Basic Guide to Hockey Terminology

Edited from www.usahockey.com

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. When a player scores a hat trick, the fans tradtionally toss their hats or caps on to the ice as a sign of their appreciation and respect.

Icing:A rule against icing was introduced into hockey to keep teams from slapping the puck the length of the ice to waste time. When a player knocks the puck across the center red line and over the goal line without scoring (and a member of the opposing team touches it first), it is considered icing. It's not icing if the goalie or a member of the attacking team touches it first. The penalty for icing is a face-off in the zone the penalized team is defending.

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 (similar to a drive in golf).

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