We're going to make some noise in this town and our presence will be felt!
Photo is obscured to protect the copyright of the photographer.
A
Altercation: Any physical interaction between two or more opposing players that results in a penalty or penalties being assessed.
Assist: The pass or passes which immediately precede a successful scoring attempt; a maximum of two assists are credited for one goal.
Attack Zone: The opposing team's end of the ice, as determined by the blue line.
B
Backchecking: Rushing back to the defensive zone in response to an opposing team's attack.
Backhander or Backhand Shot: A shot that is taken from the backside of the blade.
Backstop: A goaltender.
Beat The Defense: To get by one or both of the defensemen.
Beat The Goalie: To outwit the goalie and score a goal.
Behind The Net: The area of ice behind the goal cage is legal territory.
Bender: Someone who can't skate well.
Biscuit: The puck.
Biscuit In The Basket: Scoring a goal.
Blind Pass: To pass the puck without looking.
Blocker: For the goalie, the glove that goes on the hand that holds the stick.
Blue Line: The lines separating the attack/defense zones from the neutral zone.
Blueliner: A defenseman.
Boarding Or Board Checking: Checking a player from behind into the boards.
Boards: The wall around a hockey rink 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 Checking: Using the hip or body to knock an opponent against the boards or to the ice.
Box: A defensive alignment often used by a team defending against a power play.
Breakaway: When a player has possession of the puck and there are no defenders other than the goalie between him and the opposing goal.
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: A major penalty which occurs when a player jabs an opponent with the shaft of his hockey stick.
Butterfly: A style of goaltending wherein the goalie tends to cover the lower half of the net with his or her leg pads.
C
Carom: A rebound of the puck off the boards or any other object.
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: A forward position whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice.
Center Face-Off Circle: A circle, measuring 30 feet in diameter, at the center of the ice where the puck is dropped in a face-off to start the game and to restart the game after a goal has been scored.
Center Ice: The area between the two blue lines, also called the neutral zone.
Centering Pass: A pass from an attacking player towards the middle of the ice to a teammate with a better angle at the goal.
Center Line: A red, 12-inch wide line across the ice midway between the two goals.
Change On The Fly: Substituting players while the puck is in play.
Charging: A minor penalty which occurs when a player makes a deliberate move of more than two steps when body checking an opponent; if serious injury is caused or blood is drawn it becomes a major penalty.
Check or Checking: Any contact initiated by a defending player against an opponent to get the puck away from him or slow him down; there are two main types of checks: stick check and body check; these are only allowed against a player in control of the puck or against the last player to control it immediately after he gives it up; checking after too many steps or strides becomes charging.
Cherry Picking: When a player stays near their opponent's zone waiting for an outlet pass in order to receive a breakaway.
Clearing The Puck: Getting the puck out of one’s own defensive zone.
Clearing The Zone: When a defending player sends the puck out of the opponent's attacking zone, all the attacking players must leave or clear the zone to avoid being called offsides when the puck reenters the zone.
Coast To Coast: A solo scoring chance originating in the player's own defensive zone.
Cover: When a player stays close to an opponent to prevent him from receiving a pass or making a play on offense.
Crease: The blue ice in front of each net.
Crease Lines: The red lines that form the semi-circular area with a 6-foot radius in front of the goal called the goal crease.
Cross Bar: The horizontal bar that connects the top of the two goalposts.
Cross-Checking: The act of checking an opponent with the shaft of the stick held in both hands. This is illegal and earns a minor or major penalty depending on the severety of the infraction.
Coincidental Penalties: When both teams are assessed an equal amount of penalties at the same time, usually on the same play or incident.
D
Dangle: See Deke.
Dangler: A player who has exceptionally good stick handling abilities and can fool opposing players easily is known as a dangler.
Dead Puck: A puck that flies out of the rink or that a player has caught in his hand.
Defensemen: Two players who make up a team’s defensive unit usually stationed in or near their defensive zone to help the goalie guard against attack; sometimes they lead an attack. The left defenseman covers the left half of the rink, the right defenseman plays to the right, but they can skate into each other’s territory.
Defensive Line: Consists of two defensemen.
Defensive Zone: The defending team's zone as determined by the blue line. Deflection: Causing any pass or shot to stray from its intended course; a shot or pass that hits some object such as a stick or skate and goes into the net for a score or when a goalie hits the puck away.
Deke: When a player handles the puck or himself in such a manner to fool the opponent into moving out of position, allowing the player to get past. Originated from the word decoy.
Delayed Offside: If a player enters the attack zone ahead of the puck but does not touch it, the play is offsides but no whistle is blown immediately, thus creating a delayed offside.
Delayed Penalty: When a penalty is called, the referee will raise his or her arm to indicate that one is being called, but if the team who committed the infraction is not in control of the puck, no whistle will occur until a player from that team touches the puck. This is called a delayed penalty.
Delayed Whistle or Delayed Call: When an official raises his arm but does not blow his whistle, waiting to see the outcome of a play before calling a penalty; this is done so as not to penalize the non-offending team by stopping its momentum.
Delay Of Game: A minor penalty imposed on any player who purposely delays the game in any way, such as shooting or batting the puck outside the playing area or displacing the goalpost from its normal position.
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.
Dirty Player: There are some players, both current and historical, whose style of play and history of penalties characterizes them within hockey circles as "dirty players." Usually, this entails a history of illegal hits that appear to attempt injury to the opposition, multiple suspensions, and a reputation around the league as a player who cannot control his outbursts on occasion.
Dive: A dive is when a player embellishes contact made against him in order to draw a penalty, however, sometimes this ends up in a penalty being called against the diving player.
Double Minor: A type of minor penalty given for certain accidental infractions that result in an injury to another player or for certain deliberate attempts to injure an opponent that are unsuccessful; penalty time of 4 minutes is served, double the time of a normal minor penalty.
Drop Pass: When a player passes the puck directly behind him to a teammate. If executed properly, the puck stops moving and the pass's receiver catches up to it.
Dropping The Mitts: See fisticufs.
E
Elbowing: A minor penalty which occurs when a player strikes his opponent with an elbow to impede his progress.
Empty Net Goal or Emptynetter: A goal scored when the opposing goalie is not on the ice.
Endboards: The boards at each end of the rink.
