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Like
many sports, hockey is a sport rich with terms and language
that help describe many of the particular aspects of the game.
Below are listed a few of the terms you'll hear around the
rink.
Altercation
Any physical interaction between two or more opposing players
that results in a penalty (or penalties) being assessed.
Assist
An assist is credited to a player who helps set up a goal.
Assists are awarded to the last man to handle the puck immediately
preceding the goal. There is a maximum of two assists per
goal.
Attacking
zone When you are on the attack, your attacking zone is
between your opponent's blue line and goal line.
Back
check Forwards in their offensive zone skate back quickly
to their own defensive zone to protect their goal and keep
the opponent from shooting.
Blocker
For the goalie, the glove that goes on the hand that holds
the stick.
Blue
line Two lines running across the width of the rink, one
on either side of the red line. The area between the blue
lines is called the neutral zone.
Boarding
Violently checking an opponent into the boards from behind.
Boarding is illegal and merits a penalty.
Boards
The wall around a hockey rink (which was at one time really
made of wood but which is now usually of fiberglass) measuring
about 42 inches high and topped off by synthetic glass to
protect the spectators while giving them a good view of the
action.
Body
check A body check is where you use your body against
an opponent who has possession of the puck. Legal body checking
must be done only with the hips or shoulders and must be above
the opponent's knees and below the neck. Unnecessarily rough
body checking is penalized.
Box
A defensive alignment (similar to the diamond) often used
by a team defending against a power play.
Breakaway
A player in control of the puck has a breakaway when the only
opponent between him and the opposition's goal is the goalie
(and a reasonable scoring opportunity exists).
Breakout
The play used by the attacking team to move the puck out of
its own zone and up the ice toward the opponent's goal.
Butt
ending Using the shaft of the stick to jab or attempt
to jab an opposing player. Known in Quebec as "donner six
pouces" (to give six inches).
Catcher
For the goalie, this is a glove (which looks like a fancy
first-baseman's mitt) that goes on the non-stick hand.
Center
In a traditional alignment with three forwards, the center
plays between the left and right wings.
Changing
on the fly When players from the bench substitute for
players on the ice, while the clock is running.
Charging
Taking more than three strides before deliberately checking
an opponent.
Clearing
the puck When the puck is passed, knocked, or shot away
from the front of the goal net or other area.
Crease
The semi-circular area in front of each goal is called the
crease. If any offensive player is in the goal crease when
a goal is scored, the goal is not allowed. The crease is painted
blue. The goal crease is designed to protect the goalies from
interference by attacking players. The area marked on the
ice in front of the penalty timekeeper's seat is for the use
of the referee.
Cross
checking Hitting an opponent with the shaft of the stick
while both hands are on the stick and no part of the stick
is on the ice.
Defensive
zone When the other team is on the attack, the defensive
zone is the area between your goal line and your blue line.
Defensemen
Two defensemen usually try to stop the opponent's play at
their own blue line. The defensemen block shots and also clear
the puck from in front of their goal. Offensively, defensemen
take the puck up the ice or pass the puck ahead to the forwards;
they then follow the play into the attacking zone and help
keep it there.
Deke
A deke is a fake by a player in possession of the puck in
order to get around an opponent or to make a goalie move out
of position. To deke, you move the puck or a part of your
body to one side and then in the opposite direction. ("Deke"
is taken from "decoy.")
Delay
of game This is called when a player purposely delays
the game. Delay of game is commonly called when a goalie shoots
the puck into the stands without the puck deflecting off a
skater or the glass. Delay of game also occurs when a player
intentionally knocks a goalpost out of its stand (usually
in an attempt to prevent a goal from being scored).
Delayed
off-side In this situation, an attacking player has preceded
the puck into the offensive zone (normally a case for off-side),
but the defending team has gained possession of the puck and
can bring it out of their defensive zone without any delay
or contact with an opposing player.
Diamond
A defensive alignment (similar to the box) often used by a
team defending against a power play.
Dig
An attempt to gain possession of the puck in the corners of
the rink.
Directing
the puck Changing the course of the puck in a desired
direction by using the body, skate, or stick.
Dive
When a player exaggerates being hooked or tripped in an attempt
to draw a penalty.
Elbowing
Using the elbow to impede or disrupt the opponent.
