Pest (ice hockey)
A player who antagonizes opponents through legal, borderline, or illegal tactics.
In ice hockey, a pest is a player whose goal is to irritate opponents through physical actions or verbal taunts. These players use a mix of legal, borderline, and illegal methods to get results. Common moves include chirping, or slashing and hooking when referees aren’t watching. A pest might provoke an opponent into a fight, then back away to force a penalty on the other player. Their tactics can target not only opposing skaters but also goaltenders. The terms pest and agitator are often used interchangeably, since both types of players rely on short bursts of speed and intensity to cause chaos.
The label can be insulting, suggesting a player stirs up anger but avoids the direct consequences of a fight, unlike an enforcer. George McPhee, former general manager of the Washington Capitals and president of the Vegas Golden Knights, described pests as players who lack courage, starting trouble without backing it up.
Several players have been noted as examples. In February 2001, *Hockey Digest* named Bob Kelly, Matt Cooke, Esa Tikkanen, Tomas Holmstrom, Darius Kasparaitis, Ian Laperriere, Tyson Nash, Todd Harvey, Matthew Barnaby, Kris Draper, Bill Lindsay, Jamal Mayers, and Steve Staios as the NHL’s best pests. In 2009, *Sports Illustrated* compiled its own list of notable NHL pests, including Claude Lemieux, Steve Ott, Jordin Tootoo, Jarkko Ruutu, Matt Cooke, Alexandre Burrows, Chris Neil, Ian Laperriere, Darcy Tucker, Chris Simon, Matthew Barnaby, Theo Fleury, Pat Verbeek, Esa Tikkanen, Ken Linseman, and Tiger Williams.
- Notable pest in current nhl
- Brad Marchand
- Nickname of brad marchand
- The Rat
- Pests listed by hockey digest (february
- Bob Kelly, Matt Cooke, Esa Tikkanen, Tomas Holmstrom, Darius Kasparaitis, Ian Laperriere, Tyson Nash, Todd Harvey, Matthew Barnaby, Kris Draper, Bill Lindsay, Jamal Mayers, Steve Staios
- Pests listed by sports illustrated (2009
- Claude Lemieux, Steve Ott, Jordin Tootoo, Jarkko Ruutu, Matt Cooke, Alexandre Burrows, Chris Neil, Ian Laperriere, Darcy Tucker, Chris Simon, Matthew Barnaby, Theo Fleury, Pat Verbeek, Esa Tikkanen, K
Lore & Background
The term pest has been used derogatorily to refer to a player who incites anger in the opposition but is unwilling to directly suffer the consequences of their actions by engaging in fighting, as would an enforcer. George McPhee, former general manager of the Washington Capitals and president of the Vegas Golden Knights, said, "Pests are really the guys who have no courage. They start stuff and don't back it up."
Common tactics include chirping (verbal incitement) and slashing or hooking while referees are not looking. Pests may goad opponents into a fight but then back off to draw a penalty. Some pests target not only opposing skaters but also goaltenders. The roles of pest and agitator are sometimes used synonymously, both characterized by short bursts of intensity and speed with the intention of creating havoc.
Notable examples include Brad Marchand, often referred to as "The Rat" in the current NHL. Historical lists of pests were compiled by Hockey Digest in February 2001 and by Sports Illustrated in 2009, each naming multiple players known for this style of play.
Reader's Guide
The pest role occupies a controversial but persistent niche in ice hockey. By operating at the edges of the rules—using chirping, slashing, hooking, and goading—pests aim to disrupt opponents' focus and draw penalties. This approach can shift momentum and create power-play opportunities for their team. However, the term carries a negative connotation, as pests are often seen as lacking the courage to back up their provocations with fighting, unlike enforcers. George McPhee's characterization of pests as having "no courage" reflects this view. Despite the criticism, pests have been a recurring element in the NHL, as evidenced by multiple published lists of notable pests from different eras. Their effectiveness in creating chaos and drawing penalties makes them a tactical asset, even if their methods are frequently derided. The legacy of the pest is thus one of strategic annoyance—a player whose value lies not in scoring or fighting but in psychological and rule-bending disruption.
Did You Know?
- Brad Marchand is often referred to as 'The Rat'.
- Pests may target opposing goaltenders as well as skaters.
- George McPhee said pests 'start stuff and don't back it up'.
- Hockey Digest published a list of the NHL's best pests in February 2001.
More in Ice Hockey Terminology, Part 2 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced