The Women Behind the Stars of the National Hockey League

Swedish NHL star Nicklas Backstrom appears to be is thriving, not just in his professional hockey career but also in his personal life. The alternate captain for the NFL’s Washington Capitals tied the knot with his longtime sweetheart, Liza Berg, in a glamourous ceremony in Sweden back in 2022 after many years together. Their wedding was attended by several NHL stars, and today, they have three children together – Haley, Vince, and Alizee. 

T.J. Oshie has been a prominent figure in the National Hockey League for over a decade. After playing more than 700 games, he celebrated a major career milestone by winning the Stanley Cup with the Washington Capitals in 2018. But it’s not just his professional achievements that stand out – he’s equally proud of his fulfilling family life. T.J. married Lauren Oshie, who he started dating during her college years, and after four years together, they decided to walk down the aisle. 

Former hockey goaltender Ryan Miller played for the National Hockey League for 18 seasons before throwing in the towel in 2021. He started dating an equally accomplished actress, Noureen DeWulf, while he was still playing professionally, and they tied the knot in 2011. Noureen gave birth to the couple’s first child in March 2015, a son, and years later also welcomed the birth of their daughter in April 2022. Noureen is best known for her TV work in the show Anger Management as well as her film work in West Bank Story, The Back-up Plan, and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. 

Former NHL defenseman Sheldon Souray’s personal life was certainly entertaining to follow before he met his current wife, ​Tess Annique. He had been in and out of several high-profile relationships with famous women over the years, most notably having been married to Baywatch star Angelica Bridges for several years. In addition to her, he was also in a long-term relationship with Barbara Blank, better known as WWE fighter Barbie Blank. 

Swiss-born ice hockey defenceman and captain of the National Hockey League’s Nashville Predators, Roman Josi, previously won a silver medal while representing his home country at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. He met his wife, Ellie, back in 2015, a year after she graduated with a degree in Music Business from Belmont University. They tied the knot in 2019, but Ellie decided to change careers, opting to pursue modeling and acting instead of the field she had originally studied. 

Matt Martin has been in the limelight ever since he first joined the NHL back in 2008. But it wasn’t until he and his wife, Sydney Esiason, started their young family in 2020 that she also began to garner a following of her own. Sydney happens to be ice hockey royalty as the daughter of a former NFL player, Boomer Esiason, and today the couple lives with their two daughters on Long Island. 

Jarret Stoll used to play for the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers during his time as a professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League. Erin Andrews, a well-known television personality and sportscaster for ESPN, first crossed paths with Jarret during the 2012 World Series, where he gathered the courage to introduce himself. Five years later, the two were married, and they continue to celebrate their wedding anniversary each year with heartfelt public messages. 

Claude Giroux has faithfully played for the Philadelphia Flyers for several years, having been made captain back in 2013 and continuing to serve in that position until 2022. He’s now an alternate captain for the Ottawa Senators and has his beloved wife, Ryanne Breton, firmly by his side. They became engaged in 2016 before officially tying the knot in 2018, and in recent years, they welcomed their children, Gavin and Palmer, into their lives. 

Justin Abdelkader has been a big name in the world of ice hockey ever since he was drafted in 2005 to join the Detroit Red Wings. He’s married to Julie Leshkevich, whom he met when they were both students at Michigan State University, and he eventually popped the question in downtown Detroit. The couple later shared details about their first date, with Justin warmly recalling that Julie had been ‘playing hard to get,’ adding, ‘She couldn’t have any drinks and she had to be home early.’

A notable NHL couple, Brooks Laich and Julianne Hough seemed to have a picture-perfect marriage. While Brooks was a major hockey star, Julianne was an accomplished dancer, and the two actually met on the show Dancing with the Stars. They were introduced through a mutual friend, and after that, they seemed to get along like a house on fire. Less than a year later, the couple were engaged and married in 2017. However, cracks in their relationship soon began to show. 

Canadian ice hockey goaltender for the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs, Matt Murray, is another ice hockey star who has been with the same person since high school. Both he and his wife, Christina Sirignano, grew up in Thunder Bay, Ontario, and tied the knot in 2019. Christina and her parents have always been extremely supportive of Matt’s professional sports career, often attending games to cheer him on. 

Best known for his time playing with the Montreal Canadiens, Czech former NHL star Tomas Plekanec was first drafted into the NHL in 2001. Having played over 1,000 games throughout his career, he retired in 2023 and went down in history as seventh all-time in games played for the Canadiens. He began dating Czech tennis player Lucie Šafářová in 2017, who was once ranked world No. 1 in doubles and No. 5 in singles. ​She retired from professional sports a bit before Tomas, in 2019, when she became pregnant with their first child, Lea. 

