McLlwain holds the record of 5 consonants. Paul Szczechura played for Tampa Bay came close. Martin Frk played in Detroit, and has no vowels. The most famous name with mostly consonants might be director Krzysztof Kieślowski who made Three Colours trilogy (‘93-‘94). #hockeycards

Castors, french for beavers, are semiaquatic rodents, the 2nd largest rodent after capybaras. Contrary to cartoons, beavers pack mud with their front paws, rather than slapping it with their tails. Their tails are used as rudders, fat storage, and sounding alarm. #hockeycards

The word stitch originally meant a sharp, sudden stab or puncture wound rather than an act of sewing. It shifted from meaning a pain in your side, to using a needle and thread, to describing a piece of clothing, to laughter, as in to leave someone in stitches. #hockeycards

McSorley plays the co-pilot in Con Air who is shot by John Malkovich who leads an uprising of convicts being transported on a plane. They are thwarted by convict and ex-marine Nicolas Cage. McSorley also had cameos in Bad Boys, Forget Paris, and Trading Favors. #hockeycards

John Carter of Mars is the protagonist of the Barsoom stories written by Edgar Rice Burroughs who also wrote Tarzan. The first novel was Princess of Mars serialized in 1912, that was based on astronomer Percival Lowell’s perception that there were canals on Mars. #hockeycards

Pocket gophers are burrowing rodents endemic to North and Central America. The name might come from French “gaufre” meaning waffle as their tunnels resemble a honeycomb pattern. They can turn their cheeks completely inside out like pockets to empty or clean them. #hockeycards

Alex Trebek and Jeopardy! rescued quiz show genre after the 1950s rigging scandals like NBCs Twenty-One. It was a cultural phenomenon until it was revealed that contestants were fed answers. The events were depicted in ‘94’s “Quiz Show” directed by Robert Redford. #hockeycards

A black-tie affair is a formal evening event that usually sees tuxedos. The tuxedo started in the 1860s with the Prince of Wales customizing a short indoor jacket. They were brought to New York where they were worn at an Autumn Ball in Tuxedo Park where name stuck. #hockeycards

It’s ironic that Hart is a homophone for the most valuable part of the human body. Homophone comes from Ancient Greek meaning “speaking the same language”. The Great Vowel shift between 1400 and 1700 was a phonetic change that merged words into the same sound. #hockeycards

The concept of a wanderer is ancient but was preserved as a word with the 10th century Old English poem “The Wanderer”. The romantic archetype of contemplating life’s path became popular after German Casper David Friedrich’s painting “Wanderer Above the Sea and Fog”. #hockeycards