Basic Hockey Terms That Everyone Confuses

If you’ve ever watched an NHL game and felt lost by what the announcers are saying, you’re not alone. The sport has its own language. Some hockey terms sound easy but mean something completely different once you’re on the ice.

I’ve covered games for years and played a few myself, and even now, I still hear new slang or old phrases being used in strange ways. So, let’s make sense of it all, plain talk, no fluff.

Understanding Hockey Talk

Hockey is fast. Things happen in seconds. Players don’t have time to say full sentences, so the language became short and coded. A single word can tell a player what to do.

You’ll hear stuff like “dump and chase,” “forecheck,” or “wraparound”. These are not random. Each one describes a play or action that helps the team move the puck or score.

When I started writing about hockey, I had to keep my own ice hockey glossary on my phone. Reporters, coaches, and players toss these phrases around without thinking. If you want to follow a game or talk hockey with friends, learning this basic language helps a lot.

Common Hockey Phrases That Trip People Up

Some of the common hockey phrases sound simple but mean more than they seem. Here are a few that often confuse new fans:

Phrase	What It Means	Quick Tip
Dump and Chase	Shoot puck deep, then chase it	Used when changing lines
Forecheck	Pressure opponents in their zone	Helps force turnovers
Backcheck	Skate back fast to defend	Stops odd-man rushes
Five-hole	Space between goalie’s legs	Target for quick shots
Between the Dots	Center lane near the net	Best scoring area
Top Shelf	Upper part of the net	Tough shot to stop

Players use these like second nature. Once you hear them during commentary, you’ll start spotting them in play.

Hockey Jargon Explained in Plain English

Hockey has its own kind of slang. Here’s some hockey slang meanings that might sound funny but make sense on the ice:

• Biscuit: The puck
• Twig: A player’s stick
• Apple: An assist
• Beauty: A skilled player or great play
• Barn: The arena
• Celly: Short for celebration

This kind of slang gives the sport its character. It’s how players connect. I’ve sat in dressing rooms where someone scores and the whole team starts yelling “Nice apple, kid!”, that’s just hockey talk.

Hockey Penalty Terms You Should Know

Penalties are a big part of the game. They control behavior and keep play safe. Here’s a short rundown of hockey penalty terms that confuse new watchers:

• Minor Penalty: Two minutes in the box for small infractions like tripping or hooking.
• Major Penalty: Five minutes for serious stuff like fighting.
• Misconduct: Ten minutes off for bad behavior or disrespect.
• Double Minor: Four minutes, often for high sticking that draws blood.

You’ll see refs make hockey referee signals after each call. Arms crossed for interference. Hand raised for tripping. Once you learn the motions, you can read the calls even before the announcer says it.

Offside and Icing in Hockey Explained

Two rules confuse almost every beginner, offside in hockey and icing in hockey.

Offside means a player enters the attacking zone before the puck. It prevents cherry-picking near the net.
Easy fix: always make sure the puck crosses the blue line first.

Icing happens when a player shoots the puck from behind the center line all the way down without anyone touching it. The whistle blows, and the play stops. Teams do it by accident or sometimes to relieve pressure. Once you’ve seen it a few times, you’ll spot it right away.

Hockey Scoring Terms and What They Mean

Let’s talk about goals. Here are some basic hockey scoring terms you’ll hear often:

• Even Strength Goal: Scored when both teams have full players on ice.
• Power Play Goal: Scored while the other team has a penalty.
• Short-Handed Goal: Scored while your team is killing a penalty.
• Empty-Net Goal: Scored when the other team pulls its goalie for an extra attacker.

You’ll also hear about “Natural Hat Tricks,” which means three straight goals by one player in the same game. Not common, but fans love it.

Power Play and Penalty Kill Basics

Every time a penalty happens, one team gets a power play while the other tries a penalty kill. The power play team has five skaters against four (or three). They move the puck fast to find open shots. The penalty kill team focuses on blocking shots and clearing the puck out of their zone.

Watching how teams handle this can show their coaching quality. The best NHL teams have strong special units on both sides.

Hockey Positions Explained

Every player has a job. Here’s a basic look at hockey positions explained in simple terms:

Position	Job	Quick Tip
Center	Leads attack, wins faceoffs	Strong skater both ways
Left Wing	Supports center, shoots from left side	Focus on passing lanes
Right Wing	Covers right side, shoots fast	Quick release helps
Defensemen	Block shots, protect goalie	Need solid positioning
Goalie	Stop everything	Last line of defense

Each position blends into others during play, but knowing who does what helps you follow the action better.

