HOCKEY JARGONS

# -  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

Offensively, the defensemen get the puck to their forwards and trail the play into the aggressive zone, putting themselves just inside their rival's blue line at the points. Center are the players in the quarterback on the field, the center players leads the attack by carrying forward the puck on offense. He then exchanges passes with his wing players to direct the play near the opposing goal. On defense, he attempts to interrupt a play before it comes on his team's side of the field. The wing players are the players who team with the center on the attack to set up blasts on goal. Defensively, they try to halt the plays by their equals and upset shot efforts taken by the opposition team.

B
Biscuit - the puck, disc used in the game
Blowing a tire - a player losing his control and falling
Blue liner - defense man
Bread basket - goalie's stomach area
Bonnet or Bucket - helmet
Butterfly - common style of goaltending where goalie's pads are on ice and chest and shoulders are kept high to cover the majority of the net.

C
Cage - hockey net
Can-opener - maneuver whereby defenseman places stick between an opponent's legs and turns his body; also known as the �Bryan McCabe�
Cherry Picker- player who only remains in the offensive zone without a desire to help out defensively
Chucking the knuckles - hockey fight
Chicklets - teeth
Chop - slash
Coast to coast- act where a player rushes the puck up the ice from one end to the other
Cobwebs - what a player tries to rid himself off after being hit
Cue - hockey stick
Cup - portion of jock strap that protects a player; area of expertise of the �Puck Bunny�

D
Dangler - an expert stick handler that moves through the defense with ease.
Dead Puck - a puck that left the rink or caught by a player.
Defenseman or Defensive Line - usually 2 players on the ice for each team, positioned close to their goalie and whose chief duty is to stop the opposition from scoring.
Defensive Zone - zone that is marked by the blue line on either end of the ice.
Deflection - puck movement where it changes direction upon hitting a player or object.
Deke or Decoy - player movement designed to trick a challenger, a fake motion using the puck or body. Gotcha!
Delayed Offside - game official who delays blowing the whistle because a defender has obtained control of the puck near the blue line. Should the player lose that possession, the offside is called.
Delayed Penalty - game official who delays blowing the whistle because the penalized team has 2 players in the box, therefore, the delay will be called when 1 of those players is back on the ice. Also occurs when a non- penalized player has possession of the puck in a possible scoring position, thus is called when the penalized team regains possession.
Delay of Game - several events can occur that will incur a penalty. Examples are deliberately freezing the puck, moving the goal posts out of position, subbing delays or shooting the puck out of the playing area.
Dive - a player who fakes or embellishes contact or a player's actions in order to get a penalty called on their opponent.
Double Minor - refers to a 4-minute penalty when an injury occurs or two violations occur for the same play action.
Drop Pass - hockey players terms for a pass left directly behind for a teammate to advance play.
Drop the Gloves - fighting between players in course of a game.
Dance - hockey fight
Dangle- deke
Dish - pass
Dive - a player intentionally falling to draw a penalty
Dump - process by which a player shoots the puck into the corner of the opponent's offensive zone.

E
Elbowing- hitting an opponent using the elbow-penalty worth.
Empty Net - term for a goalie-less net, usually a strategic play to sub another player for the goalie.
Empty Net Goal - possible result of an empty net.
Enforcer- sends out the enforcer when an opposing player is practicing over- the- top roughness.
Extra Attacker - the act of putting an extra player on the ice, achieved by pulling the goalie.
Extra Skater - is employed to either replace the goalie or offer support during a delayed penalty.

