Glossary of ice hockey terms This is a list of common terms used in ice hockey along 4 B with explanations of their meanings. Backhand A pass or shot that is taken from the backside of the blade of the stick. 1 Contents Backchecking Rushing back to the defensive zone in response to an opposing team’s attack. • A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Blocker The rectangular pad that a goaltender wears on the stick-holding hand. (See waffle pad.) 2 0-9 Blue line The lines separating the attacking/defending zones from the neutral zone.[1] 2-man advantage See five on three. Blueliner A defenseman 2-on-1 See odd man rush Boarding Checking a defenseless player in the back, 3-on-2 See odd man rush. causing them to violently fall/impact into the boards. This typically leads to the face/head of the unaware 4-point game In the National Hockey League, a regular player to hit first, causing greater chance of injury. [2] game between two teams who are close to each other Usually a penalty. in the standings and in the same division or confer- [1] ence. The teams fighting for position have the op- Boards a wall that surrounds the playing surface portunity to win a game while assuring that their op- ponent loses, thus putting four standings points (two Body checking Using the hip or body to knock an op- for each team) into play. ponent, sometimes against the boards or to the ice. Illegal in the women’s game. 500 (also known as .500) 50% or even. Refers to points earned. It is a percentage of points earned in rela- Breakaway When a player has possession of the puck tion to the number of points available. Thus, with a and there are no defenders other than the goalie be- record of 1-1-1 (wins-losses-ties/extra time losses) tween him and the opposing goal. a team is 500, even though they have 1 win and two losses. They have earned 3 of a possible 6 points. Butterfly A style of goaltending wherein the goalie tends to drop to their knees to cover the lower half 5-on-3 See five on three. of the net with his or her leg pads. 5-on-5 See full strength. Butt-ending The act of jabbing an opponent with the knob of their stick. A major plus game misconduct penalty [3] 3 A Bar Down When the puck hits the crossbar and goes in the net. Also called Bar South Attacking zone The opposing team’s end of the ice; ex- tends from the blue line to the end boards.[1] Bender Short for ankle bender, a derogatory term for a player who bends their ankles when skating. Apple A slang term used to describe an assist. Bully A method used to start or restart play in infor- mal hockey or shinny, played without a referee. The Assist Attributed to up to two players of the scoring puck is placed between two opposing players. The team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards players tap the flat sides of their sticks three times the scoring teammate. and then go for the puck. 1 2 6 D 5 C 6 D Cage Metal grid that attaches to the front of a helmet to Dasher The boards, referred to when a player caroms protect the face; occasionally also refers to the goal. the puck off the boards to clear the puck of their defensive zone or to execute a pass. Catcher or Catching glove The webbed glove that the Defenceman (alternately spelled “defenseman” in the goaltender wears on the hand opposite the stick. U.S.) One of two players that are positioned further (Also known as the trapper.) back on the ice than the forwards. Centre (or Center) A forward position whose primary Defender a player in the act of defending against an op- zone of play is the middle of the ice. posing attack (not necessarily a defenceman). Change on the fly Substituting a player from the bench Defensive zone The defending team’s zone; extends during live play, i.e. not at a faceoff. from the blue line to the end boards.[1] Charging The act of taking more than three strides Deke When a player handles the puck or himself in such while delivering a body check or leaving their feet a manner to fool the opponent into moving out of to deliver a hit. A penalty.[4] position, allowing the player to get past. Originated from the word decoy. Check to the head A hit where the primary contact is made to an opponent’s head. A major or match Delay of game Deliberately causing a stoppage of play; penalty in the NHL if such a hit is made from a lat- player is penalized with a minor penalty. eral or blind side position.[5] In other leagues and Delayed offside If a player enters the attacking zone organizations, any check to the head can be a mi- ahead of the puck but does not touch it, the play nor or major penalty, often including an automatic is offside but no whistle is blown immediately, thus misconduct or game misconduct penalty. creating a delayed offside. When all players from the offside team leave their offensive zone and go Checking from behind The act of hitting an opponent into the neutral zone the linesman cancels the off- from the back when they are unaware the hit is com- [6] side infraction. Conversely, if the offending team ing. A penalty. touches the puck before leaving their offensive zone the whistle is blown for the offside infraction. Cherry picking When a player stays near their oppo- nent’s defensive zone waiting for an outlet pass in Delayed penalty When a penalty is called, the referee order to receive a breakaway. Also called loafing. will raise his or her arm to indicate that one is being called, but if the team who committed the infraction Clipping Hitting an opponent below the knees. A is not in control of the puck, no whistle will be blown penalty.[7] until a player from the offending team controls the puck. In this situation the other team will usually Coincidental penalties When both teams are assessed exchange their goalie for an extra skater to increase an equal amount of penalties at the same time, usu- their chances of scoring before the penalty is called. ally on the same play or incident. Delayed whistle An official waits to blow his whistle, Crashing the net Players head with full steam to the usually due to a delayed offside or delayed penalty front of the net, usually with intentions of finding call. a rebound or loose puck. Also known as crashing Dive When a player embellishes contact made against the crease. him in order to entice the referee into calling a penalty against the opposition; however sometimes Crease See goal crease. this ends up in a “unsportsmanlike conduct” penalty being called against the embellishing player. Cross-checking The act of checking an opponent with the shaft of the stick held in both hands. A Drop pass When a player passes the puck behind him- [8] penalty. self to a teammate. Cycling An offensive strategy that moves the puck along Dump and chase An offensive strategy used to get the the boards in the offensive zone to create a scoring puck over the opposing team’s blue line and into chance by making defenders tired or moving them the corners where players can race to get it, thereby out of position. moving the play into the attacking zone. 3 Duster A derogatory term for a player who always sits Flow A term for long, flowing hair. on the bench. The reason they are called dusters is because they “collect dust”. Forechecking Checking in the offensive zone in order to gain control of the puck and set up a scoring op- Dangle When a player does a series of dekes in a row to portunity. get around the opposing players. Freezing the puck The act of trapping the puck so it cannot be played. 7 E Full strength When both teams have five skaters and one goaltender on the ice. Elbowing The act of using an extended elbow or fore- arm to make contact with an opponent. A penalty.[9] 9 G Empty net goal A goal scored when the opposing goalie is not on the ice. Game Misconduct A penalty that results in a player be- ing ejected from the game. For statistical purposes, Enforcer A player quick to fight who defends his team- a player receiving a game misconduct is often cred- mates against violent members of the other team. ited with 10 or 20 penalty minutes Even strength Teams have an equal number of players Gap Space between the opponent and the puck. (not necessarily their full complement of five) on the ice. See also Full strength. Geno 1) a goal 2) Evgeni Malkin’s nickname Extra attacker A player who has been substituted for Goal When the puck goes over the goal line in front of the team’s goaltender on the ice. the net. Goal crease An area of the ice that extends from the goal line in front of the net, often shaped like a semi- 8 F circle and painted in a different colour.[1] Faceoff The method used to begin play at the begin- Goal judge An off-ice official who signals when a goal ning of a period or after a stoppage of play.