The "Bumper" Position

[PenguinHunter]

this is what I think of when you put hockey and bumpers in the same sentence...




this is almost worse than calling someone a pylon!

[Pengwin7]

Pivot?

Yeah... I was discussing this on WHL board.
I actually like "pivot"... even "hub"... more than "bumper".
That said - pivot has been used in hockey in a certain way... so it's kind of off limits for consideration.
(But I agree it fits nicer than "bumper", IMO)

[doulos]

Oooooo... post link please!
I'm going hunting for the person that bastardized this term!?!

(btw, if it's not clear... I'm not really "serious" about this... but I do think "slot" is a much better term.)
I find it incredibly interesting that this term gained steam... that's all... when a perfectly good term "the slot" or "the slot-man" was in place.

I love trying to figure out where words came from. The link I found was in a training resource by Marty Johnston, who is currently assistant coach with the Jets, but coached all over the place. Would be great to try and track him down to find out where he first heard the term from!

[Pengwin7]

I love trying to figure out where words came from. The link I found was in a training resource by Marty Johnston, who is currently assistant coach with the Jets, but coached all over the place. Would be great to try and track him down to find out where he first heard the term from!

That would be cool.
I like that you are into the history of the term too!!!

It's super interesting because... yes... the reference to pinball is very applicable. That's a key function of what the player does - often shift the puck either right back, or to another option on the PP perimeter.
I get that AND like that.

And if the right respected hockey person brings it up... yeah... I think a lot of people would say "Oh, that's a decent way to describe it".

But... when we talk about PP spots, we're talking "location". Left half wall, right half wall, netmouth, point. We don't say "Oh, he's playing the one-timer position" or "Slapshooter" or "Goalie Vision Blocker".
PP is all about where a player will be.
And that said... "Slot" is the best choice for term. (IMO)
Hockey people know where the slot is.
And the guy in this role is almost always... in the slot area.

[Axeman33]

When I hear bumper in hockey, the first person I think of is Brayden Point.

[Pengwin7]

When I hear bumper in hockey, the first person I think of is Brayden Point.

So... "bumper" or "slot" for the Axeman?
What's your preference?

[Swarley]

I have taken this debacle to twitter!!!
Need my dobber brethren to show up and chose:

"Bumper" or "Slot"
I'll go with the majority and change my old-stubborn ways if I'm outvoted!!!!

https://twitter.com/Pengwin7/status/1578051121284882434

I voted on there for ya. I prefer Slot for sure

[Pengwin7]

^Alright! My kind of hockey guy!!!

[pmorrow]

If the defenseman on the powerplay is called the quarterback the guy in front of the net should be called the slot receiver.

[tweetdrivr]

I like “snapper”. He snaps it home. SNAP IT!!!

[Pengwin7]

LOL... you guys are killing me with your ability to avoid answering a "this" or "that" question!?!
Still love you all!

[GinFizz]

https://twitter.com/AnsarKhanMLive/s...46605940428803

Berrtuzzi and Vrana playing bumper.

[2014olympicgold]

I think toe man as he's likely the toe in tick-tac-toe. If we're adding a bunch of nonsense to this niche topic haha

[Pengwin7]

https://twitter.com/AnsarKhanMLive/s...46605940428803

Berrtuzzi and Vrana playing bumper.

^Yeah... the positional eligibility digging/research for WHL is what turned me on to how much it is being used out there.
Ansar Kahn references bumper a lot... as do many other beat writers.
So... the term is really taking off... (and I.don't.like.it)

I don't mind "flank" though, which is another location reference (rather than a "this is what this guy does").

[4T2]

Doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo
Doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo

It won't stop, I won't come down
I keep stock with a tick-tock rhythm, a bump for the drop
And then I bumped up, I took the hit that I was given
Then I bumped again, then I bumped again

There, now that's in your head