Hockey Glossary

Glossary explained in plain English for parents learning Hockey.

Term	Plain-English Meaning	Example	Also Known As
Rink	The ice surface where the game is played, including lines, circles, boards, benches, and nets.	The team changes lines from its bench side of the rink.	Ice
Zone	One of the rink areas separated by the blue lines: defensive zone, neutral zone, and offensive zone.	The puck crosses the blue line into the offensive zone.	Rink area
Defensive zone	The end of the rink where a team is protecting its own net.	The defenseman retrieves the puck in the defensive zone.	Own end
Neutral zone	The middle area between the two blue lines.	A pass through the neutral zone starts the rush.	Middle ice
Offensive zone	The end of the rink where a team is trying to score.	The winger keeps the puck in the offensive zone near the blue line.	Attack zone
Blue line	A rink line that separates the neutral zone from each end zone and is important for offsides.	The puck must cross the blue line before the attacking players.	Line
Center red line	The line across the middle of the rink, often part of icing and faceoff setup.	The puck is dumped from behind the center red line.	Red line
Goal line	The line across the front of the net area; a legal goal requires the puck to fully cross it into the net.	The puck slides across the goal line for a score.	Line
Crease	The marked area in front of the net where the goalie operates and contact rules can matter.	The referee watches players around the crease after a rebound.	Goalie crease
Faceoff	A restart where an official drops the puck between two players after a whistle or period start.	After icing, the faceoff comes back near the defending team's net.	Puck drop
Whistle	The sound officials use to stop play for goals, saves, offsides, icing, penalties, or other stoppages.	The whistle blows when the goalie covers the puck.	Stoppage
Shift	A short turn on the ice before a player changes with a teammate.	The winger skates hard for a short shift and then changes.	Turn
Line change	Players switching on and off the ice, either at a whistle or while play continues.	The coach calls for a line change after the puck goes deep.	Change
Too many players	A penalty or stoppage when a team has more skaters involved than allowed during a change or play.	The puck hits a player coming on before the teammate leaves, and the official calls too many players.	Too many men
Offsides	A common call when an attacking player enters the offensive zone before the puck crosses the blue line.	The player is across the blue line before the puck, so the whistle stops play.	Offside
Delayed offsides	A youth or standard format where play may continue if attacking players leave the zone before touching the puck, depending on league rules.	The official points for delayed offsides and the attackers skate back out.	Delayed offside
Icing	A call often made when a team shoots the puck from its own side all the way past the other goal line without it being played.	The defense clears the puck too far, and play returns for a faceoff.	No-touch icing
No-touch icing	A safer icing format where officials stop play without requiring players to race hard to touch the puck first.	The whistle blows before two players chase the puck into the end boards.	Automatic icing
Penalty	A rule violation that usually sends a player to the penalty box and gives the other team a power play.	A trip sends the player to the penalty box.	Infraction
Penalty box	The area where a player sits while serving a penalty.	The player waits in the penalty box until the time expires or local rules release them.	Box
Power play	A situation where one team has more skaters because the other team is serving a penalty.	The team on the power play passes around the offensive zone.	Man advantage
Penalty kill	The short-handed team's effort to defend while a player is in the penalty box.	The penalty kill clears the puck away from the goalie.	Short-handed
Delayed penalty	A call where the official raises an arm and waits to stop play until the offending team touches the puck.	The referee's arm is up, and the whistle comes when the defending team gains control.	Delayed call
Tripping	A penalty for using a stick, skate, or body position to cause an opponent to fall illegally.	A player sweeps the stick into another player's skates and gets called for tripping.	Trip
Hooking	A penalty for using the stick like a hook to slow or control an opponent.	The defender hooks around the puck carrier's waist and the official raises an arm.	Hook
Slashing	A penalty for swinging or chopping with the stick in an unsafe or illegal way.	A player chops at the opponent's stick or hands and is called for slashing.	Slash
High sticking	A penalty or stoppage involving a stick carried or used too high, especially near another player.	The stick comes up near a helmet, and the official stops play.	High stick
Interference	A penalty for impeding an opponent who does not have the puck.	A player blocks another skater away from the puck and gets called for interference.	Pick
Roughing	A penalty for unnecessary rough contact, especially after a whistle or away from normal play.	After the whistle, pushing continues and the official calls roughing.	Rough play
Body checking	Intentional body contact used to separate a player from the puck in leagues and ages where it is allowed.	In many youth age groups, body checking is not allowed and hard contact may be penalized.	Checking
Forecheck	Pressure applied in the offensive zone to make the other team rush or lose the puck.	The winger forechecks the defender behind the net.	Pressure
Backcheck	Skating back toward your own net to help defend after the other team gains the puck.	The center backchecks to stop a rush through the middle.	Defensive recovery
Breakout	A team moving the puck out of its defensive zone with a pass, carry, or safe clear.	The defenseman passes to the winger for a breakout.	Zone exit
Clear	Sending the puck away from danger, usually out of the defensive zone.	The penalty kill clears the puck down the ice.	Dump out
Dump-in	Putting the puck deep into the offensive zone instead of carrying it all the way in.	The forward dumps the puck behind the net and chases.	Chip in
Rebound	A puck that bounces away after a save, blocked shot, or shot off the boards or post.	The goalie saves the first shot, and the rebound sits in front.	Loose puck
Screen	A player or group of players blocking the goalie's view of the puck.	The goalie cannot see the shot because of a screen.	Traffic
Slot	The dangerous scoring area in front of the net between the faceoff circles.	The coach tells defenders to protect the slot.	Scoring area
Point	The area near the offensive blue line where defensemen often stand during attacks.	A pass goes back to the point for a shot.	Blue-line spot
Referee signal	A hand or arm motion officials use to show a call such as icing, offsides, or a penalty.	The raised arm tells parents a delayed penalty is coming.	Signal