Glossary of ice hockey terms

This is a list of common terminology and slang used in ice hockey along with explanations of their meanings. For other terms and an understanding of ice hockey, refer to ice hockey.

0-9

2-man advantage

See Five on three.

2-on-1

See Odd man rush

3-on-2

See Odd man rush.

500

(also known as .500) 50% or even, usually referring to a team's overall record when their number of wins equals their number of regulation losses.

5-on-3

See Five on three.

5-on-5

See Full strength.

A

Attack zone

The opposing team's end of the ice, as determined by the blue line.

B

Backhander or Backhand shot

A shot that is taken from the backside of the blade.

Backchecking

Rushing back to the defensive zone in response to an opposing team's attack.

Backstop

A goaltender.

Bar down

A shot that hits the crossbar and then proceeds down into the net for a goal.

Bender

Someone who can't skate well. Refers to someone that bends their ankles when they skate.

Biscuit

The puck.

Biscuit in the basket

Scoring a goal.

Blue line

The lines separating the attack/defense zones from the neutral zone.

Blueliner

A defenseman.

Boarding

Checking a player from behind into the boards.

Body checking

Using the hip or body to knock an opponent against the boards or to the ice (also known as hip checking).

Boobirds

Obnoxious fans who boo the home team or a player when they are playing poorly, or they boo an ex-player who returns to the rink.

Bottle Rocket

The event in which a goal is scored and the goaltender's water bottle, which is placed on top of the net during play, is propelled into the air by the puck striking it from underneath. When this happens, the shot is almost always from a very steep angle, close to the net.

Breakaway

When a player has possession of the puck and there are no defenders other than the goalie between him and the opposing goal.

Butterfly

A style of goaltending wherein the goalie tends to cover the lower half of the net with his or her leg pads.

Breezers

Hockey pants

Bucket

A helmet

C

Cage

The hockey goal.

Center

A forward position whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice.

Change on the fly

Substituting a player from the bench while the puck is in play.

Cherry picking

When a player stays near their opponent's zone waiting for an outlet pass in order to receive a breakaway.

Cele

A celebration after a goal is scored.

Chippy

Using, or characterized by, aggressive, rough play or commission of fouls (e.g., "a chippy player," "a chippy second period").

Coast to coast

A solo scoring chance originating in the player's own defensive zone.

Coincidental penalties

When both teams are assessed an equal amount of penalties at the same time, usually on the same play or incident.

Contract year

The last year of a multi-year contract.

Cookie Jar

Top section of the net (e.g., "Put that biscuit right in the cookie jar!"). Also see "Top Shelf".

Crease

The blue ice in front of each net.

Cross-checking

The act of checking an opponent with the shaft of the stick held in both hands. This is illegal and earns a minor or major penalty depending on the severity of the infraction.

D

D to D

A pass from one defenseman to another defenseman.

Dangle

See Deke.

Dangler

A player who has exceptionally good stick handling abilities and can fool opposing players easily.

Defensive zone

The defending team's zone as determined by the blue line.

Deke

When a player handles the puck or himself in such a manner to fool the opponent into moving out of position, allowing the player to get past. Originated from the word decoy.

Delayed offside

If a player enters the attack zone ahead of the puck but does not touch it, the play is offside but no whistle is blown immediately, thus creating a delayed offside.

Delayed penalty

When a penalty is called, the referee will raise his or her arm to indicate that one is being called, but if the team who committed the infraction is not in control of the puck, no whistle will be blown until a player from the offending team controls the puck.

Delayed whistle

An official waits to blow his whistle, usually due to a delayed offside or delayed penalty call.

Dirty

Physical play in hockey, typically consisting of disallowed techniques such as elbowing, high-sticking, cross-checking, and/or fighting.

Dirty Player

There are some players, both current and historical, whose style of play and history of penalties characterizes them within hockey circles as "dirty players." Usually, this entails a history of illegal hits that appear to attempt injury to the opposition, multiple suspensions, and a reputation around the league as a player who cannot control his outbursts on occasion.

Dive

When a player embellishes contact made against him in order to draw a penalty, however sometimes this ends up in a penalty being called against the diving player.

Drop pass

When a player passes the puck directly behind him to a teammate. If executed properly, the puck stops moving and the pass's receiver catches up to it.

