Don Cherry, THE Coach
The Rules
Equipment
Skating
Stick Handling
Passing
Shooting
Face-offs
Defense
Checking
Goaltending
Fitness
Hockey Dictionary
Hockey Dictionary
This dictionary is to help new players understand some of the terms commonly used during a game.
Back Check: To hinder an opponent heading into the attack zone.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Backhand: This is a shot taken with the puck on the back side of the blade.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blue Lines: They divide the playing surface into three parts; the attack, neutral and defending zones. They are also used to determine offsides.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Biscuit: It's another term for a hockey puck. This term was made popular as a sportscasters' reference to goals.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Breakaway: An offensive rush in which an attacking player breaks into the clear for a scoring chance on the goaltender.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Break-out: This is the term used when the defending team gains control of the puck in their zone and commences out of their zone. There are often several set plays to accomplish this. i.e. Defenceman passes to winger, who then passes to centreman.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Captain: There is one captain on a team and up to 2 assistant captains. Only the captain or his assistant is allowed to speak to the referee concerning penalties called or goals allowed. If any other player speaks to the referee they can be assesed a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Checking: This refers to anytime players put the opposing player off the play or puck. A body-check is when players use their bodies on an opponent to break up a play. This is legal when the opposing player has possession of the puck or was the last player to have touched it. You can also check an opponent by taking the puck away with your stick. i.e. Stick Check or Poke Check
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clearing the Puck: This is when a player shoots the puck out of his team's defensive zone.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crease: It's the area directly in front of each goal. It is eight feet across and extends four feet from the red goal line. Offensive players who do not have possession of the puck may not enter this area. In our league you have only a few seconds to get out of the crease, otherwise the referee will whistle the play dead. A goal scored whilst an attacking player is in the crease is disallowed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deke: A player's way of faking out an opponent in order to keep possession of the puck or move around the player.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delayed Penalty: When official raises his arm but does not blow the whistle, waiting to see the outcome of the play. This is done so as not to penetrate the non-offending team by stopping their momentum. This is very similar to 'playing advantage' in rugby. The play is whistled dead as soon as the penalised team touches the puck.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Drive or Crash the Net: This is the term used when an attacking forward heads for the front of the net in order to receive a pass or be in position for a deflection from a shot from the point.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Face-Off: It's the dropping of the puck between one player from each team to start or resume play.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Five Hole: This is the small space left open between the goalie's leg pads; vulnerable to an accurate shot.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Forecheck: To check an opponent in his own end of the rink, preventing an offensive rush.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Freeze the Puck: When a player holds the puck against the boards with either his stick or skate, stopping play. The goalie can also freeze the puck by holding it in their glove or by it being underneath their body.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Front: The term used for the area in front of the net, also called the slot. When the attacking team has possesion it is usually advisable for one or more players to go to the front of the net for the best chance of scoring.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hat trick: When a player scores three goals in a single game.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Icing: Intentionally shooting the puck from behind the center red line over the opponent's goal line.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neutral Zone: The space on the ice between the two blue lines.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One-Timer: This is when a player takes a shot from a pass without first stopping the puck to gain control. It is used most commonly with a slap shot and is designed to catch the goalie off guard.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Open Ice: This is as it sounds, an area of ice where no opposing players are apt to be. i.e. 'Head for the open ice when I get the puck'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Poke Check: The defenceman usually employs this check. It is when they poke the puck away from the attacking player by poking their stick on the ice in front of them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point: It refers to the position just inside the blue line in the attacking zone where defensemen may take big slap shots on the net.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Power Play: This occurs when a team is assesed a penalty and is playing short-handed the other team now has a man-advantage or a 'Power Play'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pulling the Goalie: Sometimes late in the game a team will remove its goalie to replace him with an extra skater, attempting to create an offensive advantage. The goalie is often pulled on delayed penalties to add an extra attacker since the play is called as soon as the penalised team touches the puck, so there is little chance of them scoring.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Save: It's a shot blocked by the goaltender, which would have otherwise resulted in a goal.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Short-Handed: This occurs when a team receives a penalty and has to play with up to 2 fewer players. A team cannot play with fewer than 3 skaters, regardless of how many penalties they receive.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Slap Shot: Hockey players get the most power by hitting the puck with the blade of the stick after a full backswing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Slot: The area immediately in front of the goalie, where a majority of hockey's goals are scored. The area closest to the net is called the 'low-slot', the area in between the face-off circles is known as the 'high-slot'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stick Check: This is when one player takes the puck away from the opposing player, often by lifting their stick
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stick Handling: This is how players control the puck once they have possession of it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Top Shelf: Refers to the top left and right corner of the goal cage, a difficult place to score a goal.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Work Rate: This is a term often used by coaches to describe the amount of effort players seem to be putting into the play. i.e. 'Player X, you need to pick up your work rate out there!'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wrist Shot: The wrist shot is basically a pass with the difference being the target for the wrist shot is the net instead of the stick of one of your teammates.
Click here to go back to the top of the page