Canadian former ice hockey star Cale Hulse was a defenceman in the National Hockey League, and he married actress Gena Lee Nolin during the height of his career. They tied the knot in 2004 and have since had two children, born in 2006 and 2008, and now enjoy retired life together. Previously, Gena was best known for appearing on the ’90s shows The Price Is Right and Baywatch, as well as playing the title role in the adventure series Sheena in the early 2000s. 

While NHL star Erik Karlsson is at the top of his game, his personal life has been rocky at times. He has previously been married to Therese before divorcing her in 2013, and eventually meeting and marrying his current wife, Melinda Currey, five years after his divorce was finalized. They experienced some family tragedies in their marriage before eventually welcoming two beautiful children into the world together. Melinda also filed a protection order against the girlfriend of fellow Ottawa Senators member, Monika Caryk, for harassment. 

Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury currently plays for the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, having joined them in 2022. Nicknamed ‘The Flower,’ Marc-Andre dated Veronique Larosee for several years before they decided to tie the knot. The couple had been together since they were 15 years old and eventually married in 2012. While Veronique runs her own children’s clothing line and Marc-Andre stays busy with the NHL, they still manage to balance their careers while raising their three young kids. 

Dustin Brown was with the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League for the entirety of his career after joining them in 2003 as a right winger. Much like his consistent sports career, Dustin has enjoyed a stable personal life with his high school sweetheart, Nicole, who he has been dating since they were 15 years old. A charitable couple, they enjoy sharing their earnings with various charitable organizations across Los Angeles, and in 2011, Dustin was awarded the NHL Foundation Player Award. 

Left winger Gabriel Landeskog is the current captain of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, having been drafted back in 2011. A year later, he became the youngest captain in the history of the National Hockey League. He’s married to Melissa Shouldice, who holds a degree in psychology and today works as a professional fashion and wardrobe stylist. She runs her own company and is also experienced in fashion photography, event planning, and visual merchandising. 

When Russian ice hockey goaltender for the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, Andrei Vasilevskiy, met his wife-to-be, it was a serendipitous moment. They had both been on a plane to Moscow, Ksenia’s hometown, when they started talking mid-flight and exchanged each other’s details before parting ways and continuing to communicate over social media. They were still teenagers by the time they got married in 2014, and shortly after they tied the knot, Ksenia gave birth to their first child, a boy named Lukas.

Czech ice hockey goaltender Petr Mrazek, who plays for the Chicago Blackhawks, found love in the arms of another talented athlete, Sara Olivova. Petr began his hockey career back in 2012, while Sara is a professional beach volleyball player and a proud graduate of Georgia State University. During her recovery from knee surgery, which she underwent due to injuries sustained in her professional sports career, Petr praised her as a “warrior” for her remarkable strength of character and resilience in the face of adversity. 

Canadian center Matt Duchene currently plays for the Dallas Stars of the NHL, having previously been a part of the Ottawa Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets, among others. He married Ashley Grossaint in 2017 in a magical outdoor wedding ceremony in the Colorado woods, after having dated for seven years prior. They are a private couple who like to keep the details of their relationship out of the spotlight. However, we do know that they have two children together, a son named Beau and a daughter named Jaymes. 

Canadian ice hockey defenceman and alternate captain for the National Hockey League’s San Jose Sharks, Brent Burns, has been a part of the professional hockey world since 2003. He graduated from Sam Houston State University prior to joining the NHL and also used to hold down a job at eBay. In 2009, he tied the knot with his girlfriend Susan Holder, who he had been dating for a long time before. They currently reside in San Jose, California, where it is said that Susan proudly enjoys attending all of her husband’s games.

Goaltender for the National Hockey League’s Anaheim Ducks, John Gibson, and his wife, Alexa DelGreco, are another one of those couples who have been together since they were very young, preceding even the childhood sweethearts on this list, as they have actually been joined at the hip since they were both in kindergarten! They then continued to study at the same institution until they were 14 years old, but they continued to stay in touch for many years. There was a period in which the couple lost touch with each other before rekindling their romance in 2012. 

Slovak ice hockey goaltender Jaroslav Halák currently plays for the New York Rangers and the Slovak Men’s National Ice Hockey Team, but he has previously played for several teams, including the Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks, and the New York Islanders. He’s married to Petra, who is exceedingly private about their relationship and family life. Jaroslav once gave fans a peak into his family life, stating: ‘Of course I want to spend more time with my family, my kids, my wife. She’s been around for a long time. She’s seen all the ups and downs, and obviously, family deserves for me to be [there] for them.’

