Hockey 101

THE POSITIONS

GOALTENDER The goaltender’s job is to prevent the puck from entering his team’s goal.  He can use any part of his body or any piece of equipment, and he is allowed to catch and smother the puck.  He seldom leaves the mouth of the goal, limiting his offensive contributions.

CENTER The center usually leads the attack by carrying the puck on offense, operating mostly up and down the middle of the ice.  He exchanges passes with his wings trying to steer the play toward the opposing team’s goal.  On defense, he tries to break up a play before it gets on his team’s side of the ice.  He is also responsible for taking most of his team’s face-offs.

RIGHT/LEFT DEFENSEMEN The two defensemen try to stop the incoming play from the other team before any chance of scoring is possible.  They attempt to break up passes, block shots, clear the puck from in front of their own net and cover the opposing forwards.  Offensively, they carry the puck up the ice and pass to the forwards.  On offense they get the puck to their center and wings and follow the play into the attacking zone, stationing themselves just inside the opposition’s blue line at what are called the points in attempt to keep the puck from leaving the zone.

RIGHT/LEFT WING Also known as forwards, the two wings move up and down the sides of the rink with the direction of play working with the center on the attack to set up shots.  Defensively, they guard the opposing wings and try to disrupt their plays and shot attempts.

THE OFFICIALS

REFEREE He supervises the game, calls penalties, determines goals and handles face-offs at the center ice to start each period.

LINESMAN Two are used.  They call offsides, offside pass, icing the puck and handle all face-offs but those at center ice.  They do not call penalties, but can recommend to the referee that a penalty be called.

GOAL JUDGE One sits off-ice behind each net and indicates when a goal has been scored by turning on the red light just above his station.  The referee can ask his advice on disputed goals, but the referee is the final authority and can overrule the goal judge.

SCORER He determines which player scores and credits assists if any.  He may consult with the referee, but the scorer is the final authority in crediting points.
 

THE PENALTIES

A team plays short-handed when one or more of its players is charged with a penalty.  No team is forced to play more than two men below full (six-man) strength at any time.  Whenever a third penalty is called, it is suspended until the first expires.  On penalties called on the goaltender, a teammate serves his time in the penalty box.

DELAYED PENALTY Whistle delayed until penalized team regains possession of puck.

MINOR PENALTY Called for tripping, hooking, slashing, charging, roughing, holding, elbowing, boarding, cross-checking, kneeing, delay of game, high sticking and for interference (2 minutes).

MAJOR PENALTY Called for fighting or when minor penalties are committed with deliberate attempt to injure.  Major penalties for slashing, spearing, high-sticking, butt ending, boarding and cross-checking carry automatic game misconducts (5 minutes).

MISCONDUCT Called for various forms of unsportsmanlike behavior or when a player incurs a second major penalty in a game.  This is a penalty against an individual and not a team, so a substitute is permitted (10 minutes).

PENALTY SHOT A free shot, unopposed except by the goaltender, given to a player who is illegally impeded from behind when in possession of the puck and with no opponent between him and the goal except the goalie.  The team which commits the offense is not penalized beyond the penalty shot, whether if succeeds or not.

 
Hockey Talk 

ASSIST Point awarded to a player for helping set up a goal, usually given to the last two men to handle the puck prior to the goal.

BACKCHECK Legal attempt by forwards on their way to the defensive zone to regain control of the puck.

BACKHAND An effective shot which employs a sweeping motion. The puck is brought behind the midline of the body and shot from the opposite side of the normal delivery.  It is used when there is no time to shift the puck to the natural shooting side.

BLUE LINES The pair of one-foot-wide blue lines which extend across the rink at a distance of 60 feet from each goal.  These lines break the ice up into attacking, neutral and defending zones.

BODYCHECK Slowing or stopping an opponent with the puck by using the hip or shoulder (legal).

BREAKAWAY When no opponent is between the puck carrier and the opposition’s goal except the goalie.

BREAKOUT When the attacking team comes out its defending zone with the puck and starts up the ice.

BUTT ENDING To hit an opponent with the end of the stick farthest from the blade.  It is illegal and calls for a penalty.

CENTER RED LINE The line that divides the ice in half and is the center of the rink.

CLEARING THE PUCK When the puck is passed or shot away from in front of the net or a congested area.

CREASE The area in front of the goal marked off by the shape of a blue semi-circle.  Players who do not have possession of the puck may not enter the crease.

DEKE A puck-carrier’s fake or juke move to stickhandle his way around an opponent or in making the goalie move first, thus giving the shooter an advantage.

DROP PASS Puck carrier leaves the puck behind to be picked up by a trailing teammate.

FACEOFF To start play at any time, the puck is dropped between two opposing players facing each other.

FORECHECK To keep opponents in their end of the rink while trying to regain control of the puck.

FREEZING THE PUCK Holding the puck against the boards with a stick or skates in order to stop play.

HAT TRICK When one player scores three or more goals in one game.