Lingo
Library

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

Board battle

equipment

Competing along boards

Board rim speed

equipment

Speed of puck along boards

Boards

equipment

The walls surrounding the ice surface. The boards are about 42 inches tall with glass panels on top. Board play is a huge part of hockey. Players battle along the boards for puck possession, use them to bank passes, and get checked into them during body contact. Winning battles along the boards is one of the most important skills in the game.

Defensive stick lane

equipment

Area blocked by defender stick

Dirty dangles

equipment

Flashy stickhandling moves

Edge control

equipment

Ability to use skate edges effectively

Flow

equipment

Long hair under helmet

Get sticks in lanes

equipment

Defensive stick positioning

Glass

equipment

The transparent panels on top of the boards that protect fans. The glass is made of tempered glass or plexiglass. It allows fans to see the action while keeping pucks from flying into the stands. The glass behind each goal is typically taller with flexible netting above it.

Glass and out

equipment

Clearing puck off glass

Glass clear

equipment

Clearing puck off glass

Half wall

equipment

Boards area between corner and point

Hard rims

equipment

Fast puck movement along boards

Rim it

equipment

Send puck around boards

Sauce pass

equipment

A pass lifted off the ice that floats through the air like a flying saucer. Used to pass over a defender stick or body in the passing lane. A good sauce pass rotates flat like a frisbee so it lands cleanly and is easy to receive. Learning to throw a consistent sauce pass is a skill that separates advanced players from beginners.

Seal the wall

equipment

Close off boards exit

Skate Bite

equipment

Pain or irritation caused by a skate boot that doesn't fit or isn't properly broken in, typically rubbing the ankle or heel. Proper fit, lacing technique, and break-in can eliminate skate bite.

Stick detail

equipment

Precise stick positioning for control or disruption

Stick fake

equipment

Fake using stick motion

Stick in lane

equipment

Stick blocking path

Stick lift

equipment

Lifting opponent's stick to steal puck