Before familiarizing with the game rules and playing guidelines, it’s essential to get acquainted with the terms used in Ice Hockey.
Rink − Ice coated playing surface
Blue lines − The lines on the rink surface splitting the attacking and defending zones.
Red line − The centre line dividing the rink in two halves
Goal line − The red line from the goal post to the rink boards just in front of the goal cage.
Goal cage − A trapezoidal area behind the goal line covered by net through rectangular posts.
Neutral zone − The area in the centre of the ice between the two blue lines.
Attacking Zone − The attacking team's playing end from the blue line to the goal cage.
Defensive zone − The defending team's playing end from the blue line to the other end of the board till the goal cage.
Face-off − An approach used to begin the game or start a period after interval or initiate the game after stoppage of play. The two teams line up on the rink in their positions with center players of both the teams at the centre of the ice to gain control of the puck after it is being dropped by a referee onto a face-off spot.
Center player − Player in the forward position in the centre of the ice, responsible for taking control of puck and score goals.
Winger players − Players in forward position on left and right hand side exactly behind the center player to help him in retaining the possession of puck and make goals.
Defenseman − Players positioned behind the forwards on left and right hand side responsible to block the opponents from making goals.
Goaltender or Goalie − Player positioned nearby goal cage to save goals by blocking the puck to enter into the goal line and goal cage.
Extra attacker − A forward player substituted for a goaltender on the ice in either of the teams.
Goal − When a player hits the puck and it goes across the goal line into the goal cage.
Assist − Credited to maximum up to two players who assist in passing or repelling the puck to score a goal.
Save − When the goaltender or any other player stops the opponent team from scoring a goal and even puck carrier to shoot the puck through the goal line.
Penalty shot − It is usually awarded when a player completely violates the game rule to stop a scoring chance by opponent team player. The opponent player is granted a penalty shot wherein he takes control of the puck standing in the centre of ice and penalized team goalie at his goal cage, a one-on-one goal scoring attempt.
Buzzer beater − It is a goal recorded just before a period finishes. The puck should cross the goal line before 0.1 seconds of the period else the goal is rejected.
Goal line save − When a player hits the puck in an attempt to strike a goal but when the puck only touches the goal line and does not cross it.
Hat-trick − When three goals are scored consecutively by the same player.
Short-handed − The penalized team who have fewer players on the ice than the opposing team during the play is said to be short-handed.
Power play − It is said to be played by the team which has more number of players than the opponent team who is on short-handed play due to penalties.
Breakaway − When there are no defensemen between the puck carrier and the opposing goal cage.
Backchecking − Skating back to the defensive zone in a reaction to an attack by opposing team.
Backhand shot − A shot hit from the backside of the blade of the stick
Drop pass − Passing the puck by a player to his teammate.
Dump and chase − A skill applied by a player to get the control of the puck from the opponent team's blue line to the board junctions in this manner advancing the puck to the attacking zone.
Hand pass − When the puck is passed with players hands which is allowed inside a team's defensive zone, but prohibited in the neutral zone and attacking zone.
Shootout − A sequence of more than two penalty shots by both teams to decide the winning team during a tie match and also when overtime period ends in a tie.
Left wing lock − It is a game plan put in place when the control of puck is lost. The left winger changes his position and lines up with the defensemen and executes a zone defense to gain the control of the puck.
Neutral zone trap − A game strategy to stop the other team from taking control and pass with the puck across the neutral zone.
One-timer − When a player shoots the puck directly after receiving from a pass without hitting or playing the puck.
Overtime − An additional period of play at the event of a tie between the two teams. The first team to score in overtime wins the game.
Butterfly − A blocking technique used by the goaltender to cover the goal cage with his leg pads.
Iron cross − A defensive tactic used against the opponent team. The center player, two defensemen, and the goaltender line up in a rhombus shape to execute a penalty so that the other team fail to make a goal.
Freezing the puck − Goaltender can usually trap the puck in his gloves to stop the play.
Body checking − Applying physical strength to knock down a player to the ice surface.
Penalty kill − It basically refers to player’s line up, strategies and playing methods by a penalized team which is been short-handed.
Forechecking − To attain possession of the puck players tend to fore check in the attacking zone and set up an opportunity to make goal.
Hip check − If a player uses his hip to knock down opponent player to the rink.
High stick − touching the puck with stick positioned above a players shoulder incurs stoppage of the play. Goal scored in high stick is overruled.
Elbowing − A player using elbow of forearms to knock down an opponent and incurs penalty.
Interference − A minor penalty charged for obstructing an opponent player who does not hold the possession of the puck.
Holding − A minor penalty called on when a player blocks an opponent by grabbing him.
Fighting − A major penalty occurs when players hit each other repetitively.
Game Misconduct − Occurs when a player is being expelled from the game due to misconduct in the play even after several penalties.
High sticking − A minor or double minor penalty called when one team player hits the opponent in head, face or shoulder area with stick.
Holding the stick − A minor penalty charged on the player who seizes the opponent’s hockey stick.
Hooking − Obstructing the opponent player by smashing player’s blade of the stick into him.
Penalty box − The area where the penalized players sit adjoining the rink.
Icing − It takes place when a team hits the puck across the center red line and the opposing team's goal line without going into the net or has been touched by any opponent player in the neutral or defending zones and the play is stopped. The team who has iced the puck is not allowed substitutions during the stoppage of the play.
Kicking − Pushing the puck using player’s leg skates is known as kicking. No goal can be recorded by kicking. A minor penalty can occur by kicking an opponent player.
Kneeing − A minor penalty takes place when a player tries to use his outstretched knee to block the opponent player.
Roughing − A minor penalty is called on the player who gets in touch with the opponent’s hand or fist.
Slashing − A minor penalty is charged when the player attempts to touch the opponent players’ hockey stick or body which makes the opponent to swing on the skates.
Spearing − A double minor penalty caused when the player tries to thrash the opponent with the hockey stick blade.
On the fly − The replacement of players anytime in between the play without stoppage of the play.
Offside − When a player passes the other team’s zone before the pass of the puck to their zone.
Out of play − When the puck is shot away from the ice rink.
