Youth Hockey 365

5 hole – area between the goalie’s legs

A
Apple – an assist
Attacking zone – when the team controlling the puck has possession in the offensive zone

B
Backhand – A pass or 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 and checking the player you are responsible for in an attempt to regain control of the puck.
Barn Burner – a good old fashioned entertaining hockey game where both teams engage in back and forth action.
Bench Minor – A minor penalty given to a team and usually meant for an infraction by the coach, such as having too many players on the ice at one time.
Biscuit – puck
Blocker – The rectangular pad that a goaltender wears on the hand used to hold their goalie stick
Blowing a tire – a player losing his edge and falling to the ice
Blue line – the lines separating the attacking/defending zones from the neutral zone.
Blueliner – defenceman
Bread basket – goalie’s stomach area or the logo area of a jersey
Boarding – hitting a player into the boards with close proximity. Usually resulting in a minor penalty.
Boards – the outer perimeter of the playing surface.
Body checking – using the hip or body to hit an opponent.
Bonnet – helmet
Breakaway – exciting part of the game when a player has possession of the puck and there are no defenders other than the goalie between him and the opposing goal.
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. When performed properly the move resembles a butterfly.
Butt-ending – the act of thrusting the knob or butt end of a stick into an opponent. Considered a dirty play which often results in a major penalty

C
Cage – Metal grid that attaches to the front of a helmet to protect the face; occasionally also refers to the goal.
Can-opener – maneuver whereby a player places their stick between an opponent’s legs and turns his body.
Catcher or Catching glove – The webbed glove that the goaltender wears on the hand opposite the stick. (Also known as the trapper.)
Centre (or Center) – A forward position whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice. The Center is responsible for taking faceoffs. Notable centers include Mark Messier, Wayne Gretzky, Joe Sakic and Steve Yzerman.
Change on the fly – Substituting a player from the bench during live play, i.e. not at a faceoff. Also known as “switch on the fly”.
Charging – The act of skating towards an opponent and hitting them usually as a result of speed and space/distance traveled. Often referred to as “running an opponent”.
Cherry Picker – player who only remains in the offensive zone without a desire to help out defensively; also referred to as floating.
Cherry picking – when a player stays near their opponent’s defensive zone waiting for an outlet pass in order to receive a breakaway or odd-man rush. The art of cherry-picking is less common these days as players are taught to be more responsible in their own end.
Chicklets – teeth
Chippy – A player or game that is very rough resulting in a number of stoppages in play.
(the) China Wall – nickname given to hall of fame goaltender Johnny Bower.
Coach – The person who trains and prepares the team, and makes the player selections for each game. The coach guides the team and leads the team in practice and preparation.
Coast to coast – act where a player rushes the puck up the ice from one end to the other
Coincidental penalties – penalties that occur at the same time when both teams are assessed an equal amount of penalties. These types of penalties usually happen on the same play or incident.
Crashing the net – the act where players head towards the net with strong momentum resulting in gaining a presence into the goalie’s crease space and/or straight into the goalie. Also known as crashing the crease.
Crease – See goal crease or referee’s crease
Cross-checking – The act of checking an opponent with the shaft of the stick held in both hands often with a forward pushing motion.
Cue – hockey stick or a tap on the shoulder from a coach to a certain player to hop on the ice and do their thing.

D
Dance – aka playing in a championship game or series. Or a hockey fight between two well known “tough guys”.
Dangle – the ability to control the puck while skating at a brisk speed.
Defensive zone – The defending team’s zone; extends from the blue line to the end boards.
Deke – the act of cradling the puck whereby a player handles the puck or moves themselves in a manner that makes it difficult for the opponent to defend against forcing the defender into moving out of position, allowing the “deking” player to get past.
Delay of game – Deliberately causing a stoppage of play; player is penalized with a minor penalty.
Delayed offside – the act whereby if a player enters the attacking 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. When all players from the offside team leave the opposing teams defensive zone and goes into the neutral zone the linesman cancels the offside infraction. Should the offending team touche the puck before leaving their offensive zone the whistle is blown for the offside infraction.
Delayed penalty – When an infraction occurs, the referee will raise his or her arm to indicate that a penalty is being called, waiting until the team who committed the infraction gains control of the puck. The whistle is not blown until a player from the offending team controls the puck.
Dish – pass
Dipsy doodle – dangling with the puck while skating at a quick pace.
Diving – The act of a player embellishing contact made against him in order to entice the referee into calling a penalty against the opposition. Blatant diving now often ends up in a “unsportsmanlike conduct” penalty being called against the embellishing player.
Drop pass – When a player passes the puck behind (drops the puck) himself to a teammate.
Dump and chase – An offensive strategy used to get the puck over the opposing team’s blue line and into the corners where players can race to get it, thereby moving the play into the attacking zone.