Former Czech player David Krejčí had a very successful run in his 16 seasons with the National Hockey League’s Boston Bruins. He retired in 2023, having completed two Winter Olympics representing the Czech national team. He started dating his now-wife, Naomi Starr, all the way back in 2009, eventually getting married in 2014 and welcoming their first child together only a year later. She hails from Watertown, Massachusetts, but was working in Boston when the couple first met each other, and she gave up her successful modeling career in order to raise their two children. 

Canadian hockey defenceman and alternate captain for the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, Cam Fowler, first met his wife during a bonfire hosted by his friend when the pair were back in high school. They’ve been together ever since and tied the knot in 2019 in their hometown of Orchard Lake, Michigan—where their love story started. Cam popped the question on their 10-year anniversary, with the aid of their dog, and in 2018, Cam and Jasmine launched a charity program called C4Kids to help children gain access to playing hockey. 

Swedish goaltender Robin Lehner, nicknamed ‘Panda,’ currently plays for the Vegas Golden Knights and has been a part of the National Hockey League since 2009. In 2018, he made headlines for walking out of a game mid-match and later explained that he had mental health and addiction issues, as well as suffering a panic attack. Fortunately, his love life has been a point of stability for the hockey player, as he married his long-time partner, Donya, back in 2014 when he was only 23 years old. 

Russian hockey centre and alternate captain Evgeni Malkin isn’t the only star in his family. His wife, who hails from Russia originally, is famous in her own right as a popular TV personality. She was well-known even before she met the hockey player, and Evgeni had actually first noticed her while watching one of her television appearances. After getting her number, the two exchanged messages far and few between for three years before they ever embarked on a romantic relationship. 

Canadian National Hockey League goaltender Corey Crawford, AKA the ‘Crow,’ has spent his entire professional career playing for the Chicago Blackhawks ever since he was first drafted back in 2003. He began dating Kristy Muscolino in 2016, and only a year later they welcomed their first child together. In 2019, the couple got married, and in 2020, their second child was born. They now have two sons, Cooper and Camden Every, and live in one of the most luxurious apartment complexes in Chicago. 

Canadian goaltender Carey Price is considered one of the best goaltenders in the history of ice hockey, and he has played for the Montreal Canadiens ever since being drafted by them in 2005. When he first met his wife Angela, she admitted to knowing next to nothing about the sport and probably didn’t think much of Carey’s playing skills, as the first two games she saw ended with Carey being sent off! They have been happily married since 2016, and with three children to look after, they spend the majority of their time raising their young family in Kelowna, British Columbia. 

Russian left winger and captain of the National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals, Alexander Ovechkin, is renowned as one of the greatest goal scorers in hockey history. He’s married to Anastasia Shubskaya, the daughter of famous Russian actress Vera Glagoleva and shipbuilding entrepreneur Kirill Shubskiy. Alexander and Anastasia quickly realized they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together after meeting in 2015, becoming engaged that same year. They tied the knot in 2016 in Russia, sharing on social media, ‘This is happiness.’ 

Canadian-born former ice hockey centre Mike Fisher played for both the Nashville Predators and the Ottawa Senators during his 19-season career in the National Hockey League. He met singer-songwriter Carrie Underwood when he attended one of her shows in 2008, and the pair hit it off immediately. They went on to get married in 2009 at The Ritz-Carlton Lodge in Greensboro, Georgia, in a beautiful ceremony surrounded by family and friends. 

Canadian former ice hockey defenseman Dion Phaneuf had a successful career, playing for several NHL teams, including the Calgary Flames and the Toronto Maple Leafs. His relationship with actress Elisha Cuthbert, which began in 2008, garnered significant media attention, especially after a former ice hockey-playing ex-boyfriend, Sean Avery, publicly commented on how Dion was taking on his “sloppy seconds.” Sean contract with the Dallas Stars terminated soon after, and Dion and Elisha gave little attention to the negativity.

Unrestricted free agent Jake Gardiner is a defenseman who previously played for both the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL. When he met his future wife, Lucy Cashin, in 2013, Jake was at the top of his game, having recently become the first Toronto Maple Leaf player in years to score a home Stanley Cup playoff goal. Lucy, a businesswoman, social media star, and fitness instructor, dated the athlete for four years before they walked down the aisle in 2017. Only a year later, Lucy gave birth to their first child, a son named Henry John, who arrived before his due date.

Slovak hockey star Zdeno Chara is nicknamed ‘Big Z’ for being the tallest person to ever play in the National Hockey League, standing at 2.06 meters tall. Between 1997 and 2022, he played for several NHL teams, including the New York Islanders and Boston Bruins, and is also a polyglot, fluent in six languages. His wife, Tatiana, is equally accomplished. She met Zdeno when she was working as an economics engineer before eventually shifting careers to become a financial planner.