F
Face Mask - protective equipment used by the goalie. Mandatory for this contact sport.
Face-off - how play begins, two players in the center of the ice meet and the puck is dropped. The players then proceed to try to knock the puck to a teammate.
Face-off Circles - 30 ft. in diameter, located at center rink and two at each end of the rink for a total of five.
Face Wash - used when a player is rubbed across the face with the opponent's glove.
Falling on the Puck - player, other than the goalie who intentionally falls, traps or handles the puck�penalty worthy.
Fan - a shot where the player misses the puck with his stick and hits nothing but air.
Feed- refers to feeding a teammate with a pass.
Fisticuffs - a confrontation during the game in which fists are used=a fight.
Five Hole - jargon for the opening between a goalie's leg pads.
Five on Three - a situation where one team has two players with penalties who are currently in the penalty box.
Five on Five - hockey players terms for both teams at full strength.
Flat Pass - term for a sliding pass.
Flip Pass - movement of a wrist snap by a player that lifts the puck off the ice.
Flip Shot - same as above, however, the goal is the target.
Fore check - term for checking challengers in their defensive zone in order to gain possession of the puck.
Forehand - shot/pass attempted from the stick hand part of the body.
Forward - player who is part of the forward line that also includes right and left wing players.
Foul - penalty worthy.
Freeze the Puck - stoppage of play by holding the puck against the boards or the back of the net with player's skate or stick.
Full Strength- highest level of play with 6 six players on the ice.

G
Game - consists of 3-20 minute periods.
Game Misconduct - penalty that generally results in a rejection for the balance of game time, however offending team does not play short-handed.
Game Timekeeper - game official who monitors and calls any portion of the game that involves measuring time.
Gate - another term for penalty box.
Garbage Goal - a goal scored 1) when the goal player is caught out of position or 2) a goal scored that doesn't matter, typically against the opponents lesser players when the game is out of hand.
Get the Jump- jargon for rapid skate movement ahead of the challengers. A speed skater in action!
Give-and-go - passing in this sequence, player 1 passes to player 2; at which time player 1 moves forward to receive rapid return pass.
Given �er - mantra whereby players give 100% effort
Glass - protective material located on top of the boards for the benefit of both fans and players.
Glove Hand - hockey players terms for equipment used by goalie.
Glove Save - refers to a save using this equipment.
Goal - the act of putting the puck entirely in the net. Team that scores the most goals wins.
Goal Cage - measuring 6 X 4 ft to include a net, crossbar and 2 goal posts stationed on the goal line.
Goal Crease - located in front of the net and the regulations prohibit other players from interfering with the goal tending.
Goal Judge - game official who monitors and calls a valid goal when the entire puck has crossed and landed between the goal posts. Goal is signaled by a red light.
Goal Line - term for red line marking between the goal posts.
Goals Against - refers to number of goals that got past the goalie and/or team.
Goaltender - duties are to stop the puck and be sufficiently protected to avoid injury. While penalties are assessed, that are designed to shield the goalie, should he/she receive a penalty, another team player will serve the time.
Goon - hockey players terms for a rough and tough player.
Gordie Howe Hat Trick - scoring a goal, getting an assist and getting into a fight, normally all in the same period or during the course of a single game qualifies. Tip of the hat to this player!
Green Light - signal that a playing period is over.
Gross Misconduct - most definitely penalty worthy to the tune of ejection for the balance of the game plus an automatic fine for players and/or other team members.
Gretzky's Office - area behind the net
Grinder- player of lower quality; �Checker�

H
Hand Pass - player passing the puck with their hand. This is only legal inside a team's defensive zone.
Hash Marks - lines on face off circles.
Hat Trick - huge triumph in hockey-3 or more goals in the same game.
Head Man - term for moving the puck forward to a teammate.
High Stick - occurs when one player hits another in the head or shoulders with his stick.
Hip Check - another term for body check.
Holding - act of holding either an opposing player or his/her stick�penalty worthy.
Home Team - sporting the lighter jerseys, this team is playing in their venue.
Hook Check - motion to trap by placing the stick in front of the puck near your opponent.
Hooking - penalty worth when using your stick against an opposing player.
Howitzer - a very hard and fast slap shot. A Sizzler!
Hoser - the losing team that was required to hose down the ice in order to resurface it, prior to the invention and use of the Zamboni.
Hammered - when one player hits other; can be the result of �Given �er�
Horseshoe - common warm- up drill in minor hockey
Howitzer - a hard slap shot

I
Ice Time - time measurement for amount of ice play by an individual player.
Icing - the puck crossing two lines without being touched by an opponent.
Interference - occurs when a player checks a challenger who does not have the puck unless after this same challenger has taken a shot. Penalty worthy.
Intermission - 15 minute break between periods.
Iron - goal post

J
J shot - shot made with the stick going in the motion of the letter J.

