• The Hockey Dictionary

     

    The Game's Lingo

     

    Assist: Point awarded to a player or players for helping set up a goal; usually the last two offensive players to handle the puck prior to a goal being scored are credited for assists.

    Boards: The wooden and glass walls that surround the rink.

    Body Check: Using the hip or shoulder to impede the progress of an opponent who has the puck.

    Breakaway: A scoring opportunity that occurs when there are no defending players between the puck carrier and the opposing goaltender.

    Changing On The Fly: Substitution of players without a stoppage in play.

    Face-Off: To initiate play, the puck is dropped between two opposing players who face each other.

    Forechecking: Pressuring the opposition when they control the puck in the neutral or defensive zone.

    Hat Trick: Three goals scored by one player in a single game.

    Power Play: When a team has more players on the ice because of a penalty (or penalties) called against the opposing team.

    Pull The Goalie: In an attempt to tie the score, a team trailing by one or two goals may take its goalie off the ice and send out an extra skater. This usually occurs in the closing minute(s) of a game.

    Shorthanded: When a team is forced to play with fewer than six players because one or more have been sent to the penalty box.

    Slap Shot: A sweeping motion with an accentuated back swing to shoot the puck.

    Wrist Shot: The motion of shooting with the puck directly against the blade of the stick.

 

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