Hockey Definitions

  • "A" - Letter worn on the uniform of the alternate captain
  • Assist - Point awarded to the player for helping set up a goal, usually the last two players to handle the puck.
  • Backcheck - Legal attempt by forwards on their way to their defensive zone to regain control of the puck.
  • Bodycheck - Slowing or stopping an opponent with the puck by using his hip or shoulder.
  • Breakaway - No opponent between the puck carrier and the oppositions goal except the goalie.
  • Breakout - When the attacking team comes out of its defending zone with the puck and starts up ice.
  • Butt Ending - To hit an opponent with the end of the stick farthest from the blade. 2 to 5 minutes in the box.
  • "C" - Letter worn on the uniform of the team captain.
  • Charging - If more then three strides are taken before checking an opponent, it constitutes charging. 2 minutes in the box.
  • Crease - The blue area in front of the goal.
  • Clearing the puck - When the puck is passed or shot away from the front of the net or congested area.
  • Cross Checking - To hit an opponent with both hands on the stick and no part of the stick on the ice. 2 minutes in the box.
  • Deke (D-eek) - A puck carrier face or juke to stickhandle his way around an opponent, or making the goalie move first giving the shooter the advantage.
  • Drop pass - Puck carrier leaves the puck behind to be picked up by a traveling teammate.
  • Face-off - To start play at anytime, the puck is dropped between two players from opposite teams facing each other.
  • Forecheck - To keep opponents in their end of the rink while trying to regain control of the puck.
  • Freezing the puck - Holding the puck against the boards with ones stick or skate.
  • Hat trick - Three goals scored by one player in a game.
  • Headmanning - Passing the puck ahead to a leading teammate.
  • Highsticking - The carrying of the stick above the shoulder level. This is always illegal. If the stick is used against an opponent it is a 2, 4, or 5 minute penalty depending on the severity.
  • Hooking - To impede an opponent with the blade of your stick. 2 minutes in the box.
  • Icing the puck - To deliberately shoot the puck from behind the center red line over the opponent's goal line.