Contact Cameron Lee if you would like any hockey questions answered.

WHAT IS A GOAL?
The entire puck has to completely cross the goal line in order for it to be counted as a score. The plane of the goal line extends into the air. The puck does not have to touch the ice behind the goal line, just completely cross it in the air. If the puck is stopped right on the line, it is not a goal!

WHAT IS A GARBAGE GOAL?
A garbage goal occurs when a goal is scored by a player directly in front of the net and the goaltender is out of position, with no chance to stop the puck.

WHAT IS A POWER PLAY?
A power play is the term to describe the situation with one or more players in the penalty box. The team with more players on the ice has a "power play." The team with less players on the ice is considered to be "shorthanded." When teams have an equal number of players, it is said that both teams are at "even-strength." The term "full-strength" applies when a team has all five players and the goaltender on the ice.

WHAT IS THE PUCK MADE OF?
Rubber! Pucks are made of vulcanized rubber, to be exact. They are three inches in diameter and one inch thick, and pucks must be solid in order to prevent bouncing. Pucks are even frozen before the game to provide more bounce resistance!

CAN A PUCK BE KICKED IN FOR A GOAL?
Not intentionally. However, a puck can be deflected off a skate, or off a player's body to score a goal - as long as no overt attempt was made to throw or kick it in.

HOCKEY POSITIONS
CENTER - The center operates mostly up and down the middle of the ice, and leads the team's attack by carrying the puck towards the offensive zone. He sets up plays by exchanging passes between his two wingmen and is usually a team's leading scorer. In the defensive zone, the center is given a lot of latitude as to where he can go, including behind the net and in the corners. Generally, however, the center is responsible for covering the middle of the ice.

WINGS - The two wings move up and down the rink with the direction of the play, usually maintaining their lanes on their respective sides of the ice. Offensively, they are there to move the puck, find passing lanes, and scoring opportunities, but most of all, to score goals. Defensively, it is usually the job of the winger to cover the other team's defensemen out near the blue line or "the point" in hockey terms.

DEFENSEMEN - The two defensemen have the primary responsibility of limiting the opponent's scoring opportunities. In the defensive zone, the D-men can usually be found closest to the net, trying to move the play, or players out from right in front of the goal. Offensively, the D-men carry the puck out of their own zone if possible, and start the attack back the other way. They are also responsible for keeping the puck from crossing back over the blue line, when play is in their offensive zone.

GOALKEEPER - The goalkeeper's main responsibility is to keep the puck from entering the goal. There are no restrictions placed on the methods he can employ. Offensively, he is limited to occasionally passing the puck to the defensemen or forwards to start a rush. Only a handful of goaltenders have ever scored a goal, and only a few times a season will he get credit for an assist.

REFEREE CALLS
Notes- A "minor" penalty is any infraction that usually does not involve injury. The guilty player sits in the penalty box for two minutes, causing his team to play short handed. If a goal is scored by the team with an extra man, the guilty player is allowed to leave the penalty box, and the guilty team returns to full-strength.

A "major" penalty is fighting, or any infraction that usually causes, or is an attempt to cause, injury. This type of penalty results in the guilty player sitting in the box and his team being shorthanded for the full five minute duration of the penalty, no matter how many goals are scored. Furthermore, major penalties can sometimes result in game misconducts and/or longer suspensions.

BOARDING - Often called as "checking from behind," both penalties occur when an offending player violently pushes an opposing player into the boards when that player is a few feet away from the boards and facing the boards.
2-minute minor penalty or 5-minute penalty depending on severity or injury

CROSS-CHECKING - With both hands on the stick, the offending player uses his stick in a pushing motion to help deliver a body check.
2-minute minor penalty or 5-minute penalty depending on severity or injury

ELBOWING - Use of the elbow in a combative fashion to hit an opponent.
2-minute penalty

HOOKING - Using the blade of the stick, usually around the waist area, to gently pull back, slow down, or otherwise impede the progress of an opponent.
2-minute penalty

CHARGING - When a player takes more than 3 full strides, or leaves his feet before body checking the opponent.
2-minute penalty

INTERFERENCE - When a player impedes the progress of an opponent who is not in possession of the puck.
2-minute penalty

GOALTENDER INTERFERENCE - Running into the goalie. Players have to make every attempt to avoid contacting the opposing goalie. And, contrary to popular belief, the goaltender is never fair game to be checked, whether in his "crease" or out of it.
2-minute penalty

FIGHTING - When two players engage in fisticuffs, whether with helmets and gloves on or off.
5-minute major penalty

HIGH-STICKING - When a player lifts his stick above his waist and makes contact with an opponent's body or face. 2-minute minor penalty or 5-minute penalty depending on severity or injury. In addition, a player may never touch the puck with a stick lifted above his waist. A goal scored in this manner is waived off. If the puck is knocked out of the air with a high stick, the whistle blows, and a face-off follows

HOLDING - Clutching an opposing player's body or jersey with the hands.
2-minute penalty

MISCONDUCT - Called when a player is exhibiting unsportsmanlike conduct.
10-minute penalty, substitute permitted

SLASHING - Striking an opposing player with the stick, usually in a swinging motion.
2-minute penalty

TRIPPING - Upsetting a player by means of a foot or stick.
2-minute penalty

TIME OUT - Each team is permitted one time out per game.

DELAYED CALLING OF PENALTY - When the referee sees a penalty occur, he puts his hand in the air and the whistle is delayed until the penalized team regains control of the puck.
The play is called dead, and the guilty team will resume minus the guilty player

OFFSIDE - When a player from the attacking team moves over the blue line and into their offensive zone before the puck.
Face-off, usually in the neutral zone

SPEARING - Jabbing the blade-end of the stick into an opponent's body.
5-minute penalty

ROUGHING - Called for player(s) guilty of unnecessary roughness from pushing or shoving, but not enough to be fighting.
2-minute penalty

ICING - With teams at equal numerical strength, this is an infraction where a player on his team's side of the center line shoots the puck all the way down the ice and it crosses the goal line anywhere but the goal itself.
The whistle blows and play resumes in the guilty team's end of the ice

KNEEING - When a player uses his knee in an attempt to injure an opponent.
5-minute major penalty

WASH OUT - When two players on opposing teams are called for the same infraction at the same time, the penalties are said to "off-set." Or, if a goal is scored and the referee immediately determines that it was scored in an illegal manner, the referee makes this motion when calling off the goal.