Enforcer: A player quick to fight who defends his teammates against violent members of the other team.
Extra Attacker: A player who has been substituted for the team's goaltender on the ice.
F
Face Mask: The protective mask worn by the goalie.
Faceoff: The method used to begin play. The two teams line up in opposition to each other, and the opposing centres attempt to gain control of the puck after it is dropped between their sticks by an official.
Face-Off Circles & Spots: The various circular spots on the ice where an official and two players will hold a face-off to begin or to resume the action of the game; there is one blue face-off circle and four red face-off spots located in the neutral zone; two red face-off circles are found at each end of the ice.
Face Wash: A face wash is when a player rubs his hockey glove over the face of an opponent.
Falling On The Puck: Minor penalty, which occurs when a player other than the goalie closes his hand on the puck, deliberately falls on the puck, or gathers the puck under his body while lying on the ice.
Fan: A fan is when a player misses the puck when attempting to play or shoot it. Feeding: passing the puck.
Fighting: A major penalty which occurs when two or more players drop their sticks and gloves and fight; if a referee deems one player to be the instigator, that player also receives a minor penalty and a misconduct penalty; the minor penalty for a less severe pushing and shoving match is called roughing.
Fisticuffs: A fight.
Five On Three: Five on three (also called two-man advantage) is when one team has had two players sent to the penalty box. This leaves the opponent with five skaters (i.e., not including the goaltender) to penalized team's three. The team with the advantage has a very good chance of scoring during these periods.
Five On Five: See Full strength.
Five-Hole: A five hole is the gap between a goaltender's legs.
Flat Pass: When a player passes the puck to a teammate along 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 by a player to a teammate that lifts the puck from the ice and sends it through the air, usually for the purpose of getting it over an opponent’s stick.
Flip Shot: A shot in which a player cups the puck in his stick, then flips it with his wrists up off the ice towards the goal; this sometimes makes the puck harder to block.
Forechecking: Checking in the offensive zone in order to gain control of the puck and set up a scoring opportunity.
Forehand: A shot or pass taken from the right side of a right-handed player or from the left side of a left-handed player.
Forward Line or Attacking Line: Consists of two wings (right and left) and a center; these three players play nearer the opponent’s goal and are responsible for most of the scoring.
Forwards: The three players who make up the attacking line or forward line of a team, the center and the right and left wings.
Foul: Any infraction of the rules that will draw a penalty.
Freeze The Puck: To hold the puck against the boards with the skate or stick in order to stop play briefly or gain a face-off.
Full Strength: Full strength (also called 5-on-5) refers to when both teams have five skaters and one goaltender on the ice.
G
Gate: See penalty box.
Garbage Goal: A goal that takes little talent to score. Most such goals are scored from right in front of the net, often when the goaltender is out of position. Get The Jump: to move fast and thereby get a good start on the opponents.
Goal: A goal provides a team with one point. A goal is scored when a puck completely crosses the goal line within the goal frame.
Goal Cage: A 6 foot wide by 4 foot high tubular steel frame consisting of a cross bar and two goalposts to which a net is attached.
Goal Crease: A semi-circular area with a 6 foot radius in front of the opening of the goal; denotes the playing area of the goaltender within which attacking players must not obstruct his movement or vision.
Goal Line: The line that the puck must completely cross in order to be considered a goal.
Goalkeeper, Goalie or Goaltender: The heavily padded player who guards the goal; prevents opponents from scoring by stopping the puck any way he can.
Goalposts: The metal bars that frame the area to which the net is attached which rests on the center of the goal line and between which a puck must pass to score a goal.
Goon: See Enforcer; usually, an enforcer that plays for the other team.
Gordie Howe Hat Trick: A Gordie Howe hat trick is when one player scores a goal, notches an assist and gets into a fight all in the same game. A natural Gordie Howe hat trick occurs when a player does all three in one period, however many players see this as "showoffy" and it can be frowned upon in some hockey circles.
Grinder: Hockey grinder.
H
Hand Pass: The act of passing the puck using one's hand. This is legal inside a team's defensive zone, but illegal in the neutral zone and attacking zone, even if the pass originates from another zone.
Hash Marks: The straight lines from the faceoff circles in front of both nets. Used to line up faceoffs.
Head Deke: When a player drops his head as though moving one way and quickly moves in another to fake out the opponent.
Hat-Trick: A hat-trick is when one player scores three goals in one game.
High Stick: The act of hitting a player in the head or shoulders with a stick. Also the act of hitting the puck in the air above the height of the top goal pipe (4').
Hip Checking: Using the hip to knock an opponent against the boards or to the ice.
Holding: Minor penalty which occurs when a player grabs and holds onto an opponent; or his stick; with his hands or arms to impede the opponent’s progress.
Holding The Puck: See falling on the puck. Home Team: The team in whose arena the game is being played; the team wearing the lighter uniforms.
Hook Check: A sweep of the stick low to the ice to take the puck from an opponent’s stick.
Hooking: Using a stick to hold or slow down a player (illegal).
Howitzer: A very fast slap shot.
I
Icing: Icing occurs when a player shoots the puck across both the red line and the opposing team's goal line without the puck going into the net or being touched by a player in the zone. If an offensive player touches the puck first after it crosses both the red line and the goal line, icing is negated. When icing occurs, a linesman stops play. Play is resumed with a faceoff in the defending zone of the team that committed the infraction.
Interference: Penalty in hockey called when a player attempts to impede the motion of another player not in possession of the puck.
Intermission: Seventeen-minute recess between each of the three periods of a hockey game.
J
J Shot: A snap shot that is started in the form of the letter J.
K
Kneeing: Minor penalty which occurs when a player uses a knee to hit his opponent in the leg, thigh or lower body.
L
Laser: A hard, accurate shot.
Laying On The Lumber: See Slashing.
Lead Pass: A pass sent ahead of a moving teammate designed to meet the player at the location he is headed.
Left Wing: See Winger.
Left Wing Lock: The left wing lock is a defensive ice hockey strategy similar to the neutral zone trap. In the most basic form, once puck possession changes, the left wing moves back in line with the defensemen. Each defender play a zone defense and are responsible for a third of the ice each. Since there are normally only two defensemen, this tactic helps to avoid odd man rushes.