E
Elbowing – A minor penalty given to a player who strikes an opposing player with their elbow. Numerous players have had their own patented elbow, but Mark Messier was known to throw his share of elbows, often as an intimidation measure.
Empty-Net Goal – scoring on a vacated net, or to score on a team who has pulled its goalie.
End Boards – The boards at either end of the rink behind the two nets.
Energy Line – a trio of forwards who can get the crowd excited with big plays or big checks.
Even Strength – When both teams have the same number of players on the ice.
Extra Attacker – The player who is sent on the ice in place of his team’s goalie, who has been pulled.

F
Face-Off – When the puck is dropped between two opposing players to start or resume play. A face-off is conducted at the start of each period and after every stoppage in play.
Face wash – when a player sticks their hand/glove in the opposing players face usually after a whistle which often results in an altercation or fisticuffs. Or when a player skates towards the goalies and stops spraying them in the face with snow.
Fan – When a player misses (fans) the puck while attempting a shot or a pass. Or a person known as a “fanatic” who watches and understands the game.
Feed – pass
Fighting – The act of engaging in fisticuffs with an opponent. A five-minute major penalty given to any players engaged in fighting.
Flash the Leather – when a goalie makes a quick glove save.
Forearm Shiver – the act of hitting an opponent with ones forearem. If detected by the officials this may result in a minor or major penalty.
Forecheck – To check against a team at their end of the rink.
Forwards – The three attacking offensive players (centre, left wing and right wing) who play more in the other team’s end and are usually responsible for scoring goals and producing offensive output.
Fray – a skirmish or gathering of players
Freezing the puck – play where they players around the puck prevent the puck from moving by falling on the puck or blocking the puck with their skate or stick blade. Or a maneuver whereby the goalie holds onto the puck for extended period of time forcing a faceoff in his own zone.
Full Strength – When a team has all six of its players on the ice at one time.

G
Give and go – the act where one player passes the puck, then moves into an open position and receives a return pass.
Glass – the outside perimeter above the boards used to protect fans watching the game.
Goal Line – The red line that runs between the goal posts and extends in both directions to the side boards.
Goon – fighter; players not known for their strong offensive or defensive skills that tend to take a lot of penalties.
Gordie Howe Hattrick – goal, assist, and fight in one game
Gretzky’s Office – area behind the net made famous by Wayne Gretzky when he used to set up a number of his amazing plays.
Grinder – player of lesser skill or lower quality; Also known as “Checker” or “Plumber”.

H
Hammered – when a player is on the recipient end of a huge bodycheck.
Hash Marks – The straight lines that stick out from all face-off circles, where left and right-wingers line up before a face-off.
Headmanning the puck – Passing the puck ahead to a teammate where the pass is in front of them and they have to skate into it.
Hip Check – Using your hip to hit a player; a legal play and lost art.
Holding – grabbing onto an opposing player. A minor penalty for grabbing an opposing player and impeding their progress.
Hooking – Using the blade of your stick top slow an opponent down. A minor penalty given to a player who uses his stick to slow an opponent down.
Hotdogging – the act of showboating after making a strong play or scoring a goal.
Howitzer – a hard slap shot or hard shot in general

I
Icing – when teams are at even strength and one team from within their own blueline fires the puck down the ice into the opposing teams’ end past the red line resulting in a faceoff in the offending teams end of the ice.
Iron – goal post

J
Jetsetter – a player who gets traded frequently.
Jumbo Joe – nickname for NHLer Joe Thornton

K
Kill – penalty kill or the act of killing off a penalty.

