A Conflation of Nerdity: The Best of #NHLStarWars

I suffer from a myriad of interests; growing up, I was both a nerd and a jock, obsessively reading comic books, scientifiction, and fantasy, while also playing soccer and baseball and obsessively following hockey. I adored the original Star Wars trilogy, actually wearing out my VHS copies through repeated watching. I equally adored the Vancouver Canucks, actually wearing the infamous "Flying V" jersey to elementary school during the 1994 playoff run.

On Tuesday, these two worlds collided, thanks to @whatnojagr and his #NHLStarWars hashtag. The meme really took off when Greg Wyshynski got ahold of it and brought the eyes of the masses (of his followers) to the table. Harrison and I are no strangers to NHL hashtags, contributing to the wonderful #NHLCupcakes and attempting to start a few of our own. Unfortunately, #ForthepriceofDerekBoogaard and #ImissKyleWellwood just don't have the same traction.

Here are a few of our favorite #NHLStarWars tweets, including a few of our own, because we are awesome. #shamefulselfpromotion

@rjoconnell: Brian Gionta as R2D2, he can easily crawl into it

Bam! Short jokes! Also, just like R2D2, Gionta will require an interpreter for the French-speaking fans to understand him.

@chrissampang Keith Ballard as ANYONE with a lightsaber. http://i55.tinypic.com/zt99uv.jpg

Mostly I just love the animated gif for this one, which has been around for a while. Hopefully Hips won't do the same to Luongo this year...

@thetinnishflash @wyshynski I'm just waiting for all the Wellwood for Jabba tweets. #fatjokes #socreative

Best part about this one is that she was already too late.

@thetinnishflash Gary Bettman for Grand Moff Tarkin

She nails it with this one. "Leave Phoenix? In our moment of triumph?"

@ACMESalesRep

Sean Avery = Jar-Jar Binks: talks too much, and just generally annoys real fans.

There was an odd attempt to cast Sean Avery as Han Solo. Ugh, no thanks. He's certainly a scruffy nerf-herder, but there's no way he gets the plum position as anti-hero-for-the-ages. ACMESalesRep gets it right with the Jar-Jar Binks comparison.

@nettrashcan Jacques Lemaire = Admiral 'It's a trap!' Ackbar

He wasn't the first to make the joke, but he was the first to make it well. Though really, wouldn't Admiral Ackbar be every team playing against Jacques Lemaire?

@PhilBBG Scott Hartnell = Chewbacca #TooEasy

The addition of the #TooEasy hashtag lifts this one above the other Scott Hartnell as Chewbacca references.

@thetinnishflash Sidney Crosby = a TIE Fighter (they both make annoying whining noises)

Despite her earlier assertion regarding the creativity of Wellwood fat jokes, @thetinnishflash goes for the old, yet hilarious, Crosby-is-a-whiner joke. #hypocrisy?

@passittobulis Mikael Samuelsson is Han Solo, because he shoots first.

Harrison steps to the plate with the first PitB entry and nails it. Nothing more to add.

@Ashli_28 The Sutters as the clone army

Indeed. It's tempting to jump in here with a rant about how disappointed I was that the Clone Wars simply featured one side of the war using an army made of clones rather than a revolution of clones fighting for clone rights, but that would get a little too nerdy and I'm still trying to wipe the memories of the prequels from my mind.

@nettrashcan Ewoks. Cute, cuddly teddy bears. Led by Hal 'Chewbacca' Gill

A typical "Montreal Canadiens are short" joke vastly improved by the addition of Chewbacca. Just like the actual Ewoks.

@Disastromatic Pierre McGuire = C-3P0

@Disastromatic jumped in with this gem then followed it up with a series of killer puns, the best of which was...

@Disastromatic Mon Cammalleri

This joke is just too perfect. Seriously.

@passittobulis Clearly, Jason Spezza is Salacious Crumb. Compare http://bit.ly/a6iJjC with http://bit.ly/cMhPxQ

I arrived late to the party, but I still think this is hilarious.

@hawknut Detroit = Mos Eisley Spaceport #wretchedhiveofscumandvillainy

Harsh. Also, humourous.

@hawknut FoxTrax blue puck = Greedo shooting first #thingswepretendneverhappened

Apparently @hawknut is in the business of being funny and business is booming (I am clearly not in that business). Also, I don't know what he's talking about as I don't remember either of those things happening.

@mordak6 Patrik Stefan is Red Leader. Both managed to miss an undefended opening.

As Professor Farnsworth might say, "Oh my, yes." For those needing reminding, Stefan should be embarrassed for what he just did.

@passittobulis Brian Burke can make the Phil Kessel run in two first round draft picks.

Finally, just 15 minutes ago, I made this hilarious joke. If you don't likewise think it's hilarious, then you have no sense of humour and you should be ashamed of yourself.