Hockey Rules and Terms

Here are some rules associated with hockey.

Offsides: A player may not skate into his offensive zone ahead of the puck. If that happens, a whistle is blown, and a face-off is held just outside the zone where the breach-offside- occurred. What matters in an offside is the position of the skates: Both skates must be all the way over the blue line for a player to be potentially off-side. The location of the stick does not matter.

Icing: Icing is called when a player behind the red line in his end of the rink shoots a puck past the goal line in his offensive zone when both teams are playing at even strength.  Icing is considered an infraction because it can be used by teams to take away legitimate scoring chances from skaters on the offensive.

Tripping: Using a stick, arm, or leg to cause an opponent to trip or fall. No matter how you trip your opponent- with your stick, knee, foot, arm, or hand-it still adds up to tripping.

Hooking: If a player impedes the progress of another by "hooking" him with his stick and keeping him from making a play, then he is called for hooking. Generally that happens when a skater has scooted by the person in charge of guarding him, and the defenseman has no other recourse but to hold the player up by "hooking" him with his stick. Not only does that break up a play illegally, but it can also injure a player, especially if the stick used in the hooking comes up high and hits the opposing player in his face. 

Cross Checking: If a player picks their stick up off of the ice and holds it in two hands to check an opponent (using the shaft of the stick), they may be called for cross checking.

Holding: Using your hands on an opponent or the opponent's equipment to impede their progress is not permitted. Holding can prevent a player from being able to exhibit their full range of talent...and can reduce their ability to score a goal.

Boarding: The officials whistle for this infraction when a player hits an opponent who is not aware of the impending contact and therefore cannot defend himself from behind. It is a very dangerous infraction that can lead to serious injury to the person who has been hit. It may even lead to a major penalty being given.

Charging: This penalty occurs when a player takes more than three strides before deliberately checking an opponent. A minor or major penalty may be imposed upon a person who skates or jumps into, or charges, an opponent in any way. Whether its determined to be a major or minor penalty depends upon the seriousness of the infraction; the more dangerous the hit, the more likely it will be a major.

High Sticking: Any contact made by a stick on an opponent above the shoulders is not allowed, and a minor penalty will be assessed. This rule is supposed to protect the players from being hit in the face, eyes, or head. Also, players cannot bat the puck above the normal height of the shoulders; play is stopped if that happens. In addition, any apparent goal scored as a result of a player striking the puck with his stick above his shoulder is not allowed.

Assist: An assist is awarded to the player or players (maximum of two) who touched the puck prior to the goal, provided no defender plays or possesses the puck in between.

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

Breakaway: An offensive rush when there is no opponent between the puck carrier and the opposition's goalie.

Breakout: When the attacking team comes out of its defensive zone with the puck and starts up ice.

Changing on the Fly: When players on the ice switch with fresh players on the bench while the game is going on.

Crease: The shaded blue area directly in front of the goal where only the goalie is allowed. It is four feet wide and eight feet long and marked off by red lines.

Drop Pass: A sometimes dangerous play in which a puck carrier leaves the puck behind him to be picked up by a trailing teammate. When employed successfully, the puck carrier acts as a screen to give the teammate a clear path with the puck.

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

Goal (G): A goal is awarded to the last player on the scoring Club to touch the puck prior to the puck entering the net.

Goal Line: The red line which runs between the goal posts and extends in both directions to the side boards.


Penalty Box: The area opposite the team benches where penalized players serve time.

Poke Check: To dislodge the puck from the puck carrier by stabbing at it with the blade of the stick.

Power Play Goal (PPG): A goal scored by a Club while it has a manpower advantage due to an opponent's penalty.

Save: A shot blocked by the goaltender, which would have been a goal if not stopped.

Shorthanded Goal (SHG): A goal scored by a Club while it is at a manpower disadvantage due to a penalty. The same cases apply in a similar but opposite way for shorthand as for power-play goals.

Shot on Goal (SOG): If a player shoots the puck with the intention of scoring and if that shot would have gone in the net had the goaltender not stopped it, the shot is recorded as a "shot on goal".

Shutout (SO): If two goaltenders combine for a shutout, neither receives credit for the shutout. Instead it is recorded as a Club shutout.

Slap Shot: Hitting the puck with the blade of the stick after taking a full backswing.

Slot: The area immediately in front of the net between the two face-off circles, extending from the bottom of the circles up to the top of them. 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.

Wrist Shot: Hitting the puck with the blade of the stick using a quick snap of the wrist rather than a full back swing.

Hockey Slang

Below are some slang terms referencing hockey that you might hear around the rink.

Barn: Hockey arena.

Bisquit: Hockey puck.

Bisquit in the Basket: The puck hitting the back of the net on a goal.

Cherry Picking: When a player, generally a forward, hangs out behind the play waiting for a outlet pass so that he can have a breakaway.

Chicklets: Teeth.

Chippy: Players are getting irritated with one another.

Coast to Coast: When a player carries the puck from his own end into the offensive end.

Deke: To fake an opponent out of position with a movement of the head or body.

Dump and Chase: A style of hockey where a team shoots the puck into one of the corners of the offensive zone and then pursues it. This is opposed to carrying the puck into the zone.

Five Hole: Placing a shot between the goalie's legs.

Freezing the Puck: To hold the puck against the boards with either the stick or skate to get a stoppage of play.

Glove Hand: The hand that the goalie catches the puck with, in contrast to his stick hand, which is the hand that the goalie holds his stick in.

Goon: A player who has little other purpose on the ice then to try and get players to fight.

Grinder: A type of player known for his checking ability and work ethic; often associated with a player who is strong defensively, but who doesn't score many points.

Hash Marks: The straight lines emerging from the two big circles in front of both nets. These lines direct players where to line up for face-offs.

Lumber: Hockey stick.

Mucker: Similar to a grinder, but one who adds a more physical temperament to his game. This player tends to stir up trouble.

One Timer: The act of shooting the puck directly off 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.

Rubber or Frozen Rubber: Hockey puck.

Screened Shot: Goaltender's view is blocked by players between he and the shooter.

Sin Bin: Penalty box.

Top Shelf: Placing a shot in the top quarter of the net.

Warm Up the Bus: The outcome of the game has pretty much been decided and the visitor is going to lose. The crowd will ask them to "warm up the bus" for the trip home.

Wrap Around: When a player skates around behind the opposing goal and attempts to wrap the puck around the goal post under the goalie.