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Movember poll: Who owns the best ‘active’ mustache in the NHL?

2011 Heritage Classic - Alumni Game

of the Calgary Flames Alumni of the Montreal Canadiens Alumni during the Alumni game held as part of the 2011 NHL Heritage Classic festivities at McMahon Stadium on February 19, 2011 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Andre Ringuette

Want an appropriate time to do something ridiculous? Make sure it’s in the name of charity. Huge Czech defensemen wearing pink bunny suits to hospitals and countless people making boob jokes to benefit breast cancer research/awareness are just two examples of that practice. Yet if you want a go-to example of what hockey players are doing right now, simply look at the area between their lips and noses.

Yup, it’s “Movember,” one of the strangest charitable movements in a jam-packed arena of weird benefits. With that in mind, PHT wants to know: who is the modern mustache champion* in the NHL?

The contestants

George Parros, Raitis Ivanans

Anaheim Ducks right wing George Parros, left, and Los Angeles Kings left wing Raitis Ivanans of Latvia, fight during the first period of their NHL hockey game, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

AP

George Parros via The Associated Press

Notes: Parros just shaved it for Movember, but by my estimation, it’s already grown back by this writing. In fact, it’s likely stronger, thicker and maybe even a bit angry now. He’s a Princeton grad so don’t discount the possibility of a sentient ‘stache.

Dan Ellis, Mike Brown, Victor Hedman

Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Mike Brown (18) attempts to tip a shot past Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Dan Ellis (33) as Lightning’s Victor Hedman (77), of Sweden, defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

AP

Mike Brown via AP

Notes: Tell me what your eye is drawn to in this photo. If you said “the puck” instead of Brown’s majestic handlebar, then you’re either a liar or a potential enemy.

Paul MacLean

Paul MacLean speaks with the media after being named head coach of the Ottawa Senators hockey team during a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Tuesday June 14, 2011. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Adrian Wyld)

AP

Paul MacLean via AP

Notes: The first contestant from the “coaches” division is a legit contender. Anyone who attributed the Ottawa Senators’ surge to Jason Spezza is wrong; it’s clear that the team is spurred on by MacLean’s mustache. His ‘stache has forgotten more about hockey than we’ll ever know.

2010 Stanley Cup Practices and Press Conferences

PHILADELPHIA - JUNE 8: Daniel Carcillo #13 of the Philadelphia Flyers smiles during practice for the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Wachovia Center on June 8, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Getty Images)

Andre Ringuette

Daniel Carcillo via Getty Images

Notes: It’s doubtful that Carcillo’s “Luigi ‘stache” has much of a chance in such a stacked field. This is really just a thinly veiled attempt to add variety to the ranks of “Carcillo’s missing teeth” photos.

Dave Lewis

Notes: Check out a photo of that questionable fashion choice here.

Joel Quenneville

Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville during a news conference at the end of their NHL hockey season, Thursday, April 28, 2011, in Chicago. The Blackhaws were eliminated in the first round after a seven-game series against the Vancouver Canucks, the league’s top team in the regular season. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

AP

Joel Quenneville via AP

Notes: Sure, he came into Chicago with plenty of solid coaching experience, but let’s face it. The Blackhawks snapped into shape because they feared the “Q-Stache.” Can you blame them?

Bill Clement

Notes: Hearing his voice in NHL 12 scratches a nostalgic itch, but EA Sports really needs to digitize that glorious nose critter. (Click here to see it in its glory.)

Other

As impressive as this list is, it’s easy to imagine an oversight or two. For that reason, there’s an “other” category for write-in candidates. Just keep in mind this poll is all about players or personalities still working prominently today.

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* - Here’s a few reasons why we opted against going all-time:

1. Lanny McDonald would have dominated the poll to a ridiculous degree.

2. The research required to analyze the staggering amount of ‘staches from the ‘80s would have dragged this thing beyond November.

3. There are already plenty of great sources for historic nose critters; Greatest Hockey Legends counted down the top 10 of all-time, for instance.