Hockey Terms

backchecking - forwards in the enemy zone skate back to their own end of the ice to protect their goal and prevent the opponent from shooting

body checking - slowing or stopping an opponent with the puck by using hip or shoulder

breakaway - no opponent between the puck carrier and the opposition's goal except the goalie

deke - a quick move or feint by the puck carrier,who attempts to evade and fake out the opponent

drop pass - puck carrier leaves the puck behind to be picked up by a tailing teammate

forechecking - hustling in the opponent's defensive zone by the forwards who want to keep the puck there and hopefully take it away

hand-manning - when a player passes the puck forward to an attacking teammate

five-hole - the position in between the goalie's legs

freezing the puck - pinning the puck against the boards with either the stick and/or skates

hat trick - 3 goals by a single player in a game

neutral zone - center ice area between defending and attacking zones

one-timer - an offensive player accepts a pass from a teammate and attempts a slap shot in the same motion

penalty shot - a one-on-one showdown between an offensive player and the goalie;called when a player is fouled from behind and denied a breakaway scoring opportunity;also called for deliberately displacing the goal post during a breakaway,or when a defending player other than the goalie falls on the puck

point - a position just inside the opposition blue line usually manned by defensemen when their team is in control of the puck in the opposition's zone

poke check - to dislodge the puck from an opponent by stabbing at it with the blade of a stick

power play - occurs when a team has a one-or-two-man advantage because of penalties

screen shot - a shot the goalie has difficulty seeing because one or more players are between him and the shooter

slot - the area directly in front of the goal crease where many offensive opportunities take place

sweep check - to use the entire length of the stick with a sweeping motion while laying it flat on the ice in order to dislodge the puck from an opponent

top-shelf - placing the puck above either shoulder of the goalie in a scoring attempt


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