Dropping the mitts

See fisticuffs.

Dusty

Description of a player that sits on the bench, thus collecting dust on his/her equipment. Equipment not worn in a while can also be considered "dusty."

E

Empty net goal

A goal scored when the opposing goalie is not on the ice.

Enforcer

A player quick to fight who defends his teammates against violent members of the other team.

Extra Attacker

A player who has been substituted for the team's goaltender on the ice.

F

Faceoff

A faceoff is the method used to begin play. The two teams line up in opposition to each other, and the opposing center's attempt to gain control of the puck after it is dropped between their sticks by an official.

Face wash

When a player rubs his hockey glove over the face of an opponent.

Fan

When a player misses the puck when attempting to play or shoot it.

Fisticuffs

A fight.

Five on three

Five on three (also called two-man advantage) is when one team has had two players sent to the penalty box. This leaves the opponent with five skaters (i.e., not including the goaltender) to penalized team's three. The team with the advantage has a very good chance of scoring during this period of play.

Five on five

See Full strength.

Five-hole

The gap between a goaltender's legs.

Floater

A highly skilled player who skates around the middle of the ice waiting for a pass to score. The opposite of a grinder.

Forechecking

Checking in the offensive zone in order to gain control of the puck and set up a scoring opportunity.

Full strength

Full strength (also called 5-on-5) refers to when both teams have five skaters and one goaltender on the ice.

G

Gate

See penalty box.

Garbage goal

A goal that takes little talent to score. Most such goals are scored from right in front of the net, often when the goaltender is out of position.

Goal

A goal is scored when a puck completely crosses the goal line within the goal frame.

Goal line

The line that the puck must completely cross in order to be considered a goal.

Goon

See Enforcer (usually refers to an enforcer that plays for the other team).

Gordie Howe hat trick

A Gordie Howe hat trick is when one player scores a goal, notches an assist and gets into a fight all in the same game (a natural Gordie Howe hat trick occurs when a player does all three in one period, however many players^Who? see this as ostentatious and it can be frowned upon in some hockey circles).

Gong Show

A hockey game that gets extremely chippy. Also, an extremely bad hockey player.

Good Hands

A player with a deft touch and excellent stickhandling skills to pass, move the puck and/or score.

Grinder

Hockey grinder

H

Hand pass

The act of passing the puck using one's hand. This is legal inside a team's defensive zone, but illegal in the neutral zone and attacking zone, even if the pass originates from another zone.

Hash marks

The straight lines from the faceoff circles in front of both nets. Used to line up faceoffs.

Hat-trick

When one player scores three goals in one game.

High stick

The act of hitting a player in the head or shoulders with a stick. Also the act of hitting the puck in the air above the height of the top goal pipe (4').

Hip checking

Using the hip to knock an opponent against the boards or to the ice.

Home-ice Advantage

The ability to make the last line change.

Hooking

Using a stick to hold or slow down a player (illegal).

Howitzer

A very fast slap shot.

Hoser

In pre-Zamboni days, the losing team had to hose the ice down with water.

I

Icing

Icing occurs when a player shoots the puck across both the center red line and the opposing team's goal line without the puck going into the net or being able to be touched by an opposing player in their neutral or defensive zones. If an offensive player touches the puck first after it crosses both the red line and the goal line, icing is negated. When icing occurs, a linesman stops play. Play is resumed with a faceoff in the defending zone of the team that committed the infraction (with the team that committed the infraction being unable to make a line change during the stoppage).

J

Jill

See Jock.

Jock

A jock (or for females, a jill) are simple devices used to protect the genitalia of an ice hockey player.

J Shot

A snap shot that is started in the form of the letter J.

Jofa

Similar to Butterface. Girl with smoking body and busted face. Used because Jofa makes great equipment except their horrible bucket helmet.

Jonathon

A toe drag.

L

Laser

A hard, accurate shot.

Laying on the lumber

See Slashing.

Left wing

See Winger.

Left Wing Lock

The left wing lock is a defensive ice hockey strategy similar to the neutral zone trap. In the most basic form, once puck possession changes, the left wing moves back in line with the defensemen. Each defender (including the left winger) play a zone defense and are responsible for a third of the ice each. Since there are normally only two defensemen, this tactic helps to avoid odd man rushes.

Light the lamp

Scoring a goal.

