Chirping is as much a part of the game of hockey as the Zamboni, power plays, and Donald Cherry. It starts in peewees, and goes all the way up to the pros. Yes some people look down upon it, but it can have an effect on one’s opponent, and take their head right out of the play.

         One of my favorite plays and forms of chirping, is the little stuff. Just look at the way New York Rangers winger Sean Avery got under the skin of Devils goaltender Marty Brodeur in the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The tender said afterwards, “It was not an easy series, that’s for sure. They did a great job of getting to me, getting in front of me and making my life tough out there.” And, he refused to shake the pesky Avery’s hand after his New Jersey squad was eliminated in the first round by the Blueshirts. This I don’t really get. Its part of the game, and just because he is good at it doesn’t mean you don’t shake the guy’s hand. There is nothing wrong with a little chirping, especially if the result is your team winning. It doesn’t always have to be harsh words either. A simple knock on a guy’s inability to score can put a player over the edge.

With that being said, here are a few of my favorite hockey chirps.

My list of Top 11 Hockey Chirps, in no order.

11. “Hey goalie, I’ve seen coupons that save more than you.”

10. “It must be hard to eat, when you got no hands.”

9. “That’s a nice helmet…does it come in men’s too?”

8. (When a player with a visor is talking trash) “What’s that? Roll down your window, I can’t hear you.”

7. “I’ve seen better hands on a digital clock.”

6. “I’ve seen bigger hits in Little League.”

5. “Hey tender, switch to Geico so you can save 15% or more.”

4. At the face off, do a double take of the guy your squaring off against and say…”Hey man, does your coach know you’re out here?””

3. “Hey buddy can I borrow your hands, I need a stone for my skates.”

2. “Ray Charles sees more ice than you.”

1. “Funny, I heard you were the worst player on your last team too.”