Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings Doubling Down With Ivan Ivan

Ivan Ivan played for Czechia in last month’s World Juniors

Published

2 years ago

September 3, 2022

Bob Duff

Ivan Ivan will be attending the Red Wings Prospect Tournament as a free agent tryout.

Ivan Ivan is the player who’s so nice, they named him twice. He’s also got an outside chance of being a member of the Detroit Red Wings.

The Red Wings are extending an invitation to the Czechia forward to play for their rookie team in the NHL Prospects Tournament later this month in Traverse City, Michigan. While he’s among 10 free agent invites, his name along assures that Ivan squared will be drawing plenty of curious interest.

“A lot of people are laughing at my name,” Ivan admitted.

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

What’s in that name, you might ask in Shakespearian fashion. No, Ivan’s parents didn’t make a clerical error when filling out the paperwork for his birth certificate.

They meant to do it.

“A lot of people are thinking my parents did it on purpose,” Ivan explained during an interview at the World Juniors. “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 more than my hockey skills.”

Ivan Ivan Passed Over In Three NHL Drafts

Evidently, hockey people have been of the opinion that on the ice, the 5-foot-11, 171-pound Ivan Ivan isn’t that special. He’s been passed over for selection in the 2020, 2021 and 2022 NHL entry drafts.

He’s been playing the past two seasons in the QMJHL with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. Last season, Ivan led the Screaming Eagles with 31 goals and 65 assists. His 34 assists ended up earning him a share of the team lead in that department.

He’s slated to be returning to play for Cape Breton again as an overager during the 2022-23 season.

Red Wings Playing The Name Game

Detroit’s draft picks were producing some of the best names in the class of 2022. The Red Wings selections included Amadeus Lombardi, Maximillian Kilpinen, Owen Mehlenbacher, Brennan Ali and Tnias Mathurin. Lomabardi and Mathurin will also be in the Prospects Tournament lineup.

Last season, the Red Wings extended a rookie tournament invite to Saginaw Spirit forward Davis “T-Bone” Codd. Besides playing in the OHL, Codd was also the Michigan high school golf champion.