By: Brian Gornick, Bobcat Content Writer
Have you ever watched a hockey game or any other sport, and saw a player with a last name you thought you recognized? Today, we wanted to take a look into some of our players with National Hockey League bloodlines, whose names you may be familiar with.
The first player with an NHL bloodline is Jakub Kopecký. Kopecký has been a mainstay on the top 6, and has solidified himself as a top end scorer, tied for third in points through nine games. What you may not have known is that his father is former NHL winger Tomáš Kopecký.
Kopecký was drafted 38th overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft by the Detroit Red Wings, but didn’t make his NHL debut until 2005. He didn’t become a mainstay on the Red Wings until the 2007-08 season, starting 77 regular season games with the Red Wings as they won the Stanley Cup Championship. His best season came in 2010-11 with the Chicago Blackhawks, appearing in all 81 games and scoring 42 points. Kopecký signed in 2011 with the Florida Panthers, playing the next four seasons with them before playing overseas to end a 10-year NHL career.
Kopecký during his time with the Red Wings crossed paths with another current Bobcat player’s dad, that being Brian Rafalski.
Rafalski is the father of Matthew Rafalski, who is currently the highest scoring defensemen on the roster. A native of Dearborn, Michigan, Rafalski played four seasons with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, before playing professionally overseas in Sweden and Finland. Catching the eye of the New Jersey Devils, Rafalski signed with them as a 25-year-old rookie for the 1999-2000 season. In his rookie season, Rafalski scored 32 points and made the NHL All-Rookie team as the Devils won the 2000 Stanley Cup Championship. Rafalski was a main staple for the Devils, helping them win the 2003 Stanley Cup Championship and being selected to the All-Star game twice. In 2007, the hometown Red Wings came calling, and Rafalski joined them as they won the 2008 Stanley Cup Championship, earning one more All-Star nod.
Rafalski retired following the 2010-11 NHL Season with two years remaining on his contract. A three time Stanley Cup Champion and three time NHL All-Star, Rafalski had a productive and celebratory NHL career.
Calle Arvedson’s father, Magnus Arvedson also played in the NHL. Drafted 119th overall in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators after a strong performance for Sweden in the 1997 World Championships, Arvedson made his NHL debut the same year. In his second season, Arvedson had his best year of his career, garnering 47 points and finishing second in voting for the Frank J. Selke Trophy. Arvedson would play six seasons with the Senators before finishing his career after a one year stint with the Vancouver Canucks.
The last player with an NHL bloodline is Evan Hunter. This time, it is his cousin who played in the league: Joe Pavelski.
Pavelski was drafted 205th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Making his professional debut in 2006, he started off on a hot streak with 17 points in his first 12 games. Pavelski had an illustrious career with the Sharks, being named their ninth captain in team history in 2015, and then taking the Sharks to their first ever Stanley Cup Finals in the 2015-16 season. Pavelski is third all-time in Sharks scoring, behind former teammates Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton.
Pavelski signed in 2019 with the Dallas Stars after being named to his third All-Star appearance. In his last years in the NHL, Pavelski was named to the All-Star team one more time for his fourth appearance, and helped the Stars win the 2020 Stanley Cup Championship over the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Pavelski finished his 18 year long career with four NHL All-Star appearances, as well as one Stanley Cup Championship. He also holds multiple records, including holding the most goals in the NHL players scored by an American-born player, surpassing Joe Mullen in the 2020 Stanly Cup Playoffs.