Hockey Lingo

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.

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

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

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

Deke—To fake an opponent out of position.

Face-Off—The dropping of the puck between one player from each team to start or resume play.

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.

Forecheck—To check an opponent in his end of the rink, preventing an offensive rush.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Stick Handling—To control the puck along the ice.

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.