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Hockey High

The place to get the 411 on the game of ice hockey!

Here is an example of regulation rink!

Here is some basic terminology (From A to Zamboni):

Altercation: Any physical interaction between two or more opposing players that results in a penalty (or penalties) being assessed. 

Back check:  To hinder an opponent heading toward and into the defending zone.

Boarding: To drive an opponent into the dasher boards. It's illegal and calls for a penalty.

Checking: Use of body on an opponent.  Is legal when the opponent has possession of the puck or was the last to touch it.

Delay of game:
This is called when a player purposely delays the game. Delay of game is commonly called
when a goalie shoots the puck into the stands without the puck deflecting off a skater or the
glass. Delay of game also occurs when a player intentionally knocks a goalpost out of its stand
(usually in an attempt to prevent a goal from being scored). 

Delayed off-side:
In this situation, an attacking player has preceded the puck into the offensive zone (normally a
case for off-side), but the defending team has gained possession of the puck and can bring it out
of their defensive zone without any delay or contact with an opposing player. 

Dive:
When a player exaggerates being hooked or tripped in an attempt to draw a penalty.

Face-off:
The action of an official dropping the puck between the sticks of two opposing players to start
play. 

Five-hole: The area in the opening between a goalie's leg pads.

Goal judge: A goal judge sits behind each goal (off-ice!) and signals when the puck has crossed the red goal line by turning on a red light above his station. The referee can ask the goal judge's advice on disputed goals, but the referee has final authority and can overrule the goal judge.

Hat trick: A player who scores three goals in one game achieves a "hat trick."

Hooking: Applying the blade of the stick to any part of an opponent's body or stick and pulling or tugging with the stick in order to disrupt that opponent.

Icing: An infraction called when a player shoots the puck from his side of the red line across the opponent's goal line. Play is stopped when an opponent (other than the goalie) touches the puck. The face-off is held in the offending team's end of the ice. A team that is shorthanded can ice the puck without being penalized. 

Offside: A team is offside when a player crosses the attacking blue line before the puck does. A face-off then takes place just outside that blue line (in the offending player's defensive zone). The
determining factor in most offside situations is the position of the skates: Both skates must be
completely over the blue line ahead of the puck for the play to be offside. 

Penalty:
A penalty is the result of an infraction of the rules by a player or team official. A penalty usually
results in the removal of the offending player (or team official) for a specified period of time. In
some cases, the penalty may be the awarding of a penalty shot on goal or the actual awarding
of a goal. 

Penalty killing:
When a team is shorthanded and attempts to prevent the opposition from scoring, this activity is
known as "penalty killing." 

Penalty-killing unit:
The group of players brought in by a shorthanded team in order to defend against a power play. 

Penalty shot:
A penalty shot is awarded to an offensive player who — on a breakaway — is illegally checked
or impeded. The puck is placed at the center face-off spot, and the player has a free try at the
opposing goal with no other defenders on the ice besides the goalie. 

Poke check:
Trying to knock the puck away from an opponent by stabbing at it with the blade of the stick. 

Possession of the puck:
The last player or goalie to make contact with the puck is the one who has possession. This
definition includes a puck that is deflected off a player or any part of his equipment. 

Power play:
When a team has more players on the ice than the opposition due to one or more penalties
against the opposing team

Neutral zone:  The zone between the two blue lines on the rink.

Trap: Traps are defensive formations designed to minimize the opposition's scoring opportunities and keep its offense from functioning. The idea is to trap the puck in the neutral zone, halting the
opponents and regaining control of the puck. 

Tripping:
Using a stick, arm, or leg to cause an opponent to trip or fall. 

Turnover:
Just as in basketball or in football, you can make a turnover in hockey by losing control of the
puck to the opposing team. 

Two-line pass: An offside pass (that actually crosses two lines). 

Umbrella Wings: The left wing and the right wing (also known as forwards) move up and down the sides of the rink. Offensively, they skate on each side of the center, exchanging passes with him, while
trying themselves for a shot on goal and/or a rebound of a shot from the point. Defensively, they
watch the opponent's wings. 

Wrist shot: A wrist shot is used to shoot the puck off the blade of the stick with a flicking motion of the wrist. 

Zamboni: The vehicle used to prepare the rink's ice surface before the game and after each period. The Zamboni scrapes a thin layer off the ice, heats the ice, and puts down a fresh layer of heated
water that freezes to form a new layer of ice.