Ice hockey words · Intermediate

The words that make the commentary make sense. They build on the beginner words.

I · Intermediate · 76 words · Step 2 of 2

Basic setup terms

Goalkeeper's restricted area

A trapezoid behind each goal, 6.80 m wide at the goal line and 8.60 m at the boards. A goalkeeper may play the puck only within it behind the goal line, or a minor penalty for delay of game is imposed, unless skate contact with the crease is kept.

Face-off spots

Nine spots: the centre ice spot, four neutral-zone spots 1.50 m from each blue line and four end-zone spots in the circles of 4.50 m radius. All face-offs are held at one of them, never within 4.50 m of the goal or the boards.

Players' bench

The bench for each team, at least 10 m long, on the same side of the rink and opposite the penalty boxes. Only players in uniform and registered team personnel may sit there, and a team has between one and eight staff members, including a coach and someone qualified to treat injuries.

Positions

Substitute goalkeeper

The second goalkeeper on the game sheet, fully dressed and ready to play. If the goalkeeper is injured or ill, the goalkeeper must be ready to resume at once or be replaced, and no warm-up is allowed for a substitute goalkeeper in any game.

Ineligible player

A player not listed on the game sheet. The player is removed, the team may not replace the player from its roster, and a goal scored at the stoppage when the player was on the ice is disallowed. The name, not the number, decides eligibility.

Match format and miscellaneous terms

Roster sheet

The line-up sheet the coach gives the Official Scorekeeper at least 60 minutes before the game. No change is allowed after the game starts, except that at IIHF Championships players may be added or deleted up to the opening face-off.

Time-out

Each team may take one 30-second time-out in a game, at a normal stoppage, asked for to the referee before the line change is completed. Only one time-out or broadcast break may be taken at a stoppage, and none after a face-off violation, in a penalty shot or in the shootout.

Overtime penalties

A team never has fewer than three skaters in overtime. A team penalized in overtime plays 4 on 3, and if both teams get minors at the same stoppage they play 3 on 3. A two-man advantage means three skaters against five.

Penalties

Bench minor penalty

A two-minute penalty against the team, served by any player except the goalkeeper chosen by the coach through the captain, for team offences such as too many players or delay by the bench.

Double-minor penalty

A four-minute penalty. If the opponents score while it is signalled, only one two-minute minor is served. It is given for head-butting, butt-ending, high-sticking and spearing, among others.

Major penalty

Five minutes for a physical foul that recklessly endangers the fouled player. The player stays in the penalty box for the full five minutes even if the opponents score. A second major in a game brings an automatic game misconduct.

Misconduct penalty

Ten minutes off the ice, but a substitute may replace the player at once, so it does not leave the team short-handed unless a minor or major is also given. A second misconduct in the same game is an automatic game misconduct.

Game misconduct penalty

The player is removed for the rest of the game, a substitute is permitted, and 20 minutes are recorded. It is reported to the Proper Authorities. It can also follow interfering with spectators, racial or sexual taunts, spitting, or biting.

Coincidental penalties

Penalties of equal type assessed to both teams at the same stoppage. They are served but neither team is short-handed for penalty termination, and the players stay in the penalty box until the first stoppage after their penalties end. In the last five minutes or in overtime a minor against one team and a major against the other leaves the difference to be served as a major.

Penalty shot

A shot awarded to restore a lost scoring chance, for example when a player in the neutral or attacking zone with no opponent but the goalkeeper to pass is fouled from behind. The puck starts at centre ice, the shooter must keep it moving toward the goal and no rebound goals count. A spin-o-rama move is not allowed. The goalkeeper stays in the crease until the puck is touched.

Awarded goal

A goal given without a shot, for example when the goalkeeper is off the ice for an extra attacker and the attacker with no defender between the attacker and the goal is fouled, or when a defender displaces the goal post to stop a scoring chance. The fouled player is credited with the goal (new for 2026/27).

Delayed penalties (third penalty)

If a third player of a team is penalized while two are serving penalties, the third penalty does not start until one of the first two has elapsed. The third offender goes to the box at once and a substitute keeps the team at no fewer than three skaters.

Goalkeeper's penalties

A goalkeeper never goes to the penalty box for a minor, major or misconduct. Another player on the ice when play stopped, chosen by the coach through the captain, serves it. A goalkeeper who leaves the crease during an altercation gets a minor penalty.

Short-handed

A team below the numerical strength of its opponents on the ice because of one or more penalties it is serving.

Supplementary discipline

Additional action by the Proper Authorities, the IIHF disciplinary body, for any offence in a game, whether or not the referees penalised it. Every game misconduct is reviewed, and the head coach is always responsible for the team's behaviour.

Physical infractions

Charging

Skating or jumping into an opponent, or building up speed with several strides to check an opponent.

Checking from behind

A check on a vulnerable player who does not know the hit is coming, with contact on the back part of the body, including into the boards or the goal frame.