L
Left Wing – The player on the forward line who mainly plays on the left side of the ice.
Left Wing Lock –
Lid – helmet
Lighting the lamp – scoring a goal
Linesman – An on-ice official responsible for most face-offs, making icing and offside calls, and occasionally advising the referee regarding penalties.
Lumber – hockey stick

M
Major Penalty – A five-minute penalty given for serious infractions of the rules; these penalties last the full five minutes even if the opposing team scores during the power play. Examples of major penalties include fighting and high sticking where the opposing player is cut.
Man Advantage – When one team has a penalty and the other has more players on the ice; also referred to as a power play, the opposite of playing shorthanded.
“MAN ON!” – A warning given to a teammate that an opposing player is coming up from behind to check him.
Minor Penalty – A two-minute penalty given for minor infractions of the rules; if the opposing team scores during this power play, the minor penalty ends immediately. Examples of minor penalties include: slashing, hooking, holding and tripping.
Mitts – hockey gloves
Mugging – act of attacking another player without his knowledge, also known as “Todd Bertuzziing”
Mustard – something placed on a hard shot

N
Natural Hattrick – three goals in a row, in one game
Net – The area a puck must enter to count as a goal. The net opening is 4 feet high and 6 feet wide, with netting on the back part to trap the puck.
Neutral Zone – The center-ice area between the defending and attacking zones, enclosed by the two blue lines.

O
Odd-Man Rush – When a team enters the opposing team’s end with more attacking players than there are players defending in the zone.
Officials – The team of on-ice officials includes the referee and two linesmen. There are also several off-ice officials, such as the timekeepers, goal judges, scorer and statistician.
Offside – When a player skates across the other team’s blue line before the puck crosses it, or when the puck is passed across two lines.
One-on-One – When an attacking player has the puck and there is only one defending player between them and the goalie.
One Timer – When a player receives a pass and shoots the puck without stopping it first.
Official Rink Size – 85 feet by 200 feet for NHL rinks and 98 feet by 200 feet for international/Olympic rinks.
On the fly – line change that occurs while play is going on

P
Paddle – goalie stick
Pass – When one player uses his stick to send the puck to another player on the same team. Passing the puck to a player who scores a goal is often credited with an assist.
Penalty Box – The area where penalized players serve their time also referred to as the Sin-Bin.
Penalty Killing – The attempted act by a team that is short handed (due to a penalty) to keep the opposition from scoring referred to as killing off the penalty.
Penalty Shot – Giving a player a clear shot with only the goaltender to defend it. It is called when a player is fouled from the rear when he has an otherwise clear path to the goal and was hauled down while in the process of shooting. Often referred to as the most exciting play in hockey.
Pepper – firing a number of shots at the goalie in quick succession.
Period – One of the three timed parts that make up a game, In hockey a period usually consists of 20 minutes in length.
Pinch – When an attacking player, usually a defenseman, skates along the boards from the point to keep the puck in the defending team’s end.
Pipe – goal post
Point – A position on the ice just inside the opposition blue line and close to the boards on either side of the rink. The attacking defensemen usually take these positions when their team is in control of the puck in the opposition’s zone. The point is often used by teams when on the powerplay thereby creating time and space for the attacking team in the offensive zone.
Poke Check – a move to dislodge the puck from the puck carrier by stabbing at it with the blade of the stick. The move was made famous by Toronto Maple Leaf goaltender Johnny Bower which coined the phrase a “Johnny Bower poke check”.
Power Play – when a team has a one or a two man advantage because the other team is serving penalty time.
Puck –the six-ounce hard rubber disc used to play hockey. Pucks are often frozen to glide better and bounce around less on the ice.
Puck Bunny – female groupie-like type who tries to meet exclusively with hockey players.
Pull the Goalie – When the goalie is taken off the ice and replaced with an extra skater. This usually happens in the final minutes of a game, if a team needs to get a goal to even the score.
Pulling the goalie – team removing their goalie from the game for an extra attacker on the ice. Usually done within the last 90 seconds of the game in order to try and score the tying goal.
Pylon – player usually a defenseman that is of lower skill level when it comes to their skating abilities.

Q
Quick Break – a fast moving rush from out of the defensive zone.

