Team Canada just can’t get enough of the Toews, and for this one, you need to be on your toes. Being the home to several family hockey dynasties like the Sutters and the Staals, the red-and-whites are fortunate enough to call two Toews their own. Jonathan Toews, one of the greatest two-way forwards of his generation, was a serial winner with the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2010s. Now they have another, natural for anyone to ask: Are they related?

Defenseman Devon Toews, a vital cog in the Colorado Avalanche’s 2022 championship run, has been quietly stacking Norris Trophy votes and proving himself as one of the league’s most well-rounded blueliners. The Blackhawks’ Jonathan Toews, is a three-time Stanley Cup champion, Selke winner, and Conn Smythe recipient. They’ve both carried the Canadian flag with pride, both play a complete 200-foot game, and both have hoisted hockey’s holy grail.

The Avalanches’ Toews boasts 27 points across 53 games thus far. Earning Norris Trophy consideration and cementing himself as Cale Makar’s perfect complement in Colorado. But here’s the twist, apart from their many similarities — both are Stanley Cup Champions—they’re not related.

No brotherly bond, no cousin connection, just two stars who happen to share a surname and a knack for winning. The Toews name may not link them by blood, but it does by legacy. Their styles, their championship pedigrees, and their unwavering consistency link them in hockey lore—even if the family tree says otherwise.

How to pronounce Toews?

Now, let’s settle another mystery: how do you even pronounce “Toews”? If you’re reading it phonetically, you might assume it rhymes with “toes.” Seems logical, right? Well, the English language rarely plays fair, and in this case, it’s completely deceptive. The correct pronunciation? “Tayvz.” That’s right—no “o” sound, no hard “w,” just a smooth, effortless “Tayvz.” It’s the kind of pronunciation curveball that has left more than a few sports commentators second-guessing themselves over the years.

The origins of the name trace back to northern Germany, where it was derived from the Low German patronymic naming system. Over time, as names evolved and families migrated, “Toews” found its way into Canadian hockey history, albeit with a pronunciation that seems to defy convention. So while it might look like a tongue-twister to outsiders, for those in the hockey world, “Tayvz” has long been synonymous with excellence. Just as Devon and Jonathan have made their names known for their on-ice brilliance, the least we can do is make sure we say “Toews” the way it was meant to be said.

Mispronouncing it won’t get you banned from an NHL arena, but if you’re trying to sound like you know your hockey, getting it right is a must.