Lie: Angle made by the shaft of the stick and the blade.
Light The Lamp: Scoring a goal.
Line Brawl: A series of fights involving most, or all, players on the ice at the same time.
Line Change: The entire forward line and/or defensive line will be replaced at once, which puts players on the ice who work well together.
Linesmen: The two officials on the ice, one toward each end of the rink, responsible for infractions of the rules concerning off-side plays at the blue lines or center line and for any icing violations; they conduct most of the face-offs, sometimes advise the referee concerning penalties, and separate players who are fighting; they wear black pants and an official league sweater, and are on skates.
M
Man Advantage: When one team is penalized, and one of its players sent to the penalty box, the second team maintains a man advantage for the duration of the penalty (Major penalty) or until a goal is scored (Minor penalty). If two penalties are called on one team there will be a two man advantage. If more than two penalties are called on one team the man advantage is limited to two men.
Man On: A warning from teammates to a player that an opposing player (that he may be unaware of) is near him. Usually given in loose puck situations.
Major Penalty: A type of individual penalty called for more serious infractions of the rules; of 5 minutes in duration whether or not the non-penalized team scores.
Match-Up: A pairing of players on opposing teams who will cover each other during the hockey game.
Meat Wagon: If a players only skill is fighting/hitting, they are a meat wagon.
Minor Penalty: A type of penalty lasting 2 minutes; if the non-penalized team scores a power play goal during this time, the penalty ends immediately.
N
Natural Hat-Trick: A natural hat-trick is when one player scores three goals in a row without any player from either team scoring in between them, also when three goals are scored by one player in one period.
Net: the goal: Netting attached to the goalposts and frame of the goal to trap the puck when a goal is scored.
Neutral Zone: The area between the blue lines.
Neutral Zone Trap: The neutral zone trap is a defensive ice hockey strategy used by a team to prevent an opposing team from proceeding through the neutral zone by forcing turnovers in that area.
O
Odd Man Rush: When a team enters the attacking zone and outnumbers the opposing players in the zone.
Offensive Zone: See Attack zone.
Officials: Two referees and two linesmen on the ice calling infractions and handing out penalties plus several off-ice officials including two goal judges, the game timekeeper, the penalty timekeeper, the official scorer, the statistician and the video goal judge.
Offside: A violation which occurs when both skates of an attacking player cross the opponent’s blue line before the puck is passed or carried into the attacking zone; also called when a player passes the puck from his defending zone to a teammate across the red center line (two-line pass); this is one of the most common calls made in a hockey game and results in a face-off.
Offside Pass: See two-line pass.
One Timer: The act of shooting the puck directly off a pass without playing the puck in any way.
On-The-Fly: Making player changes or substitutions while play is under way.
Open Ice: The part of the ice that is free of opponents.
Overtime: An additional period of play used to break a tie; see sudden-death.
Overtime Loss: The result for a team that loses a game in overtime that was tied after regulation; this category was created starting with the 1999-2000 season and is worth 1 point in the standings.
P
Paddle: The wide portion above the blade of a goalie's stick.
Passing: When one player uses his stick to send the puck to a teammate.
Passout: A pass by an attacking player from behind his opponent’s net or goal line to a teammate in front of the net.
Penalty: Punishment of a player for a violation of the rules, resulting in suspension from the game for a period of time; 6 types exist: minor, bench, major, misconduct, match and goalkeeper’s penalties.
Penalty Box: The penalty box is the area where a player sits to serve the time of a given penalty, for an offense not severe enough to merit outright expulsion from the contest.
Penalty Killer: A player expert at backchecking and keeping or gaining control of a loose puck under difficult circumstances who is trained to break up a power play when his team is shorthanded.
Penalty-Killing Unit: The group of players brought in by a shorthanded team in order to defend against a power play.
Penalty Shot: A free shot awarded a player who was illegally interfered with, preventing him from a clear scoring opportunity; the shot is taken with only the goalie guarding against it.
Periods: Three 20-minute playing intervals separated by two intermissions.
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.
Playmaker: A fast player who usually scores more assists than goals. A Playmaker has the speed and balance to make plays, and frequently relies on a sniper to finish them.
Point: A player in the opponent's end zone at the junction of the blue line with the boards is said to be at the point.
Poke Checking: Using the stick to poke the puck away from an opponent.
Policeman: See enforcer.
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 Forward: A power forward is a large, muscular offensive player (6'0 - 6'5, 210-240 pounds), with the mobility to track a puck to the corners of the rink, the physical toughness required to dig it out, and the puckhandling skills to get it back to anyone in front of the net.
Powerplay: A powerplay occurs when one team has more players on the ice than the other team as a result of penalties assessed to the shorthanded team.
Puck: A black, vulcanized rubber disc, 1-inch thick and 3-inches in diameter, weighing between 5 1/2 and 6 ounces used to play hockey; they are frozen to prevent excessive bouncing and changed throughout the game; can travel up to 120 miles per hour on a slap shot.
Pulling The Goalie: Taking the goalkeeper off the ice and replacing him with a forward; leaves the goal unguarded so is only used as a last minute attempt to score.
Pylon: A player who is easy to get around due to lack of speed or skill.
Q
Quick Whistle: A "quick whistle" is a stoppage in play that occasionally occurs when an on-ice official whistles the play dead, yet the puck is still not under complete control of the goaltender. The most common example of this is a goaltender appearing to have trapped the puck underneath his catcher, yet the puck is still freely moving and within legal striking distance of the opposing forecheckers. The official will whistle the play dead with the puck still visible. This often draws unfavorable reaction from hometown crowds when the whistle negates a perceived scoring chance for the home team.
R
Ragging: Retaining the puck by clever stickhandling; often used by a shorthanded team to kill time.
Rearguard: A defenseman.
Rebound: A Rebound occurs when the puck bounces off a goalie, a player, or the net, or occasionally, the back boards, after a shot on goal.
Red Line: The line that divides the length of the ice surface in half.
Referees: The chief officials in a hockey game, distinguished from the other officials by a red armband; they start the game, call most of the penalties and make the final decision in any dispute; they are responsible for making sure the ice, the nets and the clock are in good condition; they wear black pants and an official league sweater; they are also on skates.
