HOCKEY VOCABULARY

Back Check - To hinder an opponent heading toward and into the defending zone.

Body Check - Use of the body on an opponent.  It is legal when the opponent has possession of the puck or was the last player to have touched it.

Boarding - Violently forcing an opponent into the boards (illegal).

Breakaway - An offensive rush in which the attacking player breaks into the clear and has a clear shot on the goaltender.

Breakout - When a team comes out of its defensive zone and starts up the ice toward opponent's goal.

Butt-Ending - To hit an opponent with the end of the stick farthest from the blade.  It is illegal and calls for a penalty.

Charging - Taking two or more strides or steps before checking an opponent (illegal).

Clearing the Puck - Getting the puck out of one's own defensive zone.

Cross Checking - Hitting an opponent with both hands on the stick and no part of the stick on the ice (illegal).

Deke - To fake an opponent out of position.

Drop Pass - Puck carrier leaves the puck behind for a trailing teammate to pick it up.

Face-Off - The dropping of the puck between one player from each team to start or resume play (similar to a jump ball in basketball).

Falling on the Puck - A minor penalty, which occurs when a player, other than the goaltender, closes his hand on the puck, deliberately falls on the puck, or gathers the puck under his body while lying on the ice.

Flip Pass - A shot in which a player cups the puck to his stick, then flips it with his wrists up off the ice toward the goal; this sometimes makes the puck harder to block.

Forecheck - Keeping opponents at their end of the rink while attempting to regain possession of the puck.

Freezing the Puck - To hold the puck against the boards with either stick or skate to get a stoppage of play.

Hat Trick - The scoring of three or more goals by a player in one game.

Headmanning - Passing the puck forward to a leading teammate.

High Sticking - Carrying stick above shoulder level (illegal).

Interference - Hindering or restraining a player not immediately involved in playing the puck (illegal).

Kicked Goal - A goal kicked into the opponent's net intentionally. It is disallowed.

Line Change - An entire forward line and/or defensive pairing will be replaced at once, which puts players on the ice who work well together.  Player changes or substitutions while play is under way is also called changing-onthe-fly.

Neutral Zone - Center ice between attacking and defending areas.

One-Timer - Hitting the puck directly after receiving a pass.  The offensive player takes his backswing while the puck is on its way to him and tries to time his swing with the arrival of the puck.

Penalty Box - Area off ice at red line where penalized players serve their "sentences."

Poke Check - Stabbing at the puck with the blade of the stick to take it away from the puck carrier (legal).

Power Play - A power play occurs when a team has a one-man or two-man advantage because of an opponent's penalties.

Pulling the Goalie - Replacing the goalie with an extra skater.  This occurs when a team trails, usually by one goal in the last minute of the game.  It is a high-risk attempt to tie the game, as it leaves the goal open.

Save - A shot blocked by the goaltender, which would have been a goal if it was not stopped.

Screened Shot - Goaltender's view is blocked by players between he and the shooter.

Scrum - Altercation.

Shorthanded - If a penalty is called, the penalized player is sent to the penalty box and his team plays without him for the duration of the penalty.  The team cannot substitute for that player and must play 5 on 4 or 5 on 3 if there are multiple penalties.

Slap Shot - Hitting the puck with the blade of the stick after taking a full backswing.

Slot - The area immediately in front of the goal.  It is from this zone that most goals are scored and where most furious activity takes place.

Splitting Defense - The player with the puck attempts to squeeze between the opponent's defensemen.

Stick Handling - To control the puck along the ice.

Sweep Check - Using the entire length of the stick while laying it flat on the ice in order to take the puck away from the carrier (legal).

Top Shelf - Term used to describe when an offensive player shoots high in an attempt to beat the goalie by putting the puck in the top part of the net.

Wraparound - When a player skates around behind the opposing goal and attempts to wrap the puck around the goal post under the goalie.

Wrist Shot - Hitting the puck with the blade of the stick using a quick snap of the wrist rather than the full back.