Hockey Terms A-D
A-Letter worn on uniforms of alternate (assistant) team captain.
Altercation-Any physical interaction between two or more opposing players resulting in a penalty or penalties being assessed.
Assist-One point given to a player who helps to set up a goal. It is usually given to the last two offensive players who touch the puck before the goal.
Attacking zone-The area between the opponents’ blue line and their goal.
Backcheck-A forward’s attempt to regain the puck on their way back to their defensive zone.
Backhand shot-A shot or pass made with the stick from the left side by a right-handed player or from the right side by a left-handed player.
Beat the defense-To get by one or both of the defensemen.
Beat the goalie-To get by the goalie, usually resulting in a goal
Biscuit - A slang term for the puck.
Blind pass-To pass the puck without looking.
Blocker-Glove the goalie wears on their stick hand
Blue lines-Two blue, 12-inch wide lines running parallel across the ice, each 60 feet from the goal; they divide the rink into three zones called the attacking, defending and neutral (or center) zones; defending blue line is the line closer to a player’s own net; attacking blue line is the one farther from his net; used in determining offsides.
Boarding(board-checking)-A minor penalty which occurs when a player uses any method (body checking, elbowing or tripping) to throw an opponent violently into the boards; if an injury is caused, it becomes a major penalty.
Boards-or board wall-A wooden wall 3 1/2 to 4 feet high which surrounds the rink to keep the puck and players from accidentally leaving the rink and injuring spectators; Above it is usually shatterproof glass to provide additional protection.
Body Checking-A legal body check is one in which a player checks an opponent who is in possession of the puck, by using his hip or body from the front, diagonally from the front or straight from the side, and does not take more than two fast steps in executing the check. Legitimate body checking must be done only with the trunk of the body (hips and shoulders) and must be above the opponent's knees and below the neck. If body checking is unnecessarily rough, it must be penalized.
Box - A penalty-killing setup in the defensive zone where the defensive team players form a "box" in front of their goalie and keeps the opponents on the outskirts.
Break-A chance to start a rush when the opposing forwards are caught out of position.
Break-away-A condition whereby a player is in control of the puck with no opposition between the player and the opposing goal, with a reasonable scoring opportunity.
Breaking pass-A pass to a teammate who is trying for a breakaway.
Breakout-When a team comes out of their defensive zone with the puck.
Butt-Ending-The condition whereby a player uses the shaft of the stick above the upper hand to jab or attempt to jab an opposing player.
C-Letter worn on the uniform of the team captain.
Catcher-Glove the goalie wears on their nonstick hand
Center (center forward)-The center player in the forward line who usually leads his team’s attack when they are trying to score a goal; he takes part in most of the face-offs; he controls the puck and tries to score or pass it to a teammate who is in a better position to score a goal.
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.
Charging-When more than three strides are taken before checking another player.
Check-Any defensive or guarding tactic used by hockey players accomplished by moving their bodies against an opponent to get the puck away; 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; checking with too many steps or strides becomes charging.
Checking from behind-A player hits an opponentwho is not aware of the impending contact and therefore cannot defend himself from behind. Results in major penaly/game misconduct.
Cherry-picking - When a player, generally a forward, hangs out near or beyond his own blue line waiting for a loose puck so that he can have 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 attacking zone, all the attacking players must leave or clear the zone to avoid being called offsides when the puck reenters the zone
Coach-A Coach is a person primarily responsible for directing and guiding the play of his team. Along with the Manager, he is responsible for the conduct of his team's players before, during and after a game.
Coast to coast - When a player carries the puck from his own end into the offensive end.
Cover-When a player stays close to an opponent to prevent him from receiving a pass or making a play on offense.
Creases-Goalkeeper's: Areas marked on the ice in front of each goal designed to protect the goalkeepers from interference by attacking players. Referee's: Area marked on the ice in front of the Penalty Timekeeper's seat for the use of the Referee.
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-To hit a player with both hands on the stick while the stick is not touching the ice.
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 zone or area nearest a team’s goal (the goal they are defending).
Deflection-The action of the puck contacting any person or object, causing it to change direction.
Deke(deking)-A decoying or faking motion by the puck-carrier; the art of making a defensive player think you are going to pass or move in a certain direction when you are not. There are shoulder dekes, stick dekes and head dekes.
Delayed Off-Side-A situation where an attacking player has preceded the puck across the attacking blue line, but the defending team has gained possession of the puck and is in a position to bring the puck out of their Defending Zone without any delay or contact with an attacking player.
Delayed penalty-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; a penalty that is delayed, and then not called, is waved off and play continues uninterrupted; also a penalty against the team that has only 4 players on the ice, which is assessed only when one of its players gets out of the penalty box.
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.
Directing the Puck-The act of intentionally moving or positioning the body, skate or stick so as to change the course of the puck in a desired direction.
Dive-When a player exagerrates being hooked or tripped in an attempt to draw a penalty
Double minor-A type of minor penalty given for certain accidental infractions that result in an injury to another player; penalty time of 4 minutes is served, double the time of a normal minor penalty.
Down Low - The area around the net or behind it.
Draw Man - A player who takes faceoffs.
Drop pass-When a player simply leaves the puck behind for a teammate following him to pick up.
Dump and Chase - A style of hockey where a team shoots the puck into one of the corners of the offensive zone and then pursues it. This is opposed to carrying the puck into the zone
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