Referee’s Crease: Semi-circular area, with a 10 foot radius, marked in red on the ice in front of the timekeepers’ bench into which players may not follow a referee.
Right Wing: See Winger.
Rink: The iced area inside the boards on which the game of hockey is played; it is 200 feet long by 85 feet wide with rounded corners.
Ripple The Twine: Scoring a goal.
Rocked: Big hit.
Rockered Blades: Used by professional ice hockey skaters; the gentle curve in a very sharp blade of an ice skate produced by rounding the toe and heel of the blade to make it easier for hockey players to turn quickly.
Rockpile: A Rookie.
Roster: List of the players on a team.
Roughing: A minor penalty which occurs when a fight between players is more of a pushing and shoving match; a less severe penalty than fighting.
Rush: An individual or combined attack by a team in possession of the puck.
S
Saucer Pass: A saucer pass is an airborne pass from one player to another. It is called a saucer pass because the puck resembles a flying saucer in mid air.
Save: The act of a goalie in blocking or stopping a shot.
Scramble: Several players from both sides close together battling for possession of the puck.
Screened Shot: A shot that the goaltender cannot see due to other players obscuring it.
Selby: A person that cries after missing the net or a pass.
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: After the teams play a five-minute sudden death period, and if no one scores, the game is decided by a shoot-out. Each team picks three 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 after each team has three separate shooters wins. If both teams have the same amount of goals after the first three shooters, the shoot-out continues until the outcome is determined.
Shooting Angle: The angle determined by the position of the shooting player in relation to the goal at the moment he shoots the puck.
Shorthanded or Shortie: A team is said to be shorthanded when they have fewer players on the ice than the opposing team as a result of penalties.
Shortside: The side of the goal closest to the shooter.
Shot On Goal (SOG): A shot on goal is a shot that will enter the goal if it is not stopped by the goaltender. A shot on goal must result in either a goal or a save. Shots that hit the pipes of the goal are not counted as shots.
Shoulder Deke: A quick move of the shoulder in one direction and the player in another to fake out the opponent.
Sideboards: The boards along the sides of the rink.
Sin Bin: The penalty box.
Slapshot: A slapshot is a hard shot, usually with a big wind up, wherein the player bends his stick on the ice and allows the energy stored in bending the stick to launch the puck forward.
Slashing: Striking an opponent's arms or lower body with the hockey stick. Usually a penalty is incurred.
Sleeper: An attacking player who slips into the center or neutral zone behind the attacking defensemen; same as a floater or a hanger.
Slew Foot: Sweeping or kicking out a players leg tripping them from behind causing them to fall backwards.
Slot: Slot is the area on the hockey rink directly ahead of the goaltender between the face-off circles on each side.
Slow Whistle: A slow whistle is when an official waits to blow his whistle, usually due to a delayed offside or delayed penalty call.
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.
Snap Shot: A snap shot is a like an abbreviated slap shot. The purpose of the snap shot is to combine the main advantages of the wrist shot (shot accuracy and quick delivery) and the slap shot (puck speed). The stick should be at your hip when shotting.
Snipe Show: A dirty goal.
Sniper: A player with a powerful, accurate shot skilled at finishing plays. Snipers frequently score more goals than assists. Snipers can be either forwards or defensemen.
Solo: A rush by a player without assistance from a teammate.
Spearing: A major penalty which occurs when a player illegally jabs, or even just attempts to jab, the point of his stick blade into another player’s body; one of the most serious infractions a player can commit; results in an automatic game misconduct.
Spin-O-Rama: A phrase coined by sportscaster Danny Gallivan to describe a player completing several tight circles with the puck fully under control of his stick, eluding pursuing opponents who cannot keep up or intercept the player.
Stack The Pads: A save wherein the goaltender drops to one side and makes the save with his leg pads.
Stay-At-Home Defenseman: A defense man who plays very defensively. He doesn't rush the puck very often.
Stick Checking: Using the stick to interfere with an opponent's stick.
Stick Deke: When a player’s stick is moved as though for a shot, but instead the player moves the puck past the defending player; done to fake out the opponent.
Stickhandling: The act of controlling the puck with one's stick, especially while manoeuvering through opponents.
Stoned: Made a great save.
Substitution: Occurs when a player comes off the bench to replace a player coming out of the game; can be made at any time and play does not need to stop.
Sudden-Death Overtime: An overtime period that ends as soon as one team scores a goal, determining the winner and terminating the game.
Sweep Checking: Using the stick in a sweeping motion to knock the puck away from an opponent or deter him from passing.
T
Third-Man-In Rule: The third man in a fight gets a game misconduct penalty and is out of the game for its duration; created to discourage players from jumping into a fight, even if they are only trying to break it up.
Three-On-One: A type of break with three attackers coming in on one defenseman; this is a desperate situation.
Three-On-Two: A type of break with three attacking players skating against two defensive players.
Toe Drag: Dragging the puck along the ice with the end (toe) of the stick blade on the ice as opposed to the bottom edge.
Top Shelf: The top section of the net.
Trailer: A player who follows his teammate on the attack seemingly out of the action but actually in a position to receive a backward or drop pass.
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: A minor penalty which occurs when a player places his stick or a part of his body under or around the feet or legs of an opponent causing him to lose his balance; will also be called if a player kicks an opponent’s skates out from under him, or uses a knee or leg to cause his opponent to 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-On-One: A type of break with two attacking players skating against one defensive player.
Two-On-Two: A type of break with two attacking players skating against two defensive players.
U
Under-Led Pass: A pass behind or to one side of a teammate, making it difficult for him to control the puck.
V
Video Goal Judge: An off-ice official who reviews a goal by video instant replay.
W
Wash Out: A goal that is ruled invalid by the referee or the waving off of an infraction by the linesmen.
Winger: A winger is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. A right wing is responsible for the right-hand side of the ice and a left wing is responsible for the left-hand side.
Wrist Shot: A wrist shot is a type of shot that involves using arm muscles (especially those in the wrist and forearm) to propel a puck forward from the open-faced, concave part of the blade of a hockey stick.
X
Y
Z
Zamboni: The brand of machine used to clean the ice.
Zebra: Referee
Zones: Three areas made up by the two blue lines; the attacking zone is the area farthest from the goal a player is defending; the neutral zone is the central area; the defending zone is the area where a player’s goal is (the goal where his team’s goalie is stationed)
Altercation: Any physical interaction between two or more opposing players that results in a penalty or penalties being assessed.
