Glossary Of Hockey Terms

BACK CHECK: to skate back into your defending zone to cover an opponent after the opposing team has gained the puck.

BLUE LINES: two blue, 12-inch wide lines located 60 feet from each goal. Defending blue line is the line closer to a player's own net; attacking blue line is the one farther from his net.

BODY CHECK: to hit an opponent with the shoulder or hip.

BREAKAWAY (BREAKOUT): a fast break with the puck that traps opponents behind the play.

CENTER: center man of the attacking unit of three forwards.

CENTER ICE: the neutral zone between the two blue lines.

CENTER RED LINE: a red, 12-inch wide line across the ice midway between the goals.

CHECK: to take the puck from an opponent; also the opponent a player is assigned to cover.

CREASE LINES: the red lines that form the goal crease, a four by six-foot area in front of each goal which is "out of bounds" for attacking players without the puck.

DEFENSEMEN: two players who make up a team's defensive unit.

DEKE: a fake by a puck carrier to stickhandle around an opponent.

FACE-OFF: the method of starting play; referee drops the puck between the sticks of two opponents who face each other with stick blades flat on the ice a foot apart.

FOLLOW-THROUGH: the path the stick follows in the direction of the puck after a shot or pass has been made.

FORE-CHECK: to check the opponents when they have the puck in their defending zone.

FORWARDS: three men who make up the attacking unit of a team the center, the left wing, and the right wing.

GOAL CAGE: the goal; more often called the net.

GOALKEEPER (GOALIE, GOALTENDER): player who guards the goal.

GOALMOUTH: area just in front of the goal and its crease lines.

HOOK CHECK: a sweep of the stick low to the ice to take the puck from an opponent's stick.

LIE : angle made by the shaft of the stick and the blade.

NET: the goal; actually, the net is attached to the posts and frame of the goal to trap the puck when a goal is made.

OFFSIDE: a play stoppage that occurs when an attacking player precedes the puck into the attacking zone.

PASS OUT: a pass by an attacking player from behind opponent's net or goal line to a teammate in front of the net.

PENALTY BOX: a bench outside the playing area where a penalized player serves his penalty time.

PERIODS: three 20-minute playing intervals in a hockey game. League rules determine the length of overtime periods.

POINT POSITIONS: positions taken by defensemen just inside attacking blue line when their team is on the attack.

POKE CHECK: a quick thrust of the stick to knock the puck from an opponent's stick. PUCK: the black, vulcanized rubber disc, one inch thick and three inches in diameter, with which hockey is played.

ROCKER: the gentle curve in the blade edge of a skate produced by rounding the toe and heel of the blade.

SHOOTING ANGLE: a player's position on the ice in relation to the goal at the moment he shoots the puck.

SNAKE: to whip or lash the stick quickly at the puck.

SPLIT VISION: the ability to look straight ahead and yet see players on either side or the puck on one's stick.

STICK HANDLING: moving puck along the ice with stick blade.

TRAILER: player who follows his teammates on the attack in position to receive a backward pass.

WINGMEN: two players who flank the center on his right and left sides and, with him, make up the attacking unit.

ZONES: three areas made by two blue lines: attacking zone is area farthest from goal a player is defending; neutral zone is central area; defending zone is area where his goal is.