The year in hockey 2018 gave us triumphs, like the Washington Capitals and the U.S. women's national team overcoming their archrivals for glory. It gave us inspiration, whether it was overcoming the odds or overcoming tragedy. And it gave us the weirdness we've come to expect from our beloved sport, like a giant orange mascot that became everything from a nighttime talk-show punchline to a political avatar.
Here are the hockey people of 2018, as nominated by the hockey editorial staff of ESPN. We chronicle the nominees first, and then honor our Hockey Person of 2018.