Assist: The pass or passes which immediately precede a successful scoring attempt; a maximum of two assists are credited for one goal.
Attack Zone: The opposing team's end of the ice, as determined by the blue line.
B
Backchecking: Rushing back to the defensive zone in response to an opposing team's attack.
Backhander or Backhand Shot: A shot that is taken from the backside of the blade.
Backstop: A goaltender.
Beat The Defense: To get by one or both of the defensemen.
Beat The Goalie: To outwit the goalie and score a goal.
Behind The Net: The area of ice behind the goal cage is legal territory.
Bender: Someone who can't skate well.
Biscuit: The puck.
Biscuit In The Basket: Scoring a goal.
Blind Pass: To pass the puck without looking.
Blocker: For the goalie, the glove that goes on the hand that holds the stick.
Blue Line: The lines separating the attack/defense zones from the neutral zone.
Blueliner: A defenseman.
Boarding Or Board Checking: Checking a player from behind into the boards.
Boards: The wall around a hockey rink 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 Checking: Using the hip or body to knock an opponent against the boards or to the ice.
Box: A defensive alignment often used by a team defending against a power play.
Breakaway: When a player has possession of the puck and there are no defenders other than the goalie between him and the opposing goal.
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: A major penalty which occurs when a player jabs an opponent with the shaft of his hockey stick.
Butterfly: A style of goaltending wherein the goalie tends to cover the lower half of the net with his or her leg pads.
C
Carom: A rebound of the puck off the boards or any other object.
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: A forward position whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice.
Center Face-Off Circle: A circle, measuring 30 feet in diameter, at the center of the ice where the puck is dropped in a face-off to start the game and to restart the game after a goal has been scored.
Center Ice: The area between the two blue lines, also called the neutral zone.
Centering Pass: A pass from an attacking player towards the middle of the ice to a teammate with a better angle at the goal.
Center Line: A red, 12-inch wide line across the ice midway between the two goals.
Change On The Fly: Substituting players while the puck is in play.
Charging: A minor penalty which occurs when a player makes a deliberate move of more than two steps when body checking an opponent; if serious injury is caused or blood is drawn it becomes a major penalty.
Check or Checking: Any contact initiated by a defending player against an opponent to get the puck away from him or slow him down; there are two main types of checks: stick check and body check; these are only allowed against a player in control of the puck or against the last player to control it immediately after he gives it up; checking after too many steps or strides becomes charging.
Cherry Picking: When a player stays near their opponent's zone waiting for an outlet pass in order to receive a breakaway.
Clearing The Puck: Getting the puck out of one’s own defensive zone.
Clearing The Zone: When a defending player sends the puck out of the opponent's attacking zone, all the attacking players must leave or clear the zone to avoid being called offsides when the puck reenters the zone.
Coast To Coast: A solo scoring chance originating in the player's own defensive zone.
Cover: When a player stays close to an opponent to prevent him from receiving a pass or making a play on offense.
Crease: The blue ice in front of each net.
Crease Lines: The red lines that form the semi-circular area with a 6-foot radius in front of the goal called the goal crease.
Cross Bar: The horizontal bar that connects the top of the two goalposts.
Cross-Checking: The act of checking an opponent with the shaft of the stick held in both hands. This is illegal and earns a minor or major penalty depending on the severety of the infraction.
Coincidental Penalties: When both teams are assessed an equal amount of penalties at the same time, usually on the same play or incident.
D
Dangle: See Deke.
Dangler: A player who has exceptionally good stick handling abilities and can fool opposing players easily is known as a dangler.
Dead Puck: A puck that flies out of the rink or that a player has caught in his hand.
Defensemen: Two players who make up a team’s defensive unit usually stationed in or near their defensive zone to help the goalie guard against attack; sometimes they lead an attack. The left defenseman covers the left half of the rink, the right defenseman plays to the right, but they can skate into each other’s territory.
Defensive Line: Consists of two defensemen.
Defensive Zone: The defending team's zone as determined by the blue line. Deflection: Causing any pass or shot to stray from its intended course; a shot or pass that hits some object such as a stick or skate and goes into the net for a score or when a goalie hits the puck away.
Deke: When a player handles the puck or himself in such a manner to fool the opponent into moving out of position, allowing the player to get past. Originated from the word decoy.
Delayed Offside: If a player enters the attack zone ahead of the puck but does not touch it, the play is offsides but no whistle is blown immediately, thus creating a delayed offside.
Delayed Penalty: When a penalty is called, the referee will raise his or her arm to indicate that one is being called, but if the team who committed the infraction is not in control of the puck, no whistle will occur until a player from that team touches the puck. This is called a delayed penalty.
Delayed Whistle or Delayed Call: When an official raises his arm but does not blow his whistle, waiting to see the outcome of a play before calling a penalty; this is done so as not to penalize the non-offending team by stopping its momentum.
Delay Of Game: A minor penalty imposed on any player who purposely delays the game in any way, such as shooting or batting the puck outside the playing area or displacing the goalpost from its normal position.
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.
Dirty Player: There are some players, both current and historical, whose style of play and history of penalties characterizes them within hockey circles as "dirty players." Usually, this entails a history of illegal hits that appear to attempt injury to the opposition, multiple suspensions, and a reputation around the league as a player who cannot control his outbursts on occasion.
Dive: A dive is when a player embellishes contact made against him in order to draw a penalty, however, sometimes this ends up in a penalty being called against the diving player.
Double Minor: A type of minor penalty given for certain accidental infractions that result in an injury to another player or for certain deliberate attempts to injure an opponent that are unsuccessful; penalty time of 4 minutes is served, double the time of a normal minor penalty.
Drop Pass: When a player passes the puck directly behind him to a teammate. If executed properly, the puck stops moving and the pass's receiver catches up to it.
Dropping The Mitts: See fisticufs.
E
Elbowing: A minor penalty which occurs when a player strikes his opponent with an elbow to impede his progress.
Empty Net Goal or Emptynetter: A goal scored when the opposing goalie is not on the ice.
Endboards: The boards at each end of the rink.
Enforcer: A player quick to fight who defends his teammates against violent members of the other team.