Empty
net goal A goal scored against an opponent that has pulled
the goalie.
Face-off
The action of an official dropping the puck between the sticks
of two opposing players to start play.
Five-hole
The area in the opening between a goalie's leg pads.
Flat
pass A pass where the puck remains on the surface of the
ice.
Flex
Hockey sticks come in different degrees of flex - medium,
stiff, and extra stiff. A stronger player, who hits more powerful
shots, usually wants a stiffer stick.
Flip
pass A pass where the puck is lifted so that it goes over
an opponent or his stick.
Forecheck
Forwards forecheck by hurrying into the opponent's defensive
zone to either keep the puck there or take it away.
Forward
The center and the wings are traditionally considered to be
the forwards.
Freezing
the puck A player freezes the puck by holding it against
the boards with the stick or skates. A goalie freezes the
puck (when the opposition is threatening to score) by either
holding the puck in the glove or trapping it on the ice. Note:
A delay-of-game penalty can be called if the goalie freezes
the puck when the opposition is not threatening.
Goal
A goal is achieved when the entire puck crosses the goal line
and enters the net. You can't deliberately kick it in or bat
it in with a glove, although a goal is counted when a puck
deflects off a player (but not off an official). A goal is
worth one point.
Goaltender
The goaltender's main job is to keep the puck from entering
the goal net. The goaltender is also know as the goalie, the
goalkeeper, or the netminder.
GP
An abbreviation for "games played."
Hat
trick A player who scores three goals in one game achieves
a "hat trick."
Head
butting Using the head while delivering a body check (head
first) in the chest, head, neck, or back area; or using the
head to strike an opponent.
Heel
of the stick The point where the shaft of the stick and
the bottom of the blade meet.
High
sticking Carrying the stick above the shoulder to use
against the opponent.
Holding
Using your hands on an opponent or the opponent's equipment
to impede your opponent's progress.
Hooking
Applying the blade of the stick to any part of an opponent's
body or stick and pulling or tugging with the stick in order
to disrupt that opponent.
Icing
An infraction called when a player shoots the puck from his
side of the red line across the opponent's goal line. Play
is stopped when an opponent (other than the goalie) touches
the puck. The face-off is held in the offending team's end
of the ice. A team that is shorthanded can ice the puck without
being penalized.
Interference
Making body contact with an opponent who does not have possession
of the puck. Interference is also called when a player is
standing in the crease or otherwise makes contact with the
goaltender.
Kneeing
Using the knee in an effort to impede or foul an opponent.
Linesman
Two linesmen are used to call offside, offside passes, icing,
and handle all face-offs not occurring at center ice. Although
they don't call penalties, they can recommend to the referee
that a penalty be called.
Neutral
zone The central ice area between the two blue lines (neither
the defending nor the attacking zone).
Offside
A team is offside when a player crosses the attacking blue
line before the puck does. A face-off then takes place just
outside that blue line (in the offending player's defensive
zone). The determining factor in most offside situations is
the position of the skates: Both skates must be completely
over the blue line ahead of the puck for the play to be offside.
Offside
pass An offside pass (also known as a "two-line" pass)
occurs when a member of the attacking team passes the puck
from behind his own defending blue line to a teammate across
the center red line. If the puck precedes the player across
the red line, the pass is legal. Also, an attacking player
may pass the puck over the center red line and the attacking
blue line to a teammate if the puck precedes that teammate
across the blue line. The face-off after an offside pass takes
place at the spot where the pass originated.
One-timer
Shooting the puck immediately upon receiving it without stopping
it first. A one-timer is an effective way to beat the goalie
before he can slide from one side of the crease to another.
Penalty
A penalty is the result of an infraction of the rules by a
player or team official. A penalty usually results in the
removal of the offending player (or team official) for a specified
period of time. In some cases, the penalty may be the awarding
of a penalty shot on goal or the actual awarding of a goal.
Penalty
killing When a team is shorthanded and attempts to prevent
the opposition from scoring, this activity is known as "penalty
killing."
Penalty-killing
unit The group of players brought in by a shorthanded
team in order to defend against a power play.
Penalty
shot A penalty shot is awarded to an offensive player
who - on a breakaway - is illegally checked or impeded. The
puck is placed at the center face-off spot, and the player
has a free try at the opposing goal with no other defenders
on the ice besides the goalie.
