Full Hockey Glossary: 100+ Terms Explained

Hockey terminology describes game situations, roles, zones, and actions on the ice. Most terms are used consistently across different leagues, but specific interpretations and limitations depend on the rulebook, competition level, and officiating standards.

Table of Contents

• General Hockey Terms
• The Hockey Rink and Ice Elements
• Player Positions on The Ice
• Game Situations and Team States
• Offensive Actions and Terms
• Defensive Actions and Terms
• Goaltending Terminology
• Penalties and Rule Violations
• Statistics and Performance Metrics
• Hockey Slang and Colloquial Terms
• Language of Hockey Broadcasts

General Hockey Terms

Puck — the game puck.
Shift — the period of time a player spends on the ice between changes.
Line — a combination of players deployed together; most commonly refers to a trio of forwards.
Pairing — a pair of defensemen who play together.
Possession — control of the puck and a team’s ability to dictate play within a sequence.

Period — a defined segment of play under a given rule set.
Intermission — the break between periods.
Overtime — additional time played when the score is tied; the format depends on the league and tournament.
Shootout — a post-game series of shots used to determine a winner; not applied in all competitions.

Even strength — play with both teams at equal strength.
Special teams — game situations involving power plays and penalty kills.
Delayed call / delayed penalty — a situation involving a delayed officiating decision, most commonly a delayed penalty.

The Hockey Rink and Ice Elements

Blue line — the line defining zone boundaries and used to determine offside.
Red line — the center line of the rink; its role in the rules depends on the competition.
Goal line — the line fully crossed by the puck to record a goal.
Faceoff dot — the spot used for puck drops.

Defensive zone — the zone a team defends.
Neutral zone — the central area between the blue lines.
Offensive zone — the attacking zone of the team in possession.

Slot — the central area in front of the net between the faceoff circles, where a large number of dangerous chances are created.
Crease — the goaltender’s area; many controversial situations involving goalie interference occur here. House — an analytics term for the high-scoring area in front of the net.

NHL rink — the standard North American ice surface.
International / Olympic-size ice — a rink that is typically wider than the North American standard; exact dimensions depend on the arena and tournament.

Player Positions on The Ice

Center — the central forward responsible for faceoffs and connecting play.
Winger — a wide forward operating along the flanks of the attack.

Defenseman — a player responsible for defending the zone and helping start offensive play.
Blueliner — a colloquial term for a defenseman.

Goaltender — the official term for the goalie.
Goalie — a widely used informal abbreviation, common in broadcasts.
Netminder — an alternative term for a goaltender.

Referee — the official responsible for calling penalties and maintaining overall discipline.
Linesman — an official primarily responsible for offsides, icings, and faceoffs; depending on the rules, may be involved in communicating information about violations.

Game Situations and Team States

Face-off — the restart of play via a puck drop.
Stoppage — a regulation stoppage of play.

Power play — a team playing with a numerical advantage.
Penalty kill — a team playing shorthanded.
Man advantage — a general term for a numerical advantage.

Empty net — a situation in which the goaltender is replaced by a skater.
Extra attacker — the additional skater used instead of the goalie.

Change on the fly — a line change made without stopping play.
Delayed penalty — a penalty delayed until the offending team gains possession of the puck.

Offensive Actions and Terms

Zone entry — entering the offensive zone with puck control.
Dump and chase — sending the puck deep into the zone followed by a forecheck.
Breakout — an organized exit from the defensive zone.

Saucer pass — an airborne pass designed to land softly and maintain control.
Drop pass — a backward pass to a trailing teammate.
Headman pass — a forward pass to a player ahead in the attack.

Wrist shot — a shot released with a wrist motion.
Slap shot — a powerful shot taken with a wind-up.
One-timer — a shot taken immediately off a pass.

Deke — a deceptive move with the puck.
Toe drag — pulling the puck with the toe of the blade.
Wraparound — an attempt to score by bringing the puck from behind the net.

Defensive Actions and Terms

Backcheck — tracking back defensively while applying pressure.
Forecheck — aggressive pressure applied in the offensive zone.

Body check — a physical hit permitted under the rules in certain leagues and age groups; restrictions depend on the rulebook.
Pinch — a high-risk activation by a defenseman into a battle or attack.

Shot block — blocking a shot with the body.
Clear — sending the puck out of the defensive zone.

Zone defense — defending assigned areas of the ice.
Man-to-man — individual coverage of opposing players.

Goaltending Terminology

Butterfly — a goaltending stance with knees down and pads flared.
Angle — the goaltender’s positioning relative to the shooting lane.

Five-hole — the space between the goaltender’s pads.
Top shelf — the upper area of the net beneath the crossbar.

Save — stopping a shot on goal.
Rebound — the puck bouncing out after a save.
Freeze — the goaltender covering the puck to stop play.

Stick save — stopping the puck with the stick.
Puck handling — a goaltender playing the puck with the stick.

Penalties and Rule Violations

Tripping — tripping an opponent.
Hooking — impeding an opponent with the stick.
Slashing — striking an opponent with the stick.

Boarding — a dangerous hit that drives a player into the boards.
Checking from behind — a hit delivered from behind.

Minor penalty — a two-minute penalty.
Major penalty — a five-minute penalty.
Misconduct — a disciplinary penalty that does not result in a manpower disadvantage unless combined with a minor or major.
Game misconduct — removal of a player for the remainder of the game.

Whistle — the signal to stop play.
Wave off — a gesture indicating no infraction or stoppage (for example, no icing or offside), depending on context.

Statistics and Performance Metrics

Goals — goals scored.
Assists — scoring assists.
Plus/minus — goal differential while a player is on the ice.

Shots on goal — shots directed on net.
Faceoff percentage — percentage of faceoffs won.

Expected goals (xG) — a model estimating scoring probability.
Corsi — a shot-attempt metric.
Fenwick — a modified version of Corsi excluding blocked shots.

Hockey Slang and Colloquial Terms

Biscuit — a slang term for the puck.
Barn — a colloquial North American term for an arena.
Celly — a goal celebration.

Top shelf — a goal scored in the upper part of the net.
Top cheese — a more informal term for a shot into the upper corner, less universally used.
Bar down — a shot that hits the crossbar and goes in.

Gordie Howe hat trick — a goal, an assist, and a fight in the same game.

Language of Hockey Broadcasts

High-danger chance — a scoring opportunity with a high probability of success.
Net-front presence — active play in front of the opposing net.

Heavy shift — a strong, physically and mentally demanding shift.
Good stick — effective defensive use of the stick.