Welcome to the Vancouver Lexicon. Its purpose is to pin down the patois of the City of Vancouver by recording its toponyms, nicknames, slang terms, personalities, places, and other Van-centric things. Full A-Z here.

Cheech | nickname | The sobriquet of John Garrett, veteran WHL/NHL goaltender, hockey journalist and colour commentator for Vancouver Canucks games on Sportsnet since the team’s 2002-2003 season. He earned the nickname from a teammate in the 1970s on account of his hair and moustache being similar to that of comic actor Cheech Marin (of Cheech & Chong fame). Well known for his love of food (legend has it he once smuggled a hot dog onto the ice, hiding it in his pads), his encyclopedic knowledge of the game, and his unflinching, cup-is-half-full optimism when it comes to the Canucks’ annual chances. He is also – like most goalies – irrepressibly superstitious. He famously spoiled a 2013 Roberto Luongo shutout by saying the word “shutout” on air with 35 seconds left in the game (the Avalanche scored with 7.1 seconds remaining). The honorary Dad of every hopeful, diehard Vancouver Canucks fan.

Usage | “The only things certain in this world are death, taxes and Cheech projecting the ‘Nucks to win the Stanley Cup.”