Hockey Terminology

Dangle- When a player stick handles around an opponent in a stylish fashion.

Sty- Style. 

Flow-  When a player’s hair emerges from the hockey helmet. Usually the hair ‘flows’ out and curls up under the helmet.

Grocery Sticks- The players on the bench that separate the offensive and defensive skaters receiving the majority of the ice time. 

Swimming- A term used for goalies when they overreact to a situation, creating movements that closely resembles swimming.

Puck Bunny- Aesthetically pleasing woman that enjoys following hockey. 

Frozen- When a goalie does not react fast enough to the play, which results in a goal. In this situation the goalie is usually ‘frozen’ in the butterfly position.

 

Rattled- When a player or goalie’s mood is shifted away from his or her comfort zone. Usually this mood is one of frustration and anger.

Suicide Pass- A pass given to a teammate that places the receiver in a vulnerable position to get hit by an opponent. This is usually a pass from behind where the receiver must look down in order to follow the puck.

Short side- The side of the net or rink that the puck is on currently. The term can be also be used to describe goals.

Far side- A term used to describe goals scored from the side of the net or rink that the puck is not on.

Strong side- The side of the rink or net that the puck is on currently. This term can be used for describing the placement of a shot.

Weak side- The side of the net or rink that the puck is not on. This term can be used for describing the placement of a shot.

Top shelf- Any shot on net that is aimed at the upper half of the goal.

Gino, Geno (jee-no)- An addition of a goal statistic.

Apple- An addition of an assist statistic.

Snipe- An extremely accurate and hard shot that beats the goaltender.

Cele,Celly (sell-lee)- A celebration.

Chirp- Taunt or trash talk.

Hands- Ability to dangle.

Bar-Down- When a player shoots the puck and it strikes the lower portion of the crossbar before crossing the goal line.

Bar-In- When a player shoots the puck and it strikes any post before crossing the goal line.

North/South- A term used to describe the flow of the game as it quickly moves from one end to the other.

East/West- A term used to describe the flow of the game as it spreads out and moves laterally.

Off Wing- A skater on the side of the ice that is opposite to the player’s handedness.

One Timer- A player who is about to receive a pass and elects to shoot the puck instead of corralling it.

Hold The Line- When the defense attempts to prevent the puck from exiting the offensive zone.

Drop The Gloves- To fight or request to fight.

Sieve (siv)- A pasta strainer, or term used for a goalie that lets everything go through him 

Bender- Player with a low skill level. The term comes from an awkward way of skating that makes it seem as though the ankles are bending inward.

Dusty- a Player that is considered not good, spending a lot of time covered in snow looking like a dusty antique. 

Slew Foot- Dangerous form of tripping caused by pushing the back of a player’s skates.

Tweeners, Five-Hole- When a player shoots between the goalie’s leg pads. 

Seven-Hole- When a player shoots between the leg pad and the arm of a goalie.

Bird Cage- Helmet with a cage. 

Bubble/Fish Bowl- A clear plastic face mask. 

Dive- An act or embellishment of a penalty.

Bucket- A Helmet.

 

Wheels- A term used for a fast skater. 

Spray- A term used for when a skater stops and sheds the top layer of ice off of the ground.

Gong Show- A common chirp meaning poor performance or bad player. In Asian cultures, a simple bang of a gong symbolizes the completion of an entertaining show.

Toe Drag- When a player pulls the puck back close to the body with the toe of the stick.

Cherry Picking- A term used for a skater who wait outside of the defensive zone for an offensive opportunity.

Top Glove- The space in the net above the goalie’s glove arm.  

Top Blocker- The space in the net above the goalie’s blocker arm.

Wrap-around- When a player skates behind the net and attempts to quickly place the puck in on the other side before the goalie can get there.

 

Chopping Onions- A term used for a player’s stickhandling that lacks fluidity and resembles chopping.  

Mitts- Gloves.

Twig- Hockey stick.

Sauce- An aerial pass that resembles a flying saucer.

