must be part of any contract negotiation.
With the rise in players wearing mouth guards, not so many hockey smiles are born in the NHL anymore. However, there are still a few out there — four on the Colorado Avalanche team alone.
Forward Ryan O’Reilly doesn’t actually need two front teeth — he’s only missing one. He lost two when he was still playing in juniors. However, he went to the dentist right away, and the dentist implanted them — or re-implanted them. Only one took, though.
Ryan typically wears his fake tooth when he’s out and about. Apparently, for some reason, he has to remove it to ride roller coasters, though.
It should come as no surprise that enforcer Patrick Bordeleau is missing teeth — well, one tooth. It’s ok — doesn’t look like his teeth were fabulous to begin with. I imagine that parents, once they realize their kid is going to get serious about hockey, don’t choose to invest a lot of money in orthodontics.
Oct 4, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche left wing Patrick Bordeleau (58) reacts to his goal in the second period against the Nashville Predators at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Cody McLeod is the only player on this list who’s legitimately missing his two from teeth.
He apparently was never meant to have teeth. According the Cody, he first lost his teeth in middle school, not while playing hockey but while jumping on a trampoline. (Your mom was right about those apparently.) He got them re-built after that, but it wasn’t meant to be:
“I’ve had them knocked out a couple times in hockey from sticks, pucks and fists.I lost my bottom five teeth in the front too. It’s pretty tough, but part of the game, I guess.”
Well, the hockey smile is a cliche for a reason — its widespread existence. Cody concurs, “Most of the guys have fake teeth.”
Oct 12, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Colorado Avalanche left wing Cody McLeod (55) kneels on the ice after being injured against the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Well, some guys have fake teeth, but don’t wear them…
Erik Johnson’s got the best hockey smile. Technically — or, actually — he’s missing more than his two front teeth. He’s missing three. Despite the fact that it’s an odd number, his gap is surprisingly symmetrical. He also likes to do tricks with his fake teeth.
EJ lost his teeth while he was still with the St. Louis Blues, right before he got traded to the Avalanche. It was during practice, and he was screening the goalie. One of his teammates shot the puck, and it ramped up and hit him in the mouth. He stated that losing his teeth didn’t hurt as badly as a cut on his lip — tough guy.
EJ’s not real fond of wearing his fake teeth, by the way. Before the Mile High Dreams Gala, he had gone about two months without putting them in. During the gala, he’s caught on camera pushing them in and out of place to make D-partner Jan Hejda laugh.
Jan 30, 2013; Vancouver, British Columbia, CANADA; Vancouver Canucks left wing Mason Raymond (21) is checked by Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson (6) during the third period at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
A Hockey Christmas Carol
Last year, when a rash of players were videoed removing their teeth in a game and handing them to their trainers — Carey Price, John Tavares, Pascal Dupuis and Kris Barsch — I got inspired to make one of my first-ever videos. I since updated it to include a few more Avalanche players, but it’s still very much a “rookie production.” (And I’m not talking Nathan MacKinnon kind of rookie.)