The locker room or the bench of a hockey team can be a great place to learn a whole bunch of new vocabulary words and funny hockey lingo.  As retired Hall of Famer Gordie Howe famously stated, “all hockey players are bilingual because they can speak English and profanity.”  Not all slang terms are pejoratives (though many are) and some have rather odd beginnings.

Funny Hockey Lingo On The Radio

Many times great terms in hockey developed from the eccentric personalities of the men and women who are hired to cover and broadcast the game.  Longtime Buffalo Sabres broadcaster Rick Jeanneret, for instance, has coined a number of hockey terms and lingoisms that have entered the common lexicon.  Perhaps his most famous is to refer to a goal scored in the upper half of the net as a “top-shelf” goal, as he famously calls it “top shelf, where Momma hides the cookies!”

Funny Hockey Lingo On The Ice

Ever wondered what the players themselves call one another once they strap on the pads and hit the rink?  There are plenty of terms to refer to players who exhibit one or more traits typical of the sport.  The “cherry picker” player is one who stands within a few feet on the net in order to bang home a rebound or a loose puck, doing the minimal amount of work in order to reap the reward of a goal.  Conversely, the “sniper” is the one who is capable of firing away from the blueline and placing it just over the goalie’s glove.  Speaking of goalies, the “flopper” is one who has relatively little skill and must look like he is swimming around in the crease in order to block shots.

Tooth For A Tooth

Perhaps the most compelling source of hockey slang, however, comes from the game’s propensity for legal fighting.  The players who are good at throwing fists at one another and nothing else earn the dubious title of “goons”.  Any time two goons come together, announcers begin calling a hockey game like a boxing match, comparing the “tale of the tape” for a pair of enforcers.  Famous commentaries include Joe Sakic’s fight against Doug Gilmour, in which he knocked Gilmour out, prompting the announcer to ask “How do you like them apples, Gilmour?”

Let Your Play Do The Talking

Hockey terms add a lot of spice and color to any game, whether it is in the NHL or just on a local ice rink.  There is much more to the sport than just funny hockey lingo, however,  getting the best advice and training will give you a competitive edge that leaves your opponents dropping a bit of foul language themselves. However, you will need a tested and proven online hockey training program such as the one we provide. Call us on 1-888-588-0554 for more details.