Hockey 101

Goaltender: The goalie's job is simple - keep the puck out of his own net.

Defensemen: When the opponent has the puck, the defensemen stay close to the net and try to hit the puck out past the blue line towards the other goal. There are two defenseless. When their team has the puck, the defenseless try to keep the puck in the opponents attack zone.

Center: There is one center. The center is usually your fastest skater. She has the puck more than the other players and is more aggressive with it.  Not only is the center used on the offensive attack but must also assist the defense when getting the puck out of your zone.

Wings: There is a left wing and a right wing. The wings team up with the center on the attack to set up shots on goal.

As you begin to play you may hear coaches and instructors talk about F1, F2, and F3 instead of the wings and center.  (forward 1, forward 2, and forward 3).  As you get better when you play, you will notice positional play is dependent upon reading and reacting.  Even though you may THINK you are the center it is dependent on who enters the zone first.

Referee: The referee supervises the game, calls the penalties, determines if goals are scored.

Linesmen: Two are used. They call offsides and icing. They do not usually call penalties.

Goal Judges: One sits off-ice behind each goal and indicates when the puck has crossed the red goal line by turning on a red light just above his station.

Official Scorer: He determines which player scores and credits assists if there are any.

In our women's league we try to have 2 referees on the ice making calls.  We do not use goal judges...heck we are just happy we even try to score a goal!

PENALTIES AND REFEREE'S SIGNALS

BOARDING - Called for driving, throwing, checking or tripping an opponent which causes the opponent to be thrown violently into the boards.

CHARGING - Called for running, jumping or charging into an opponent (usually taking more than three strides before impact).

CROSS-CHECKING - Called when a player delivers a check with both hands on his stick and no part of the stick on the ice.

ELBOWING - Called when a player uses his elbow to foul another player.

HIGH-STICKING - Called whan a player carries or holds his stick above the normal height of the waist of an Opponent and the stick causes injury to that opponent.

HOLDING - Called whan a player holds an opponent with his hands or stick. Holding the stick is called for, well, holding an opponent's stick.

HOOKING - Called when a player impedes or seeks to impede the progress of an opponent by "hooking" him with his stick.

INTERFERENCE - Called when a player impedes or seeks to impede the progress of an opponent who is not in possession of the puck.

MISCONDUCT - Called for various forms of misconduct including the use of abusive language to any person, challenging an official's ruling, etc. (also given to a player receiving two major penalties in a game).

ROUGHING - Called when a player or players are deemed guilty of unnecessary roughness, engaging in fisticuffs and/or shoving.

SLASHING - Called when a player swings his stick at an opponent or impedes or attempts to impede an opponent by slashing with his stick.

SPEARING - Called when a player stabs an opponent with the point of the stick blade while the stick is being carried with one or both hands.

TRIPPING - Called when a player places his stick, knee, foot, arm, hand or elbow in such a manner that it causes his opponent to trip or fall.

WASHOUT - When signaled by a linesman, it means there is no offsides or icing. The referee will also use this signal to "wave off" a goal.

Assist-One point given to a player who helps to set up a goal. It is usually given to the last two offensive players who touch the puck before the goal.

Backcheck-A forward's attempt to regain the puck on their way back to their defensive zone.

Breakout-When a team comes out of their defensive zone with the puck.

Charging-When more than three strides are taken before checking another player.

Crease-The semi-circle area in front of the goal.

Cross Checking-To hit a player with both hands on the stick while the stick is not touching the ice.

Face-Off-To start play by dropping the puck in between facing opponents.

Forecheck-To keep opponents in their end while trying to recover the puck.

Freezing the Puck-When the puck is held against the board with a stick or a skate.

Hat Trick-When a player scores three goals in one game.

Headmanning-When a player passes the puck ahead to a teammate.

High Sticking-When a player brings their stick above shoulder level. It is a penalty when used against another player

Hooking-To slow down an opponent with the blade of your stick.

Icing-When the puck travels from behind the center red line over the other team's red goal line.

Interference-To keep a player from playing the puck when they are not directly involved with a play.

Major Penalty-A five minute penalty.

Minor Penalty-A two minute penalty.

Misconduct Penalty-A ten minute penalty against an individual player but not the team - so a sub is allowed.

Neutral Zone-The center of the rink between the two opposing zones.

Offsides-When players enter the offensive zone before the puck.

The Point-The spot just inside the opposing team's blue line near the boards.

Poke Check-To take the puck away with a short jab with the blade of a stick.

Power Play-When a team has more players on the ice than their opponents due to a penalty.

Pull the Goalie-When a team removes their goalie in order to add another forward on the ice.

Roughing-Minor shoves resulting in a minor penalty.

Slashing-When a player swings their stick and strikes another player.  Can be called when you hit opponents stick halfway up.

Spearing-To use your stick like a spear.