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Your guide to New York Ranger nicknames, part two

By Steve Paulus

Canadian professional hockey player Wayne Gretzky, forward of the New York Rangers, on skates up the ice during a game against the Florida Panthers at Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, 1999. (Photo by John Giamundo/Getty Images)
Canadian professional hockey player Wayne Gretzky, forward of the New York Rangers, on skates up the ice during a game against the Florida Panthers at Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, 1999. (Photo by John Giamundo/Getty Images) /
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Professional hockey player, Ching Johnson, wearing his New York Rangers uniform, holding a hockey stick and crouching forward in a defensive stance. (Photo by Anton Bruehl/Condé Nast via Getty Images)
Professional hockey player, Ching Johnson, wearing his New York Rangers uniform, holding a hockey stick and crouching forward in a defensive stance. (Photo by Anton Bruehl/Condé Nast via Getty Images) /

Ethnic Nicknames

There are have a few nicknames based on ethnicity.  At least a few would be unacceptable in current society.  None more so than the first one on our list.

Ivan Wilfred “Ching” Johnson – Johnson’s first nickname was Ivan the Terrible, but fans thought the Irishman looked Chinese so they would chant “Ching, Ching, the Chinaman” in his support. Yep, they really did that.  I suppose “Ching” is better than two other names he was called, “Chinaman” and “Chink” Johnson. Let’s just say it was a different time.

Jim “Chief” Neilson – Jim Neilson was a stalwart on defense on the great Ranger teams of the 1970’s.  Because he was half Cree, he was anointed with the most stereotypical of Native American nicknames, “Chief.”  Ironic because though his mother was Cree, his father was from Denmark.

Pete “The Polish Prince” Stemkowski – Stemkowski is best known for his triple OT playoff goal against the Chicago Black Hawks in 1971, but he was also a practical joker and came up with many nicknames for his teammates.  He was also known as “Stemmer” but he was as better known for  the label he garnered as a result of his Polish heritage.

Ray “Chicken Parm” Ferraro – Ray Ferraro had a short stint with the Rangers. In 1995, he signed as a free agent from the Islanders and played all of 65 games as a Blueshirt before he was traded to Los Angeles in a multiplayer deal that featured Jarri Kurri  coming to New York.  He didn’t get the nickname until long after he left the Rangers, but it’s a funny story.  No, he didn’t get the name because he is of Italian descent.  He got the nickname from John Buccigross of ESPN after he dropped a piece of chicken parmesan on his white shirt just before going on the air as an analyst during the playoffs.

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