PIM
An abbreviation for "penalties in minutes" (penalty minutes
accumulated).
Pipe
The pipe is the goalpost, and if you hit a puck "between the
pipes" you score a goal!
Point
The point is the area just inside the opposition's blue line
close to the boards on either side of the rink. A defenseman
usually occupies this area when his team is in control of
the puck in the opposition's defensive zone.
Poke
check Trying to knock the puck away from an opponent by
stabbing at it with the blade of the stick.
Possession
of the puck The last player or goalie to make contact
with the puck is the one who has possession. This definition
includes a puck that is deflected off a player or any part
of his equipment.
Power
play When a team has more players on the ice than the
opposition due to one or more penalties against the opposing
team.
Pulling
of the goalie A team that is losing will sometimes take
their own goalie off the ice and use another forward. This
situation occurs most frequently near the end of the game
when a team is behind and needs some emergency offense.
Red
line The line that divides the rink into two equal parts.
This area is center ice.
Referee
The referee supervises the game, calls the penalties, determines
if goals are scored, and handles face-offs at center ice at
the start of each period and after goals. The referee has
the final decision over all other officials.
Roughing
Engaging in fisticuffs (fighting) or shoving.
Save
A shot blocked by the goalie - a shot that otherwise would
have gone into the net!
Shadow
When a player covers an opponent one-on-one everywhere on
the ice in order to limit the effectiveness of this opponent.
Shoot-out
Some minor and international leagues refine the overtime situation
by having their teams play a five-minute sudden death period,
and if no one scores, the game is decided by a shoot-out.
Each team picks five players, and each one of them takes a
penalty shot on the other team's goalie, skating in by themselves
with the puck from center ice and trying to score. Whichever
team scores more wins.
Shorthanded
A shorthanded team is below the numerical strength of its
opponents on the ice. When a goal is scored against a shorthanded
team, the penalty that caused the team scored against to be
shorthanded is terminated, and both teams are again at equal
strength.
Slap
shot A slap shot occurs when the player swings the stick
back and then quickly forward, slapping the puck ahead with
a forehand shot.
Slashing
When a player swings the stick at an opponent. Slashing merits
a penalty, whether contact is made or not. Tapping an opponent's
stick not slashing.
Slot
The prime scoring area up the middle of the ice, between the
face-off circles. When you "clear the slot," you shove an
opposing player out of the area in front of your goal.
Smothering
the puck When a goalie or other players fall on the puck.
Smothering is legal when done by the goalie or accidentally
by another player.
Sniper
A player who is a pure goal scorer and who doesn't hit other
players or the boards all that much.
Spearing
Poking or attempting to poke an opponent with the tip of the
blade of the stick while holding the stick with one or both
hands.
Splitting
the defense When a player in possession of the puck goes
between two opposing defenders while attacking.
Stick-handling
A term for carrying the puck along the ice with the stick.
Sweater
The term used to designate a hockey jersey.
Sweep
check Using the entire length of the stick with a sweeping
motion along the surface off the ice in order to dislodge
the puck from an opponent. A team that is shorthanded on a
power play often employs a sweep check.
Team
official A person responsible for the operation of a team,
such as a coach, manager, or trainer.
Trap
Traps are defensive formations designed to minimize the opposition's
scoring opportunities and keep its offense from functioning.
The idea is to trap the puck in the neutral zone, halting
the opponents and regaining control of the puck.
Tripping
Using a stick, arm, or leg to cause an opponent to trip or
fall.
Turnover
Just as in basketball or in football, you can make a turnover
in hockey by losing control of the puck to the opposing team.
Two-line
pass An offside pass (that actually crosses two lines).
Wings
The left wing and the right wing (also known as forwards)
move up and down the sides of the rink. Offensively, they
skate on each side of the center, exchanging passes with him,
while trying themselves for a shot on goal and/or a rebound
of a shot from the point. Defensively, they watch the opponent's
wings.
Wrist
shot A wrist shot is used to shoot the puck off the blade
of the stick with a flicking motion of the wrist.
Zamboni
The vehicle used to prepare the rink's ice surface before
the game and after each period. The Zamboni scrapes a thin
layer off the ice, heats the ice, and puts down a fresh layer
of heated water that freezes to form a new layer of ice.
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