Line brawl

A series of fights involving most, or all, players on the ice at the same time.

Longside

The side of the goal furthest from the shooter.

M

Man advantage

When one team is penalized, and one of its players sent to the penalty box, the second team maintains a man advantage for the duration of the penalty (Major penalty) or until a goal is scored (Minor penalty). If two penalties are called on one team there will be a two man advantage. If more than two penalties are called on one team the man advantage is limited to two men.

Man on

A warning from teammates to a player that an opposing player (that he may be unaware of) is near him. Usually given in loose puck situations.

Meat wagon

If a player's only skill is fighting/hitting, he is a meat wagon.

Murphy Dump

The technique of clearing the puck out of the defensive zone by lifting it high above the oppositions heads, with it dropping before reaching the opposing goal line. (popularized by Larry Murphy while with the Pittsburgh Penguins.)

N

Natural hat-trick

A natural hat-trick is when one player scores three goals in a row without any player from either team scoring in between them, also when three goals are scored by one player in one period.

Neutral zone trap

The neutral zone trap is a defensive ice hockey strategy used by a team to prevent an opposing team from proceeding through the neutral zone (the area between both blue lines) by forcing turnovers in that area.

O

Odd man rush

When a team enters the attacking zone and outnumbers the opposing players in the zone.

Offensive zone

See Attack zone.

One timer

The act of shooting the puck directly off a pass without playing the puck in any way.

P

Paddle

The wide portion above the blade of a goalie's stick.

Penalty box

The area where a player sits to serve the time of a given penalty, for an offense not severe enough to merit outright expulsion from the contest(sometimes called the sin bin or bin).

Playmaker

A fast player who usually scores more assists than goals. A Playmaker has the speed and balance to make plays, and frequently relies on a sniper to finish them.

Playoff beard

The superstitious practice of a hockey player not shaving his beard during the playoffs.

The point

A player in the opponent's end zone at the junction of the blue line with the boards is said to be at the point.

Poke checking

Using the stick to poke the puck away from an opponent.

Power forward

A power forward is a large, muscular offensive player (6'0 - 6'5, 210-240 pounds), with the mobility to track a puck to the corners of the rink, the physical toughness required to dig it out, and the puckhandling skills to get it back to anyone in front of the net.

Powerplay

A powerplay occurs when one team has more players on the ice than the other team as a result of penalties assessed to the shorthanded team.

Puck bunny

A puck bunny is a female ice hockey fan, often one whose interest in the sport is primarily motivated by sexual attraction to the players rather than enjoyment of the game itself.

Pylon

A player who is easy to get around due to lack of speed or skill.

Plug

A player that is useless.

Q

Quick whistle

A stoppage in play that occasionally occurs when an on-ice official view of the puck is obstructed while the puck is still moving or playable but the official stops the play with a whistle. The most common example of this is a goaltender appearing to have trapped the puck underneath his catcher, yet the puck is still freely moving and within legal striking distance of the opposing players. The official will whistle the play "dead" with the puck still visible to others. This often draws an unfavorable reaction from hometown crowds when the whistle negates a perceived scoring chance for the home team.

R

Rearguard

A defenseman.

Rebound

A Rebound occurs when the puck bounces off a goalie, a player, or the net (or occasionally, the back boards) after a shot on goal.

Rink Rat

A father of a youth hockey player who always attends every game, even if it's not his own son's. Is often known well by both the players and parents.

Right wing

See Winger.

Ripple the twine

Scoring a goal.

Rocked

Big hit.

Rockpile

A Rookie.

Rockets

Skates.

S

Sauce

The amount of force put into a shot or pass (e.g., "I put a lot of sauce on that pass, didn't think you would get it!" or "Shoulda put more sauce on that one...). Reference is usually to Hot Sauce, or Mustard, being that they both pack a punch.

Saucer pass

An airborne pass from one player to another. It is called a saucer pass because the puck resembles a flying saucer in mid air.

Saucer

A saucer pass.

Screened shot

A shot that the goaltender cannot see due to other players obscuring it.

Selby

A person that cries after missing the net or a pass.

Shaft

The long part of the stick that is straight and is held by the player.

Shorthanded

A team is said to be shorthanded when they have fewer players on the ice than the opposing team as a result of penalties.

Shortside

The side of the goal closest to the shooter.