K
Kick Save - using his skate or leg, the goalie has stopped or saved the puck from scoring.
Kill a Penalty- refers to knee action of hitting an opponent during a power play-penalty worthy.

L
Laser - for a very hard shot. A Rocket to be sure!
Lead Pass - term used for pass forward to skating teammate.
Left Wing - a forward who works the left area of the ice and is likely a left- handed shooter.
Light the Lamp - another term for the scoring of a goal.
Line - group of forwards that play well together as a mini- team.
Line Brawl - hockey game terms for an all-out brawl usually involving all players on the ice (both lines).
Line Change - putting in a fresh line- up who is ready to go.
Linesmen - game officials who monitor and call offside fouls, icing, do face offs and advise the referee, however their duties do not include calling penalties.
Loose Puck - go get it because no one else has it
Lid - helmet
Lighting the lamp - scoring a goal
Lumber - hockey stick

M
Major Penalty - penalty worthy for 5 long minutes and the player remains in the box even if the opposing team scores. Assigned for serious action such as fighting and spearing.
Man Advantage - one more player on the ice than the other team.
Match - is a hockey game providing exciting action for players and fans.
Match Penalty - a plus penalty worthy infraction that includes game suspension and a substitute player must serve the entire time of 5 minutes in the penalty box even if the opposing team scores.
Minor Penalty - offending player stays in the box for 2 minutes unless the other team scores before then.
Minutes Played - player's ice time used to determine the goals against average and similar stats.
Misconduct Penalty - another long penalty worthy infraction-10 minutes for fighting or badmouthing an official, however, the team does not play short-handed.
Mitts - hockey gloves.
Mugging - act of attacking another player without his knowledge, also known as �Todd Bertuzziing�.
Mustard - something placed on a hard shot.
Lumber - hockey stick

N
Natural Hat Trick - scoring three goals in a row, in a single game without another player from either team scoring a goal. A feat to be admired.
NHL - National Hockey League
Netminder - hockey game terms for the goalie.
Neutral Zone - term for region between the blue lines.
Natural Hattrick - three goals in a row, in one game

O
Odd Man Rush - when the offensive team enters into their offensive zone thus outnumbering the players on defense.
Offensive Zone - also known as the attacking zone.
Official Scorer- game official who monitors and records the stats in relation to goals scored, subs and assists.
Offside - is when a player on the attacking team enters the attacking zone before the puck enters the zone, whether it is carried by a teammate or by an attacking player. If an attacking player is trying to shoot the puck into the attacking zone and it deflects off a defending player, an offside violation may be called. When there is an offside, the linesman calls the play stopped and there is a face off in the neutral zone closest to where the offside occurred.
Off Wing - this player is on the other side from what he/she usually plays-a left wing playing right area of the ice and vice-versa.
Officials - they are everywhere on and off the ice, up to as many as 8 in the position of referee, linesmen, game and penalty timekeepers and goal judges.
One Man Back - hockey game terms that refers to the vulnerable scenario of only one defenseman between the goaltender and the attackers.
One-timer - puck that is rapidly fired as soon as it is received, no stopping here.
Open Ice - wide-open area where there are no challengers around.
Overtime - a tie game is handled two ways in the NHL. Overtime is 5 minutes to sudden death during regular season and during playoffs=20-minute overtime period(s) are played until a goal is scored.
On the fly - line change that occurs while play is going on