Extra Attacker: A player who has been substituted for the team's goaltender on the ice.
F
Face Mask: The protective mask worn by the goalie.
Faceoff: The method used to begin play. The two teams line up in opposition to each other, and the opposing centres attempt to gain control of the puck after it is dropped between their sticks by an official.
Face-Off Circles & Spots: The various circular spots on the ice where an official and two players will hold a face-off to begin or to resume the action of the game; there is one blue face-off circle and four red face-off spots located in the neutral zone; two red face-off circles are found at each end of the ice.
Face Wash: A face wash is when a player rubs his hockey glove over the face of an opponent.
Falling On The Puck: Minor penalty, which occurs when a player other than the goalie closes his hand on the puck, deliberately falls on the puck, or gathers the puck under his body while lying on the ice.
Fan: A fan is when a player misses the puck when attempting to play or shoot it. Feeding: passing the puck.
Fighting: A major penalty which occurs when two or more players drop their sticks and gloves and fight; if a referee deems one player to be the instigator, that player also receives a minor penalty and a misconduct penalty; the minor penalty for a less severe pushing and shoving match is called roughing.
Fisticuffs: A fight.
Five On Three: Five on three (also called two-man advantage) is when one team has had two players sent to the penalty box. This leaves the opponent with five skaters (i.e., not including the goaltender) to penalized team's three. The team with the advantage has a very good chance of scoring during these periods.
Five On Five: See Full strength.
Five-Hole: A five hole is the gap between a goaltender's legs.
Flat Pass: When a player passes the puck to a teammate along 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 by a player to a teammate that lifts the puck from the ice and sends it through the air, usually for the purpose of getting it over an opponent’s stick.
Flip Shot: A shot in which a player cups the puck in his stick, then flips it with his wrists up off the ice towards the goal; this sometimes makes the puck harder to block.
Forechecking: Checking in the offensive zone in order to gain control of the puck and set up a scoring opportunity.
Forehand: A shot or pass taken from the right side of a right-handed player or from the left side of a left-handed player.
Forward Line or Attacking Line: Consists of two wings (right and left) and a center; these three players play nearer the opponent’s goal and are responsible for most of the scoring.
Forwards: The three players who make up the attacking line or forward line of a team, the center and the right and left wings.
Foul: Any infraction of the rules that will draw a penalty.
Freeze The Puck: To hold the puck against the boards with the skate or stick in order to stop play briefly or gain a face-off.
Full Strength: Full strength (also called 5-on-5) refers to when both teams have five skaters and one goaltender on the ice.
G
Gate: See penalty box.
Garbage Goal: A goal that takes little talent to score. Most such goals are scored from right in front of the net, often when the goaltender is out of position. Get The Jump: to move fast and thereby get a good start on the opponents.
Goal: A goal provides a team with one point. A goal is scored when a puck completely crosses the goal line within the goal frame.
Goal Cage: A 6 foot wide by 4 foot high tubular steel frame consisting of a cross bar and two goalposts to which a net is attached.
Goal Crease: A semi-circular area with a 6 foot radius in front of the opening of the goal; denotes the playing area of the goaltender within which attacking players must not obstruct his movement or vision.
Goal Line: The line that the puck must completely cross in order to be considered a goal.
Goalkeeper, Goalie or Goaltender: The heavily padded player who guards the goal; prevents opponents from scoring by stopping the puck any way he can.
Goalposts: The metal bars that frame the area to which the net is attached which rests on the center of the goal line and between which a puck must pass to score a goal.
Goon: See Enforcer; usually, an enforcer that plays for the other team.
Gordie Howe Hat Trick: A Gordie Howe hat trick is when one player scores a goal, notches an assist and gets into a fight all in the same game. A natural Gordie Howe hat trick occurs when a player does all three in one period, however many players see this as "showoffy" and it can be frowned upon in some hockey circles.
Grinder: Hockey grinder.
H
Hand Pass: The act of passing the puck using one's hand. This is legal inside a team's defensive zone, but illegal in the neutral zone and attacking zone, even if the pass originates from another zone.
Hash Marks: The straight lines from the faceoff circles in front of both nets. Used to line up faceoffs.
Head Deke: When a player drops his head as though moving one way and quickly moves in another to fake out the opponent.
Hat-Trick: A hat-trick is when one player scores three goals in one game.
High Stick: The act of hitting a player in the head or shoulders with a stick. Also the act of hitting the puck in the air above the height of the top goal pipe (4').
Hip Checking: Using the hip to knock an opponent against the boards or to the ice.
Holding: Minor penalty which occurs when a player grabs and holds onto an opponent; or his stick; with his hands or arms to impede the opponent’s progress.
Holding The Puck: See falling on the puck. Home Team: The team in whose arena the game is being played; the team wearing the lighter uniforms.
Hook Check: A sweep of the stick low to the ice to take the puck from an opponent’s stick.
Hooking: Using a stick to hold or slow down a player (illegal).
Howitzer: A very fast slap shot.
I
Icing: Icing occurs when a player shoots the puck across both the red line and the opposing team's goal line without the puck going into the net or being touched by a player in the zone. If an offensive player touches the puck first after it crosses both the red line and the goal line, icing is negated. When icing occurs, a linesman stops play. Play is resumed with a faceoff in the defending zone of the team that committed the infraction.
Interference: Penalty in hockey called when a player attempts to impede the motion of another player not in possession of the puck.
Intermission: Seventeen-minute recess between each of the three periods of a hockey game.
J
J Shot: A snap shot that is started in the form of the letter J.
K
Kneeing: Minor penalty which occurs when a player uses a knee to hit his opponent in the leg, thigh or lower body.
L
Laser: A hard, accurate shot.
Laying On The Lumber: See Slashing.
Lead Pass: A pass sent ahead of a moving teammate designed to meet the player at the location he is headed.
Left Wing: See Winger.
Left Wing Lock: The left wing lock is a defensive ice hockey strategy similar to the neutral zone trap. In the most basic form, once puck possession changes, the left wing moves back in line with the defensemen. Each defender play a zone defense and are responsible for a third of the ice each. Since there are normally only two defensemen, this tactic helps to avoid odd man rushes.
Lie: Angle made by the shaft of the stick and the blade.