Illegal check to the head or neck

There is no clean check to the head or neck. A hit where the head is the main point of contact, and which was avoidable, is not permitted, including on a player skating with the head up.

Clipping

Throwing the body across or below an opponent's knees from any direction, or lowering the body to check there.

Elbowing

Using an extended elbow to strike or check an opponent.

Kneeing

Leading with the knee, sometimes extending the leg, to make contact with an opponent.

Kicking

Deliberately using the skate with a kicking motion to propel the puck or hit an opponent. Kicking the puck is allowed in all zones, but a goal cannot be scored with a distinct kicking motion.

See also: Puck

Head-butting

Deliberately leading with the head or helmet to make or attempt contact with an opponent. It draws a double-minor, or a major and game misconduct if reckless.

Slew-footing

Using the leg or foot to knock the opponent's feet out so the opponent falls violently, including while pushing the upper body back. It draws a major and an automatic game misconduct.

The ruleWhat is interference in ice hockey?

Aggressor and instigator

The aggressor continues to throw punches at an opponent who is defenseless or unwilling, and gets a minor for being the aggressor plus a major for fighting and an automatic game misconduct. A player who is both instigator and aggressor gets an instigating minor, an aggressor minor, a fighting major and a game misconduct.

Altercation

Any physical interaction between opposing players that brings a penalty, usually at a stoppage, needing officials to separate the players. Players not involved go to their bench area.

Holding

Any action that restrains or impedes an opponent, with or without the puck, using the hands, arms or legs, or holding an opponent's stick. Using the arm in a strength move is allowed when the player has body position and is not holding.

See also: Puck, Stick

Hooking

Using the stick to restrain an opponent, including with the shaft above the upper hand. Stick-to-stick contact alone is not hooking.

Interference

Obstructing or preventing an opponent without the puck from skating, receiving a pass or moving freely. A late hit on a player who no longer has the puck is reckless endangerment.

See also: Puck, Skating, Reckless endangerment

Tripping

Placing the stick or any part of the body so that an opponent trips or falls. Accidental trips at the same moment as a completed play are not penalised.

Stick infractions

Butt-ending

Using the shaft above the upper hand to check an opponent, or jabbing or trying to jab with it, whether or not there is contact.

Cross-checking

Using the shaft between the two hands to check an opponent forcefully.

High-sticking

A stick contacting an opponent above the shoulders, where the opponent's shoulders are at waist level or higher (clarified for 2026/27). Accidental contact in a normal wind-up or follow-through of a shot, or on a centre bent over at a face-off, is allowed.

High-sticking the puck

Batting the puck above the normal height of the shoulders with a stick. There is a whistle if the offending team then controls it. A goal scored by an attacker with a puck that touches the stick above the crossbar is disallowed.

See also: Puck, Stick

Slashing

Swinging the stick at an opponent, whether or not there is contact, or a forceful chop at the body, stick or hands that is not an attempt to play the puck.

See also: Puck, Stick

Spearing

Stabbing an opponent with the point or toe of the blade, whether or not there is contact.

Other infractions

Delay of game

A minor penalty for deliberately causing a stoppage by holding or freezing the puck, shooting it out of play, or shooting it from the defending zone directly over the glass, for displacing the goal post on purpose, or for adjusting equipment. A bench minor goes to a team that ignores a referee's warning about changes or off-side.

See also: Puck, Referee, Zone, Penalty, Minor penalty

Diving

A minor penalty for blatantly diving, embellishing a fall or reaction, or feigning injury to draw a penalty.

Handling the puck

A player may catch the puck but must put it down at once, and gets a minor penalty for closing the hand on it. A hand pass, batting or pushing the puck with the open hand, stops play only if it is directed to a teammate or gives the team an advantage, and since 2026/27 not if it just deflected off the hand. Hand passes in a player's own defending zone are ignored.

See also: Puck, Zone, Penalty, Minor penalty, Hand pass

Illegal substitution

A player enters the game illegally from the bench (a teammate not within 1.50 m of it) or from the penalty box before the penalty ends, or a major is served by a replacement who does not come from the box, or a player enters to stop a breakaway.

Too many players on the ice

A substituting player comes on before the player leaving is within 1.50 m of the bench. It brings a bench minor penalty at the officials' discretion.

Premature substitution

A skater comes on for a goalkeeper before the goalkeeper is within 1.50 m of the bench. Play stops but there is no time penalty, and the face-off is at centre ice if play stopped beyond the centre red line.

Interference on the goalkeeper

A goal is disallowed if an attacker, by position or by a relevant contact, impairs the goalkeeper's ability to move freely in the crease or defend the goal, or deliberately contacts the goalkeeper. An attacker's position in the crease does not by itself decide it.

Unsportsmanlike conduct

Players, coaches and team personnel must prevent disorderly conduct before, during or after a game. Offences bring a minor penalty, with misconduct or game misconduct for continued or serious cases. Conduct aimed at officials is covered by the abuse of officials rule.