R
Rebound – a shot that bounces off the goalie’s equipment providing the attacking team with another chance to score.
Referee – the chief official(s) who makes sure all rules are followed during a game.
Right Wing – the player on the forward line who mainly plays on the right side of the ice. Example: Former New York Islander, Mike Bossy
Riding the pine – act in which a player remains on bench for prolonged period of time based on the coaches preference for other, often more skilled players to receive ice time.
Rubber – hockey puck

S
Saucer pass – pass that is elevated slightly off of the ice
Save – a shot on goal that is blocked by the goalie.
Score – to get a goal.
Scramble – where several players from both teams fight for possession of the puck.
Screen Shot – A shot that the goalie can’t see because his vision is blocked by his own teammates or opposing team players.
Shadow – the act of losely follow another player on the ice and prevent him from making plays.
Shaft – the long, straight part of the stick.
Shift – the active time when a player is on the ice to play.
Shorthanded – when one team has taken a penalty and has fewer players on the ice than the other team, the opposite of having a man advantage or being on the power play. Being one or more men short during the play on the ice.
Shoot – a scoring attempt directed towards the net using a backhand shot, slap shot, snap shot or wrist shot.
Shoot-Out – a breakaway competition used in a tied game to determine which team wins the game.
Shutout – When the goalie has not allowed the opposing team to score any goals in a game
Sin bin – penalty box
Slap Shot – a hard shot by winding up by bringing the stick back, then quickly forward and slapping the puck ahead with a fore-handed shot. The slap shot was made famous by Bobby Hull and is often used by defenseman playing the point. Or the 1977 hockey movie starring Paul Newman featuring the Hanson Brothers.
Slashing – A minor penalty for swinging the stick hard at an opposing player.
Slot – The area in front of the net/goal between the two face-off circles. It is from this area where a number of goals are scored and where players typically try to set up while deep in the offensive zone.
Snowing the goalie – act of a player intentionally stopping in front of the goalie and thus spraying snow from the ice in the goaltenders face.
Spearing – A major penalty given to a player who jabs or attempts to jab an opposing player with the blade of his stick.
Splitting the D – hockey move where a player carries the puck in between two defenceman thereby “splitting the D”.
Spinorama – perfected by Denis Savard where player spins around with the puck to avoid opponents. The Savardian-Spinorama was coined based on this trademark play from Denis Savard.
Stacking the pads – move where a goalie slides across the ice with both pads placed beside each other horizontally to block the lower portion of the net.
Standing on your head – game in which a goalie proves to be almost impossible to beat or score a goal on.
Stick Handle – To control the puck with both the front and the back of the blade while in a skating motion.
Stripes – referee or official
Stone Hands –when a player has a great scoring opportunity but cannot score due to lack of skill.
Sudden Death – An overtime situation in which the next goal wins the game.

T
Tic-tac-toe – three consecutive passes using three different players resulting in a goal.
Time-Out – a 30 second break in the action called by the coach. Often used to rest key players or devise a plan to score a goal or prevent the opposition from setting up in hopes of scoring a goal.
Top shelf – upper portion of the net; also referred to as the “area where mamma hides the cookies”.
Trailer – The player skating behind or following a teammate to be in position to receive a backward or drop pass.
Trap – type of neutral zone defensive formation that results in a boring style of game play that takes the form of a type of man-to-man coverage made famous by Jacques Lemaire coached teams such as the New Jersey Devils and Minnesota Wild.
Trapper – goalie’s glove
Twig – hockey stick
Twine – mesh of the hockey net.

U
Underdog – the team who is less favored to win a game or series.
Undress – To deke around a player skillfully, especially in a one-on-one situation.

V
Veteran – a player who has been in the league for a number of years.
Villianfy – the act of the media to place blame on a coach or player.

W
Waffle – goalie’s blocker
Wet Behind the Ears – a rookie
Wheels – player’s ability to skate fast
Wraparound – To skate behind the opposing team’s net and wrap the puck around the farther post and into the net with the stick before the goalie can move across the goal to stop it.
Wrist Shot – shooting motion by propelling the puck off the blade of the stick with a flicking motion of the wrist. This shot was used by many great players but was perhaps perfected by Joe Sakic.

X
X’s and O’s – used by coaches to illustrate the opposition in comparison to their team.

Y
Yarn – old hockey stories.

Z
Zebra – referee or official.
Zones – The three areas on the ice made up by the two blue lines: the defensive zone, the attacking zone and the neutral zone.
Zamboni – machine used to clean and resurface the ice.