And away we go NHL thread!!!!

[ZZB]

I remember I had to teach how to pronounce Selänne to the workers in Newport Beach sports museum because the locals pronounce it like it's some kind of an Italian sausage.

Yeah. Mr. Salami.

[Endrik]

Uh-oh, so it doesn't sound like salami?

you got that right

its pronounced Knee-em-ie

"ne-yea-me" is better because "yea" with silent "a" brings out the accent in the word better and it's phonetically more correct as there is a very subtle "y" after the first syllable, it's not full on E's. A little bit like in Spanish name Nieto.

[Endrik]

Yeah. Mr. Salami.

yeah but they did say that the real pronunciation sounds a lot prettier

[ZZB]

I live in Lahti where Niemi played before leaving for the smaller rinks and bigger paychecks. I confess I wouldn't have thought I'd see him in the Cup Finals in a few years! I mean he was good - stellar at times - and Lahti Pelicans supporters probably were sad to see him leave, but... come on!

[Spivonious]

So in German (the only European language that I'm the least bit educated in), you could spell it Niejemi? Or Nejemi?

I'm only confused because I've heard sportscasters say it 15 different ways.

[Endrik]

Spiv, I think you speak English pretty well too

In German I think it would also be spelled just Niemi or maybe Nijemi

[Spivonious]

Spiv, I think you speak English pretty well too

In German I think it would also be spelled just Niemi or maybe Nijemi

I speak Amerricun.

[ZZB]

I'm only confused because I've heard sportscasters say it 15 different ways.

That's usually the case. Spotting the differences is a part of the fun of watching NHL games!

Well not really.

I think it's more a case of emphasis, the way I've heard Niemi pronounced is at least recognizable. Which is necessarily not the case with Selänne.

edit: There's actually a nice pronounciation key in wikipedia. Go piece it together!

[Endrik]

I live in Lahti where Niemi played before leaving for the smaller rinks and bigger paychecks. I confess I wouldn't have thought I'd see him in the Cup Finals in a few years! I mean he was good - stellar at times - and Lahti Pelicans supporters probably were sad to see him leave, but... come on!

well, Pelicans would do a lot better if they still had him
I know a couple of Pelicans fans, I have close relatives in Hyvinkää so I'm in that area often. We sometimes go to the lakes through Lahti from Hyvinkää.

[atomic charvel guy]

I did a little research, the literal translation of Endrik in english is- "buzzard"-lol

[Tekky]

Can you confirm how Niemi is pronounced? Is it Nee-em-ee, Nee-ay-mee, or something else?

We call him "Nemo".

[Hellbat]

The Canadian broadcasters typically pronounce it Nee Yem mee.

[Endrik]

Literal translation of Thomas in Finnish is "runkkari"

[Spivonious]

Going by the wiki guide, e = let and i = lit, and Finnish dipthongs are just like two single vowels strung together, so it's ontih nihehmih? Or is i more like meet?

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/runkkari

[atomic charvel guy]

you're all wrong, the only one who pronounces it correctly is
that fine game caller Emrick. it's- "Narrrrrrrrr-iiiiiiiii-emmmmmmmmmeeeeeee arrrrrrrrrg arrrrrrrrrrrglle gaaarrrrrrrrrrb!!!!!!" (proceed to spray shorts after)