Light The Lamp: Scoring a goal.
Line Brawl: A series of fights involving most, or all, players on the ice at the same time.
Line Change: The entire forward line and/or defensive line will be replaced at once, which puts players on the ice who work well together.
Linesmen: The two officials on the ice, one toward each end of the rink, responsible for infractions of the rules concerning off-side plays at the blue lines or center line and for any icing violations; they conduct most of the face-offs, sometimes advise the referee concerning penalties, and separate players who are fighting; they wear black pants and an official league sweater, and are on skates.
M
Man Advantage: When one team is penalized, and one of its players sent to the penalty box, the second team maintains a man advantage for the duration of the penalty (Major penalty) or until a goal is scored (Minor penalty). If two penalties are called on one team there will be a two man advantage. If more than two penalties are called on one team the man advantage is limited to two men.
Man On: A warning from teammates to a player that an opposing player (that he may be unaware of) is near him. Usually given in loose puck situations.
Major Penalty: A type of individual penalty called for more serious infractions of the rules; of 5 minutes in duration whether or not the non-penalized team scores.
Match-Up: A pairing of players on opposing teams who will cover each other during the hockey game.
Meat Wagon: If a players only skill is fighting/hitting, they are a meat wagon.
Minor Penalty: A type of penalty lasting 2 minutes; if the non-penalized team scores a power play goal during this time, the penalty ends immediately.
N
Natural Hat-Trick: A natural hat-trick is when one player scores three goals in a row without any player from either team scoring in between them, also when three goals are scored by one player in one period.
Net: the goal: Netting attached to the goalposts and frame of the goal to trap the puck when a goal is scored.
Neutral Zone: The area between the blue lines.
Neutral Zone Trap: The neutral zone trap is a defensive ice hockey strategy used by a team to prevent an opposing team from proceeding through the neutral zone by forcing turnovers in that area.
O
Odd Man Rush: When a team enters the attacking zone and outnumbers the opposing players in the zone.
Offensive Zone: See Attack zone.
Officials: Two referees and two linesmen on the ice calling infractions and handing out penalties plus several off-ice officials including two goal judges, the game timekeeper, the penalty timekeeper, the official scorer, the statistician and the video goal judge.
Offside: A violation which occurs when both skates of an attacking player cross the opponent’s blue line before the puck is passed or carried into the attacking zone; also called when a player passes the puck from his defending zone to a teammate across the red center line (two-line pass); this is one of the most common calls made in a hockey game and results in a face-off.
Offside Pass: See two-line pass.
One Timer: The act of shooting the puck directly off a pass without playing the puck in any way.
On-The-Fly: Making player changes or substitutions while play is under way.
Open Ice: The part of the ice that is free of opponents.
Overtime: An additional period of play used to break a tie; see sudden-death.
Overtime Loss: The result for a team that loses a game in overtime that was tied after regulation; this category was created starting with the 1999-2000 season and is worth 1 point in the standings.
P
Paddle: The wide portion above the blade of a goalie's stick.
Passing: When one player uses his stick to send the puck to a teammate.
Passout: A pass by an attacking player from behind his opponent’s net or goal line to a teammate in front of the net.
Penalty: Punishment of a player for a violation of the rules, resulting in suspension from the game for a period of time; 6 types exist: minor, bench, major, misconduct, match and goalkeeper’s penalties.
Penalty Box: The penalty box is the area where a player sits to serve the time of a given penalty, for an offense not severe enough to merit outright expulsion from the contest.
Penalty Killer: A player expert at backchecking and keeping or gaining control of a loose puck under difficult circumstances who is trained to break up a power play when his team is shorthanded.
Penalty-Killing Unit: The group of players brought in by a shorthanded team in order to defend against a power play.
Penalty Shot: A free shot awarded a player who was illegally interfered with, preventing him from a clear scoring opportunity; the shot is taken with only the goalie guarding against it.
Periods: Three 20-minute playing intervals separated by two intermissions.
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.
Playmaker: A fast player who usually scores more assists than goals. A Playmaker has the speed and balance to make plays, and frequently relies on a sniper to finish them.
Point: A player in the opponent's end zone at the junction of the blue line with the boards is said to be at the point.
Poke Checking: Using the stick to poke the puck away from an opponent.
Policeman: See enforcer.
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 Forward: A power forward is a large, muscular offensive player (6'0 - 6'5, 210-240 pounds), with the mobility to track a puck to the corners of the rink, the physical toughness required to dig it out, and the puckhandling skills to get it back to anyone in front of the net.
Powerplay: A powerplay occurs when one team has more players on the ice than the other team as a result of penalties assessed to the shorthanded team.
Puck: A black, vulcanized rubber disc, 1-inch thick and 3-inches in diameter, weighing between 5 1/2 and 6 ounces used to play hockey; they are frozen to prevent excessive bouncing and changed throughout the game; can travel up to 120 miles per hour on a slap shot.
Pulling The Goalie: Taking the goalkeeper off the ice and replacing him with a forward; leaves the goal unguarded so is only used as a last minute attempt to score.
Pylon: A player who is easy to get around due to lack of speed or skill.
Q
Quick Whistle: A "quick whistle" is a stoppage in play that occasionally occurs when an on-ice official whistles the play dead, yet the puck is still not under complete control of the goaltender. The most common example of this is a goaltender appearing to have trapped the puck underneath his catcher, yet the puck is still freely moving and within legal striking distance of the opposing forecheckers. The official will whistle the play dead with the puck still visible. This often draws unfavorable reaction from hometown crowds when the whistle negates a perceived scoring chance for the home team.
R
Ragging: Retaining the puck by clever stickhandling; often used by a shorthanded team to kill time.
Rearguard: A defenseman.
Rebound: A Rebound occurs when the puck bounces off a goalie, a player, or the net, or occasionally, the back boards, after a shot on goal.
Red Line: The line that divides the length of the ice surface in half.
Referees: The chief officials in a hockey game, distinguished from the other officials by a red armband; they start the game, call most of the penalties and make the final decision in any dispute; they are responsible for making sure the ice, the nets and the clock are in good condition; they wear black pants and an official league sweater; they are also on skates.
Referee’s Crease: Semi-circular area, with a 10 foot radius, marked in red on the ice in front of the timekeepers’ bench into which players may not follow a referee.
