Meet Michal Jordan, the hockey player who can't shake the Michael Jordan mix-ups

Jackie Spiegel

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Meet Michal Jordan, the hockey player who can't shake the Michael Jordan mix-ups image

"The Last Dance," the ESPN documentary on the end of the Chicago Bulls dynasty, brought to light that the rapper/actor Common once forged Michael Jordan's signature — and spelled it wrong. Of course, there are many ways to spell Michael. There's Micheal (such as the Canucks' Ferland) and Mychael (like the Canadian film score composer Danna). And then there's Michal, as in Rozsival, Neuvirth, Kempny. 

To be fair, Common should have known better. I mean, there is only one Michael Jordan ... right?

Well for this Michal Jordan, the mix-ups — and comparisons — are always there.

Not so fast sports fans. Meet hockey's Michal Jordan, which is pronounced Mick-kahl Yor-dahn, by the way.

Where is Michal Jordan from?

Hailing from Zlin, Czech Republic, this Michal Jordan was born in 1990 — well after the other guy was an established name in households. Could he have been named after the 1985 Sporting News Rookie of the Year and the '88 and '89 Sporting News MVP?

He has represented the Czech Republic in multiple international tournaments including the 2018 Olympics, where they finished fourth, and captained the 2010 Czech team at the IIHF World Juniors Championship.

Who has Michal Jordan played for?

Drafted 105th overall (fourth round) by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2008, the defenseman spent three seasons in the OHL before signing an entry-level contract at the tail end of the 2009-10 season. Over the course of his junior career, split between Windsor and Plymouth, he scored 102 points (31 goals, 71 assists) in 160 regular season games. 

Professional hockey statistics

SEASON TEAM GP G-A-PTS
2010-11 Charlotte (AHL) 67 4-14-18
2011-12 Charlotte 76 4-18-22
2012-13 Carolina (NHL) 5 0-0-0
2013-14 Charlotte  70 4-21-25
2014-15 Carolina  38 2-4-6
  Charlotte  30 2-9-11
2015-16 Carolina  36 1-0-1
  Charlotte  4 3-0-3
2016-17 Ak Bars Kazan (KHL) 27 2-5-7
2017-18 Amur Khabarovsk (KHL) 48 2-6-8
2018-19 Amur Khabarovsk  54 2-13-15
2019-20 Amur Khabarovsk  61 7-11-18

Jordan made his NHL debut on Feb. 14, 2013, against the Maple Leafs and potted his first NHL goal one year and two days later — Feb. 16 at Ottawa. Funny fact about Jordan, all three of his NHL career goals occurred in the month of February.

Before the start of the 2014-15 season, Jordan was named the captain of the Charlotte Checkers, Carolina's AHL team. In October 2016, he left Carolina and signed with the KHL and has spent the last four seasons in the league, first with Ak Bars Kazan and the last three with Amur Khabarovsk.

Michal Jordan vs. Michael Jordan

Bill Peters allegations

In late November, amid the Bill Peters racial allegations, Jordan came out on Twitter and accused his former coach of kicking and punching him on the bench.

Current Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind'Amour confirmed the allegations were true the next day to the media. Peters resigned as the Flames head coach on Nov. 29 and was recently hired to coach Yekaterinburg Avtomobilist in the KHL .

Jackie Spiegel