P
Pansification - phrase coined by CBC personality Mike Milbury to describe a soft player; characteristic displayed by Joe Thornton during the playoffs
Pad Save - the goalie using a leg pad to stop the puck.
Paddle - hockey game terms for the wide part of the goalie stick.
Pass-out - from behind the net, the puck is targeted to a teammate in front of the net.
Penalty - this is your punishment for being penalty worth.
Penalty Boxes - one for each team-keep 'em separated; this is where players serve their time.
Penalty Killer - skillful players in the art of checking and puck handling whose duties are to prevent a score by the other team during a power play.
Penalty Minutes - amount of time by a player or team spent 'in the box'.
Penalty Shot or Shootout - occurs after a tie-game or specific violations. Player(s) go up against the lone opposing goalie in turn to score.
Penalty Timekeeper - game official who monitors and records penalties.
Period - term for 20 minutes of play X 3 for a regular game.
Pipe- goal post.
Playmaker - someone who has the uncanny ability to create chances to score, usually ending with he/she garnering many assists.
Playoff Beard - growing a beard for as long as the playoffs last. One of the many superstitions in sports.
Poke Check - ouch! you just jabbed me with your stick.
Policeman - hockey game terms for the enforcer of the team.
Power Forward - a forward who is large, tough and skilled.
Power Play - advantageous position for the team who has an extra player on the ice while the other team is on penalty.
Power Play Goal - team used for goal scored during the power play time period.
Puck - that black rubber disc that all the players want to possess�all 1X3 inches of it.
Puck Bunny- a hockey fan who is female, who likes the players rather than the game.
Puck-handler - the player who has that little black disc.
Pull the Goalie - get him outta there for a powerful forward, usually at the end of the game where there is only a 1-goal difference in score.
Pylon - a player who is unskilled and does little more than take up space on the ice.
Pillows - goalie's pads

R
Rag the Puck - playing around with the puck to keep it away from the opposition or run out the game clock.
Rebound - a shot on goal that bounces off the goalie or the crossbar in front of the net.
Red Light - He or She scores, as the goal judge turns on the light.
Red Line - marked line mid- ice between the goal lines. See centerline.
Referee - the big cheese of game officials who calls the majority of penalties.
Restraining Circle - refers to face-off circle.
Rockered Blades - specialized equipment with rounded toe and heel to make for a quicker turn.
Right Wing - this forward works the right area of the ice and is likely a right-handed shooter.
Rink - there is a lot of room to play-200 X 85 feet.
Roster - meet your team players.
Roughing - if a player doesn't get into a fight, his/her penalty worthy is usually minor.
Rush - that puck is moving real fast into the attacking zone by 1 or more players.
Riding the pine - act in which a player remains on bench for prolonged period of time; common with �Goon� and �Grinder�
Rubber - hockey puck