Right Wing: See Winger.
Rink: The iced area inside the boards on which the game of hockey is played; it is 200 feet long by 85 feet wide with rounded corners.
Ripple The Twine: Scoring a goal.
Rocked: Big hit.
Rockered Blades: Used by professional ice hockey skaters; the gentle curve in a very sharp blade of an ice skate produced by rounding the toe and heel of the blade to make it easier for hockey players to turn quickly.
Rockpile: A Rookie.
Roster: List of the players on a team.
Roughing: A minor penalty which occurs when a fight between players is more of a pushing and shoving match; a less severe penalty than fighting.
Rush: An individual or combined attack by a team in possession of the puck.
S
Saucer Pass: A saucer pass is an airborne pass from one player to another. It is called a saucer pass because the puck resembles a flying saucer in mid air.
Save: The act of a goalie in blocking or stopping a shot.
Scramble: Several players from both sides close together battling for possession of the puck.
Screened Shot: A shot that the goaltender cannot see due to other players obscuring it.
Selby: A person that cries after missing the net or a pass.
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: After the teams play a five-minute sudden death period, and if no one scores, the game is decided by a shoot-out. Each team picks three 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 after each team has three separate shooters wins. If both teams have the same amount of goals after the first three shooters, the shoot-out continues until the outcome is determined.
Shooting Angle: The angle determined by the position of the shooting player in relation to the goal at the moment he shoots the puck.
Shorthanded or Shortie: A team is said to be shorthanded when they have fewer players on the ice than the opposing team as a result of penalties.
Shortside: The side of the goal closest to the shooter.
Shot On Goal (SOG): A shot on goal is a shot that will enter the goal if it is not stopped by the goaltender. A shot on goal must result in either a goal or a save. Shots that hit the pipes of the goal are not counted as shots.
Shoulder Deke: A quick move of the shoulder in one direction and the player in another to fake out the opponent.
Sideboards: The boards along the sides of the rink.
Sin Bin: The penalty box.
Slapshot: A slapshot is a hard shot, usually with a big wind up, wherein the player bends his stick on the ice and allows the energy stored in bending the stick to launch the puck forward.
Slashing: Striking an opponent's arms or lower body with the hockey stick. Usually a penalty is incurred.
Sleeper: An attacking player who slips into the center or neutral zone behind the attacking defensemen; same as a floater or a hanger.
Slew Foot: Sweeping or kicking out a players leg tripping them from behind causing them to fall backwards.
Slot: Slot is the area on the hockey rink directly ahead of the goaltender between the face-off circles on each side.
Slow Whistle: A slow whistle is when an official waits to blow his whistle, usually due to a delayed offside or delayed penalty call.
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.
Snap Shot: A snap shot is a like an abbreviated slap shot. The purpose of the snap shot is to combine the main advantages of the wrist shot (shot accuracy and quick delivery) and the slap shot (puck speed). The stick should be at your hip when shotting.
Snipe Show: A dirty goal.
Sniper: A player with a powerful, accurate shot skilled at finishing plays. Snipers frequently score more goals than assists. Snipers can be either forwards or defensemen.
Solo: A rush by a player without assistance from a teammate.
Spearing: A major penalty which occurs when a player illegally jabs, or even just attempts to jab, the point of his stick blade into another player’s body; one of the most serious infractions a player can commit; results in an automatic game misconduct.
Spin-O-Rama: A phrase coined by sportscaster Danny Gallivan to describe a player completing several tight circles with the puck fully under control of his stick, eluding pursuing opponents who cannot keep up or intercept the player.
Stack The Pads: A save wherein the goaltender drops to one side and makes the save with his leg pads.
Stay-At-Home Defenseman: A defense man who plays very defensively. He doesn't rush the puck very often.
Stick Checking: Using the stick to interfere with an opponent's stick.
Stick Deke: When a player’s stick is moved as though for a shot, but instead the player moves the puck past the defending player; done to fake out the opponent.
Stickhandling: The act of controlling the puck with one's stick, especially while manoeuvering through opponents.
Stoned: Made a great save.
Substitution: Occurs when a player comes off the bench to replace a player coming out of the game; can be made at any time and play does not need to stop.
Sudden-Death Overtime: An overtime period that ends as soon as one team scores a goal, determining the winner and terminating the game.
Sweep Checking: Using the stick in a sweeping motion to knock the puck away from an opponent or deter him from passing.
T
Third-Man-In Rule: The third man in a fight gets a game misconduct penalty and is out of the game for its duration; created to discourage players from jumping into a fight, even if they are only trying to break it up.
Three-On-One: A type of break with three attackers coming in on one defenseman; this is a desperate situation.
Three-On-Two: A type of break with three attacking players skating against two defensive players.
Toe Drag: Dragging the puck along the ice with the end (toe) of the stick blade on the ice as opposed to the bottom edge.
Top Shelf: The top section of the net.
Trailer: A player who follows his teammate on the attack seemingly out of the action but actually in a position to receive a backward or drop pass.
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: A minor penalty which occurs when a player places his stick or a part of his body under or around the feet or legs of an opponent causing him to lose his balance; will also be called if a player kicks an opponent’s skates out from under him, or uses a knee or leg to cause his opponent to 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-On-One: A type of break with two attacking players skating against one defensive player.
Two-On-Two: A type of break with two attacking players skating against two defensive players.
U
Under-Led Pass: A pass behind or to one side of a teammate, making it difficult for him to control the puck.
V
Video Goal Judge: An off-ice official who reviews a goal by video instant replay.
W
Wash Out: A goal that is ruled invalid by the referee or the waving off of an infraction by the linesmen.
Winger: A winger is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. A right wing is responsible for the right-hand side of the ice and a left wing is responsible for the left-hand side.
Wrist Shot: A wrist shot is a type of shot that involves using arm muscles (especially those in the wrist and forearm) to propel a puck forward from the open-faced, concave part of the blade of a hockey stick.
X
Y
Z
Zamboni: The brand of machine used to clean the ice.
Zebra: Referee
Zones: Three areas made up by the two blue lines; the attacking zone is the area farthest from the goal a player is defending; the neutral zone is the central area; the defending zone is the area where a player’s goal is (the goal where his team’s goalie is stationed)