Game flow

Face-off violation

Encroaching into the circle or hash marks, contact with the opponent, or a centre not set with the stick on the ice. The centre is replaced for the face-off, and from 2026/27 the offending centre is ejected except on an icing face-off. A team with two violations in one face-off gets a bench minor for delay of game.

Delayed off-side

Attackers have entered the zone ahead of the puck but the defending team can bring the puck out without delay or contact. The linesperson raises an arm and play goes on. It is nullified if all attackers clear the zone at once or the defending team plays the puck into the neutral zone.

Intentional off-side

An off-side made to get a stoppage. The face-off is in the offending team's end zone.

Hand pass

A player may stop or bat a puck in the air with the open hand or push it along the ice, and play stops only if the puck is directed to a teammate or gives an advantage and the team then controls it. Play is not stopped for a hand pass in a team's own defending zone.

Puck out of bounds

A puck that leaves the playing area, strikes something above the surface other than the boards or glass, or hits the spectator netting is faced off at the nearest spot in the zone it was shot from. A puck on top of the boards is in play. A puck unplayable in the netting for more than 3 seconds stops play.

Possession and control of the puck

The last player to touch the puck with the stick or body has possession. Control is propelling the puck with the stick, hand or feet, and it is not lost on contact by an opponent, the boards or the net as long as the player keeps propelling it. A player can have possession without control, but not control without possession.

See also: Puck, Stick

Territorial advantage

Face-offs after infringements are placed so the offending team gains no advantage, by moving them closer to its own defending zone.

Officials

Linesperson

An on-ice official responsible for calling off-side and icing and for conducting face-offs, except at the start of each period in regular time. A linesperson reports a double-minor for high-sticking or a major to the referee after a goal and the goal is then disallowed.

See also: Period, Referee, Icing, High-sticking

Off-ice officials

The Official Scorekeeper, Game Timekeeper, Penalty Timekeeper, penalty box attendants and, if used, goal judges, who help run the game. The Referee supervises them and, in a dispute, the Referee's decision is final.

Proper Authorities

The IIHF disciplinary body with jurisdiction to apply the playing rules to an incident, working under the IIHF Statutes and Bylaws and Disciplinary Code. It reviews every game misconduct.

Special teams terms

Man advantage

The same as a power play, the numerical edge of a team while the opponent is in the penalty box.

See also: Penalty box, Penalty, Power play

Shorthanded goal

A goal by the team that is short-handed, meaning below the numerical strength of the opponent because of penalties it is serving. The rules define short-handed but do not name the goal.

Delayed penalty

When the team not in control of the puck commits an infraction, the referee raises an arm and play goes on. When the team to be penalized gains control, the referee blows the whistle and imposes the penalty. The offending team cannot score while it is signalled, except by the opponents shooting the puck into their own net.

Faceoff win percentage

A statistic of how often a player wins the puck from face-offs. The rules do not define it.

See also: Puck

Tactical terms

Forecheck

Pressing the opponents in their own zone to win the puck back early. The rules do not define it.

Backcheck

Skating back to defend after an attack breaks down. The rules do not define it.

Cycle

An attack in which players pass and rotate the puck along the boards. The rules do not define it.

See also: Puck

Dump and chase

Shooting the puck into the attacking zone and racing after it. The rules do not define it, and a puck shot in over the blue line ahead of the shooting team's players can create a delayed off-side.

See also: Puck, Zone, Delayed off-side, Blue line

Neutral zone trap

A defensive set-up in the middle of the ice. The rules do not define it.

Odd man rush

An attack where the attackers outnumber the defenders. The rules do not define it.

Equipment and rule terms

Blue line

Two blue lines 30 cm wide run across the rink and up the boards, dividing the ice into the three zones. They are central to the off-side rule, and a skate on the line is on-side.

Red line

The red line, 30 cm wide, across the middle of the ice. It divides the ice into halves for icing, and a goalkeeper who plays the puck beyond it gets a minor penalty. The goal lines, 5 cm wide and 4.0 m from each end, are also red.

See also: Puck, Goalkeeper, Icing, Penalty, Minor penalty

Boarding

Checking or pushing a defenseless opponent so that the opponent hits the boards violently or dangerously. The severity of the penalty depends on the impact.

Roughing

A punching or slamming motion, with or without the glove, normally at the head or face of an opponent, or intentionally removing an opponent's helmet during play. It is a minor altercation not worth a fighting penalty.

See also: Penalty, Fighting, Altercation

Numerical strength

Affected when a team has fewer than five skaters and a goalkeeper on the ice because of penalties it is serving. Icing and several other rules depend on it.

Reckless endangerment

Any action that endangers an opponent, creating a substantial risk of serious injury, whether or not harm was intended. It is the basis of a major penalty.

Vulnerable position

A skater who no longer has control or possession of the puck and is not aware of, or prepared for, an impending hit. A check on such a player is automatically reckless.

See also: Puck

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