Types of Hockey Shots

You’ll hear commentators name different types of hockey shots. They sound fancy but are easy to tell apart:

• Wrist Shot: Quick and accurate, most common.
• Slap Shot: Powerful wind-up with big force.
• Snap Shot: Halfway between wrist and slap, used for speed.
• Backhand: Tricky and often unexpected.
• One-Timer: Hit directly from a teammate’s pass.

Some players master one type. Others mix them depending on angle and space.

Hockey Player Roles and Ice Time

Not all players get the same minutes. Teams make lines based on skills.

• First Line: Top scorers, most ice time.
• Second Line: Just the right amount of hitting and defense.
• Third Line: Grinders, energy players, and checkers.
• Fourth Line: Physical and defensive focus.

To keep their legs fresh, coaches switch them out every minute or so. Once you understand hockey player roles, games make more sense.

Hockey Game Structure Simplified

Every game has three periods of twenty minutes. If it’s tied, there’s overtime. If still tied after that, a shootout decides the winner.

The hockey game structure also includes intermissions, penalty boxes, and sometimes video review. Once you know the rhythm, you’ll notice patterns, how momentum shifts after goals or penalties.

Hockey Equipment Names That Matter

Gear keeps players safe and fast. Here’s a quick hockey equipment names rundown for beginners:

• Helmet
• Shoulder Pads
• Elbow Pads
• Gloves
• Stick
• Skates
• Shin Guards
• Mouthguard

Each piece has a reason. I’ve seen games lost because of broken sticks or missing tape. Players treat their gear like tools, clean, tuned, and personal.

NHL Terminology Worth Knowing

In pro coverage, you’ll hear NHL terminology like:

• Plus-Minus: How many goals scored for vs. against when a player’s on ice.
• Line Change: Substituting players during play.
• Breakaway: One player rushes alone toward goalie.
• One-Timer: Shot hit instantly from a pass.
• Two-Man Advantage: When the other team has two players in penalty box.

Knowing these helps when reading hockey rule book basics or watching pre-game analysis.

Hockey Tips for New Fans

If you’re new to the sport:

• Focus on puck movement, not just the player with the puck.
• Watch line changes; they explain strategy.
• Learn team power play setups, each coach has a pattern.
• Keep an eye on goalie saves; they often shift momentum.

Once you’ve watched ten games with these in mind, you’ll start hearing the language differently. The hockey beginner guide part of learning is just listening and connecting what you hear to what you see.

Faceoff Rules in Hockey

Faceoffs restart play. They happen at nine circles on the ice. Each player lines up, stick down, waiting for the drop. Timing is key. If you move early, you get tossed out of the circle.

Centers train hours just to win draws. In some games, winning faceoffs can be the difference between victory and long defensive shifts.

Quick Glossary Table

Term	Meaning
Icing	Shooting puck across both lines untouched
Offside	Player enters zone before puck
Power Play	Team advantage after opponent penalty
Penalty Kill	Team down one or more players
Faceoff	Puck drop to start or restart play
Blue Line	Zone divider for offside calls
Slot	High-scoring area in front of net
Forecheck	Attacking pressure in offensive zone
Backcheck	Defensive pressure when returning
Dump and Chase	Shoot puck deep and follow it

Why People Confuse Hockey Terms

Many terms overlap or sound similar. “Checking” can mean hitting, or just marking a player. “Screen” can mean blocking the goalie’s view or a literal screen setup on power play, context matters. Even experienced players mix them up sometimes.

As someone who’s been around rinks most of my life, I’ve noticed language in hockey works like shorthand. Once you start using it, it sticks.

Wrapping It Up

The more you watch, the easier it gets. Hockey has a rhythm, and the language follows it. From the first puck drop to the final horn, these terms help you see the game the way players do.

Next time you’re watching a broadcast and hear “He went five-hole on a power play,” you’ll know exactly what happened and why the crowd went wild. That’s when hockey starts to click for real.

FAQs

Q1: What are the most common terms used in hockey?
Terms like offside, icing, power play, faceoff, and penalty kill are heard in almost every game.

Q2: What does forecheck mean in hockey?
It means putting pressure on opponents in their defensive zone to force turnovers.

Q3: What is icing and why is it called?
Icing is when a player shoots the puck across both red lines untouched. Play stops and faceoff returns to the defensive zone.

Q4: What is the difference between power play and penalty kill?
Power play means one team has an extra skater due to an opponent’s penalty. Penalty kill is when your team plays short-handed and defends.

Q5: What are the main positions in hockey?
Center, left wing, right wing, two defensemen, and a goalie. Each has specific responsibilities on the ice.