Muffin- Weak shot.

 

Slot- The area in between the hashmarks and directly in front of the goalie.

Hat Trick- When a player score three goals in one game.

Gordie Howe Hat Trick- When a player that has a fight, an assist, and a goal in one game. 

The ‘Michigan’- When a player carries the hockey stick with the puck on it and throws the puck into the net.

Break Out- A systematic way of moving the puck out of the defensive zone.  

Grinder- A player that specializes in skating and board battles. These players usually excel in work ethic and discipline.  

Power Forward- A player that specializes in using his or her body to shield the puck and earn offensive opportunities. These players usually excel at scoring off the rush as well as North/South plays.

Stay At Home Defense- A phrase used to describe defensemen that do not take many risks and tend to back off when pressure is coming toward.

Change It Up, Dump+Change- When players on the ice switch places with the players on the bench. If in the puck is in the defensive zone, then the players wait until they reach the red line to throw the puck into the offensive zone. 

Dump+Chase- When offensive players shoot the puck into the zone and race for possession after breaching the red line.  

Hipper- A hip check.

 

Clapper- Slap shot.

 

Bee Hive Hockey- Players on the ice follow the puck instead of staying in their position. In this situation the players follow the same movement as bee’s in a hive.

Short Handed- A team with less players on the ice due to penalties.  

Power Play- When a team has an advantage in the number of players on the ice due to the opponent’s penalties.

Pulled Goalie- A team that has elected to replace the goalie with another player. This is usually in effort to tie the game with a goal when there is only a limited amount of time left in the game. 

Coast to Coast- A player skates the puck from the defensive end to the offensive end of the ice without passing or losing the puck.

Back Door- An offensive play or pass that places a skater near the ‘weak side’ of the net and behind the goalie for an easy opportunity.

Light The Lamp- To score a goal. This term comes from the goal judge turning the red light on when a player has scored a goal.

 

Head Hunter- A term to categorize players seeking to check or injure vulnerable skaters on the opposing team.

Screen- An offensive play that has a player standing in front of the crease in order to obstruct the goalie’s sight of the puck.

High Slot- Offensive positioning about seven feet inside the blue line and in between the large face-off circles. 

Cycle-  A play that has the offense constantly supporting the puck carrier by throwing the puck deep into a corner to another forward until a better opportunity comes about.

 

The Point- The defenseman’s position along the blue line in the offensive zone.  

Runner- Metal along the bottom of skates. 

Pass Off The Pads- An offensive play in which a skater intends to create a rebound by shooting the puck low and to the far side of the net.

Breakaway- A situation in which there are no defenders between the player with the puck and the opposition’s goalie.  

Penalty Shot:  When a player is awarded one chance to score a goal with no players on the ice except the goalie. To warrant a penalty shot, the offensive player must have be a full stride ahead of the defender when the defender takes a penalty on the shooter. This is the same type of shot that is used in a shootout when the game ends in a tie.  

Dirty-  Really good or intentionally doing illegal moves.

Breezers- A hockey player’s padded shorts, also known as hockey pants.

 

Cone- A term used for used for skaters who tend to get dangled like an orange cone.

Bear Down- A player who is strong on the puck and the stick, making it difficult to beat them in puck battles.

Toe Pick- A term for when a skater accidentally presses the toe of the runner into the ice and falls. Commonly caused by fatigue.

 

Cup Check- When an opponent lifts their stick to intentionally strike the sexual organs of a player.  

Regroup- A term for when the defense, in the offensive zone, returns to the neutral zone with the puck. Defense unable to ‘hold the line’ do this to give forwards enough time to get ‘onside’. This common occurrence is the most popular way for a team to get ‘onside’ and maintain possession.

 

Forecheck- A systematic way of pressuring the puck in the offensive zone.  

Backcheck- Effort to get back into the defensive zone to help the team’s defense after an offensive rush.

Heart- The amount of effort shown on every play. Actions showing the willingness to battle as hard as possible to win every battle possible.