Lingo
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Hockey has its own language. Every term, tactic, tradition, and chirp you'll ever hear at the rink, decoded in one place. Nod-along days are over.

All Rules Tactics Equipment Culture General

Apple (assist)

culture

Slang for assist

Beauty

culture

Highly skilled player

Bender

culture

Poor skater

Billet Family

culture

A family that hosts a junior or minor-league hockey player in their home, providing room and board during the season. Common across junior leagues where players compete far from home.

Call-up

culture

Promotion to higher league

Captain's C

culture

Team leader designation

Chirp

culture

Trash talk during play

Enforcer

culture

Player who protects teammates physically

Gongshow

culture

Chaotic or wild game

Gordie Howe hat trick

culture

Goal, assist, and fight in one game

Grinder

culture

Hard-working physical player

Hat trick

culture

Scoring three goals in a game

Healthy scratch

culture

Player benched while not injured

Locker room cancer

culture

Player harming team chemistry

Plug

culture

Low-skill player

Pylon

culture

Slow or ineffective player

Release

culture

The formal process by which a player is allowed to leave one team and try out for another. Without a release, a player is bound to their current team for the season.

Send down

culture

Demotion to lower league

Tarp off

culture

Playing without a shirt (off-ice slang)

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