(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

You’ve never met a sport where losing your teeth is considered a “badge of honor,” but in hockey, it is! Dozens of hockey players have lost their pearly whites on the rink. Blame it on the fist fights on center ice. Or the rogue puck flying through the air. And then there are the players who lost their teeth from a high stick. No matter the reason, the result of seeing a space in between hockey players’ teeth is epic.

Hockey is a fast-paced, physical sport that requires players to be tough and fearless. They have to be willing to put their bodies and faces on the line for the sake of the game. One of the most common injuries suffered by hockey players is dental trauma. An informal say of saying that is, hockey players break a lot of teethies! In fact, it’s not uncommon to see players on the ice with gaps in their smiles, a testament to the toll that this sport can take on the body.

My husband, Rob Bellamy, played hockey for many years, and I’m grateful he still has his teeth. But if he didn’t I would still love him!

Hockey Players Who Lost Their Teeth Don’t Care About The Dental Risks

Despite the risks, many hockey players continue to play without mouth guards or cages on their helmets to cover their faces (like the women do). While losing teeth may be seen as a badge of honor for some hockey players, the reality is that it’s a serious issue that should be taken seriously.

The only people not complaining about losing teeth are the hockey players themselves, and the dentists who clearly make lots of money when they’re asked to make new dentures for them!

So sit back, relax, and take a look at some of the most famous hockey players who have lost their teeth playing the game that they love the most.

11 Hockey Players Who Lost Their Teeth On The Ice

  • Bobby Clarke

    Bobby Clarke of the Philadelphia Flyers looks on duirng an NHL game...

    Bobby Clarke of the Philadelphia Flyers looks on duirng an NHL game in November, 1983. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

    Clarke, who played for the Philadelphia Flyers from 1969 to 1984, is perhaps the most famous hockey player with missing teeth. He lost two front teeth early in his career and played without them for the rest of his time on the ice.

  • Keith Yandle

    When Keith Yandle played for the Florida Panthers he got hit in the mouth with a rogue puck. He had to leave the ice to receive medical attention. He lost 9 teeth from the hit.

  • Duncan Keith

    Duncan Keith, who lost seven teeth during the Stanley Cup playoffs...

    Duncan Keith, who lost seven teeth during the Stanley Cup playoffs after being hit in the mouth with a puck, speaks to the crowd during the Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup victory parade and rally on... Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

    Keith, a defenseman for the Chicago Blackhawks, is another notable player who has lost teeth on the ice. He has had several dental injuries over the course of his career, but has continued to play at a high level despite them.

  • Terry O'Reilly

    Canadian professional hockey player Terry O'Reilly of the Boston...

    Canadian professional hockey player Terry O'Reilly of the Boston Bruins has a battered face after a fight during a 1980s NHL game. O'Reilly played for the Bruins from 1971-85. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

    O’Reilly, who played for the Boston Bruins in the 1970s and 80s, was known for his aggressive style of play and his willingness to fight. He lost several teeth during his career as a result.

  • Chris Pronger

    Sean Couturier of the Philadelphia Flyers looks on before a face off...

    Sean Couturier of the Philadelphia Flyers looks on before a face off against the Montreal Canadiens on October 11, 2014 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

    Pronger, a defenseman who played for several teams over his career, including the St. Louis Blues and the Edmonton Oilers, also lost teeth on multiple occasions. He even had to undergo surgery to repair damage to his jaw after a particularly brutal hit.

  • Joe Pavelski

    Joe Pavelski was playing for the San Jose Sharks when a puck went off his face and into the net. Score! (Except not for his teeth)

  • Brent Burns

    Brent Burns of the Carolina Hurricanes warms up before their game...

    Brent Burns of the Carolina Hurricanes warms up before their game against the Seattle Kraken at PNC Arena on December 15, 2022 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes won 3-2. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

    Burns lost three of his teeth naturally at the age of 16…but he just lost the remaining ones playing hockey.

  • Chris Neil

    Max McCormick of the Ottawa Senators is congratulated by Cody Ceci...

    Max McCormick of the Ottawa Senators is congratulated by Cody Ceci and Chris Neil after he scored a goal on Alex Stalock of the San Jose Sharks in the first period at SAP Center on January 18, 2016... Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

    Chris Neil is stick got caught in a goalie’s pads. He went face first into the cross bar. OUCH! 

  • Alex Ovechkin

    Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals reacts after his team...

    Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals reacts after his team defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in Game Five of the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena on June 7, 2018 in Las Vegas,... Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

    Ovechkin lost his front tooth after taking a high stick in a game against the Atlanta Thrashers.