| Hockey Terminology Backchecking: A forward skating deep into his own zone to check an opponent off the puck or prevent him from getting a scoring chance.
Backhand: A shot or pass using the back part of the stick blade.
Between the pipes: The goaltenders's position in net.
Blocked shot: A shot prevented from reaching the net by a player other than the goaltender.
Backliner/blueliner: A defenseman.
Blocker: The padded glove in which the goaltender holds his stick.
Bodycheck: The act of using one's body to impede an opponent.
Breakaway: A play in which a puck carrier moves in alone on the opposing goalie.
Breakout: Movement of the puck by a team out of its own end.
Butterfly: A goaltending style in which the goalie keeps his knees together and feet slightly apart.
Caught up ice: A situation in which a player is in his team's offensive zone while the play has moved into his defensive zone.
Center: One of three forward positions and the player who usually takes face-offs.
Center the puck: The act of passing the puck toward the front of the net.
Change on the fly: Substitution of players while play continues.
Check: To move the skater off the puck or away from the play.
Checker (noun): A forward whose prominent skill is defensive play.
Checking line: A forward line whose primary role is defensive play.
Clear the puck: Moving the puck out of one's defensive zone.
Clutch and grab: Defensive style of play often used by slower teams to prevent faster teams from using their speed.
Coincidental penalties: Penalties assessed simultaneously to players on opposite teams during which neither team plays shorthanded.
Cutting down the angle: Goaltending technique in which the goalie skates slightly out of his crease to reduce the amount of net the shooter can see.
Cycling the puck: The movement of the puck along the boards by at least two players in the offensive zone.
Deflection/tip in: An intentional or accidental re-direction of the puck after a shot or pass has been made.
Deke: A quick fake by a puck carrier intended to trick an opponent out of position.
Delayed offside: A situation in which an attacker is offside, but play continues because the defending team has possession of the puck with a chance to move it out of their zone.
Delayed penalty: A penalty that is not called against a player until his team gains possession of the puck.
Drop pass: An offensive player who leaves the puck behind him to be picked up by a trailing teammate.
Drop the gloves: Slang for fighting.
Dump and chase: Strategy by which a team shoots the puck into the attacking zone, then aggressively tries to retrieve it.
Enforcer: A player who fights frequently to protect other players on his team.
Finish a check: To follow through on any type of forechecking with a body check.
Five hole: The area between a goalie's legs.
Forechecking: Pursuing the opposing team when they have possession of the puck.
Freeze the puck: To pin the puck against the boards, forcing the referee to stop play.
Give and go: A play in which a skater passes to a teammate, moves into open space and receives a return pass.
Grinder: A hard-working player better known for checking rather than scoring.
Hand pass: Propelling the puck to a teammate using the glove.
Hat Trick: Three goals scored by one player in a game.
Headmanning the puck: Passing the puck forward during an offensive rush.
Hip check: Using the hip to check an opponent.
Intentional off-sides: The act of intentionally creating an off-side for a stoppage in play.
Line: The group of three forwards made up of the center, right wing and left wing.
Neutral-zone trap: Checking system used in the neutral zone designed to prevent an attacking team from entering the offensive zone at top speed.
Off wing: A left wing skating down the right side of the ice and vice versa.
One-on-one: A puck carrier who skates in on goal with only one defender between him and the goalie.
One-timer: A shot taken immediately upon receiving a pass without stopping the puck.
Penalty killing: Attempt by a shorthanded team to prevent the opposition from scoring.
Poke check/stick check: Use of the stick to knock the puck off an opponent's stick.
Power forward: A big strong forward, who is equally capable of scoring or playing physical.
Power play: Situation where one team has more men on the ice than its opponent due to a penalty or penalties.
Pulling the goalie: Removal of the goalie for an extra skater.
Scratch: A player on the roster who is not dressed due to injury or a coach's decision.
Screen: Blocking the goalie's view of the play.
Shadow: A player who closely checks a skilled opponent.
Sin bin: The penalty box.
Sixth attacker: The extra skater who comes onto the ice after the goalie has been pulled.
Slap shot: The hardest shot a player can generate, requiring full windup with the stick.
Slot: The area directly in front of the net, from the crease to the top of the face-off circles.
Snap shot: A variation of the wrist shot, where the release is quick but with a subtle snap, like a compacted slap shot.
Stickhandling: Controlling the puck by shifting it from one side of the stick blade to the other.
Take the body: To check aggressively with the body rather than with the stick.
Top shelf/upstairs: Top part of the net.
Trailer: A attacking player who skates into the offensive zone behind the puck carrier.
Two-on-one: Situation in which two offensive players enter the attacking zone with only one player between them and the goalie.
Two-way player: A player who is equally adept at scoring and defensive play.
Wing: Skater who plays one of the two outside forward positions on either the right or left side.
Wraparound: A play in which the puck carrier goes behind the net, then moves the puck quickly in front in an attempt to stuff the puck into the goal.
Wrist shot: A shot that propels the puck at the goal using a fluid snapping of the wrists.
Zamboni: The ice re-surfacing machine. |