Shot on goal

A shot that will enter the goal if it is not stopped by the goaltender. A shot on goal must result in either a goal or a save (shots that hit the main pipes of the goal are not counted as shots).

Shutdown

A defensive play that stops an offensive play.

Shutdown player

A player skilled at defensive play.

Shutdown pair

Two forwards or defensemen working together, fundamentally to stop the opposing teams offense players.

Sin bin

The penalty box.

Slapshot

A slapshot is a hard shot, usually with a big wind up, wherein the player bends his stick on the ice and allows the energy stored in bending the stick to launch the puck forward.

Slashing

Striking an opponent's arms or lower body with the hockey stick. Usually a penalty is incurred.

Slew Foot

Sweeping or kicking out a player's skate or tripping them from behind, causing them to fall backwards.

Slot

Slot is the area on the hockey rink directly in front of the goaltender between the face-off circles on each side.

Slow whistle

When an official is slow to blow his whistle compared to when the whistle would be blown under similar circumstances.

Snangles

Dangling a player or layers, then sniping the goalie.

Snap shot

A snap shot is a like an abbreviated slap shot. The purpose of the snap shot is to combine the main advantages of the wrist shot (shot accuracy and quick delivery) and the slap shot (puck speed). The stick should start at your hip when shooting.

Snipe Show

A dirty goal.

Sniper

A player with a powerful, accurate shot skilled at finishing plays. Snipers frequently score more goals than assists. Snipers can be either forwards or defensemen.

Spin-o-rama

A phrase coined by sportscaster Danny Gallivan to describe a player completing several tight circles with the puck fully under control of his stick, eluding pursuing opponents who cannot keep up or intercept the player.

Stack the pads

A save wherein the goaltender drops to one side and makes the save with his leg pads.

Starfish

A hit player supine on his or her back, possibly unconscious. Example: "Nice hit! You totally starfished that guy!"

Stay-at-home defenseman

A defenseman who plays very defensively. He doesn't skate with the puck toward the offensive zone very often but will look to pass first. Usually the last player to leave his defensive zone.

Stick checking

Using the stick to interfere with an opponent's stick.

Stickhandling

The act of controlling the puck with one's stick, especially while maneuvering through opponents.

Stoned

A goalkeeper makes a great save and the shooter is "stoned".

Stripes

Referees.

Sweep checking

Using the stick in a sweeping motion to knock the puck away from an opponent or deter him from passing.

T

TJ

Tape job. The result of taping a stick.

Toe drag

Dragging the puck along the ice with the end (toe) of the stick blade on the ice as opposed to pushing with the bottom edge.

Top shelf

The top section of the net.

Twig

A player's stick.

Top titty

When a player scores in the top section of the net.

Trolley Tracks

Coined by Don Cherry, the Trolley Tracks are two 'lanes' in the neutral zone, located midway between the center face-off dot and the boards, spanning from blue-line to blue-line. They are named this due to the common occurrence of a forward receiving a pass from his defense-man during breakout, and then getting completely demolished by an opposing player, usually because they are still looking back at where the pass had originated. This pass is often referred to as a Hospital Pass. It can be blamed on either the defense-man for setting up such an obvious pass, or the player receiving the pass for not keeping their head up.

V

Video goal judge

An off-ice official who reviews a goal by video instant replay.

W

Waffle

The goalie's blocker. This term stemmed from the visual appearance of the blocker in the pre-modern ice hockey equipment era (also refer to waffle-boarding).

Waffle-boarding

A quick save with the goalie's blocker, usually a sideways-sweeping motion. Color analyst Chico Resch often uses the term in his broadcasts.

Wheels

A player's skates.

Winger

A winger is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. A right winger is responsible for the right-hand side of the ice and a left winger is responsible for the left-hand side.

Wrist shot

A type of shot that involves using arm muscles (especially those in the wrist and forearm) to propel a puck forward from the open-faced, concave part of the blade of a hockey stick.

Y

Yard Sale

When a player gets knocked to the ice and loses a piece of his equipment; or when a team wins an important game and throws their hockey gloves/sticks/helmets all about the ice.

Z

Zamboni

See ice resurfacer.

Zone

One of three zones on the ice, the offensive zone, the neutral zone and the defensive zone.

Zebra

See referee.

See also

• Ice hockey statistics