S
Saucer Pass - a pass that gets up in the air, prior to reaching its destination.
Save - goalie has stopped a potential score.
Scramble - dust-up amongst players who all want that puck.
Screen - player stationed between the goal and a teammate who is in control of the puck.
Screen Shot - taking a shot at the opposing goalie that has diminished vision and readiness due to blocking player(s).
Shadow - player who is covering an opponent - where you go, I go.
Shaft - the straight part of the stick held in the hands adjoined to the blade.
Shooting Angle - refers to the player's position at the time of the shot.
Short-handed - occurs during a power play when one team has an extra player on the ice.
Short-handed Goal - the extra player paid off resulting in a goal scored.
Short Side - the goalie is closing the gap on the side of the goal cage creating a smaller area to make a shot.
Shot on Goal - the act of propelling the puck toward the goal. It is deemed a shot on goal if it would go into the net without being stopped by the goaltender.
Shoulder Deke - faked other player with that move using the shoulder.
Shut down Player - a player that is a defensive specialist.
Shutout - match where one team scores nada, zilch, nothing.
Sideboards - boards along the side of the rink between the goal lines.
Sin Bin - hockey terms defined for the penalty box.
Slap Shot - a whizzer where the player raises the stick full back and uses full strength on the shot.
Slashing - penalty worthy up to a major if injury occurs and even when the target is missed. Term refers to swinging the stick at a challenger when it is below the shoulders.
Sleeper - player who sneaks into the center or neutral zone behind the defensemen. It is also known as a floater or a hanger.
Slot - ideal area to score a goal as it is in front of the goal and a favored position of a center.
Slow Whistle - not yet-official decides to wait on the whistle blow because of a delayed offside or penalty call.
Smother the Puck - ok for the goalie, but penalty worthy for a player who hogs the puck with his body or hands.
Snap Pass - shot movement using a snap of the wrists.
Spearing - that jab at another's players body with a stick blade is penalty worthy from a minor to a game penalty if injury occurs.
Solo - player rush without assistance.
Split the Defense - skillful move between two defenders.
Stay at Home Defenseman - a defenseman who plays very little offense and is on the ice specifically as a defenseman.
Stick - required equipment and partner to the puck in this game. A hockey stick is no more than 63 inches long total and blade is between 2-3 inches while a goalie stick blade is usually 3- 4 inches wide and can be as long as 15.5 inches.
Stick Check - the act of hitting an opponent's stick with your own.
Stick Deke - faking a shot, but actually getting past the defender.
Stickhandling - doing 2 things at once skillfully-moving down the ice with the puck.
Stick Save - goalie has stopped a potential score with his/her stick.
Stick Side - goalie's stick-holding side that is the opposite of glove side.
Stops- hockey terms defined for the equivalent of saves.
Substitution - incoming - outgoing exchange of teammates while the play continues.
Sudden-death Overtime - game over when one team scores.
Sweep Check - act of getting the puck from a challenger by placing the shaft and blade flat on the ice.
Snow angel - when a goalie lies down on the ice on his back with arms and legs spread; usually occurs when the goalie loses his vision of where the puck is located.
Snowing the goalie - act of a player intentionally stopping in front of the goalie and thus spraying ice pellets
Splitting the D - hockey move where a player carries the puck in between two defensemen
Spinorama - perfected by Serge and Denis Savard where player spins around with the puck to avoid opponents
Stacking the pads - move where a goalie slides across the ice with both pads placed beside each other horizontally
Standing on your head - game in which a goalie proves to be almost impossible to beat
Stripes - referee
Stone Hands - time period in which a player cannot score; Evgeni Malkin during the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs; former Winnipeg Jet Ray Neufeld

T
Take the Body - jargon for body checking an opponent.
Third Man In - player who jumps in between two other players with the consequences of a game misconduct penalty.
Three-on-one - scenario where 3 attackers rush one defenseman.
Three-on-two - this time, it is 3 attackers rushing two defenseman.
Time Out - each team gets 30 seconds and 1 time out/game to develop strategy.
Too Many Players on the Ice - count those players because 1 or 2 should not be there, followed shortly by the official's whistle.
Trailer - right behind you waiting for that drop or backward pass.
Trap - strategy to curtail the opposing defense by trapping, then re- taking the puck.
Triangle - jargon for strategy of using a triangle formation when the team is without 2 players serving penalties.
Tripping - penalty worthy because the stick was used to trip an opponent.
Two-line Pass - shot moving across at least 2 lines without play, resulting in a face off.
Two-man Advantage - ultimate opportunity for a team that has 2 more players than the other team.
Two-on-one - hockey terms defined for 2 attackers versus 1 defenseman.
Two-on-two- term for 2 attackers versus 2 defenders.
Tic-tac-toe - three consecutive passes using three different players resulting in a goal
Top shelf - upper portion of the net; area where mamma hides the cookies
Trap - type of neutral zone defensive formation
Trapper - goalie's glove
Twig - hockey stick
Twine - hockey net

U
Under-led Pass - this is a tough pass to receive when the puck is behind or at one side.
Up Ice - moving on up to the attacking zone.
Umbrella - type of power play formation.

W
Waffle Pad - required goalie equipment worn on the stick hand.
Washout - refers to either the goal not being allowed or an offside/icing foul is not called.
Wing, Winger or Wingman - players on either side of the center that form the forward line.
Wrist Shot - a shot with a short windup relying on arm strength to propel it.
Waffle - goalie's blocker
Wheels - player's ability to skate fast
White Out - act of fans dressing in all white started by Winnipeg Jets fans in the early 90's; often simulated but never replicated
Weasel - nickname for Commissioner Gary Bettman

Z
Zebra - referee
Zamboni - one of those truly memorable hockey terms defined as an ice-cleaning machine.
Zone- three zones on an ice rink, the offensive, defensive and neutral zones separated by the blue lines.