Hockey Slang!
Talk like a hockey player!
- Apple‐ an assist.
- Bag skate‐ when a team is skated unendingly during practice. See Herb Brooks in Miracle on Ice for example.
- Bar in/bar down‐ a goal that is scored when the shot goes off the post or crossbar.
- Barn‐ the rink/arena
- Basket‐ the net
- Beaver tap/tail‐ when a person continuously slaps their stick on the ice hoping for a pass, rather than calling a teammates name.
- Benchwarmer‐ a player who spends most of the time during the game on the bench.
- Biscuit‐ the puck
- Bleacher coach (or BC)‐ a spectator constantly yelling directions at the players on the ice during a game unaware of any instruction the player would have received by the actual coach and the fact that the participants don’t usually hear what is being said.
- Blow a gasket/tire‐ when a player loses their edge and falls.
- Breezers‐ a piece of equipment worn by players that should simply be called pants.
- Bucket‐ a helmet.
- Celly‐ a celebration after a goal is scored. Depending on the goal and circumstances, various types of celebrations are acceptable.
- Cherry picker‐ a player who doesn’t come back into their defensive zone to help. They remains near the offensive zone hoping for a long pass and an easy scoring opportunity.
- Chiclets‐ teeth
- Chirp‐ the ability to trash talk an opponent and get under their skin
- Clapper‐ a hard slap shot
- Dangle‐ to stickhandle exceptionally well
- Dish‐ a pass.
- Flamingo‐ when defending, the bad habit of lifting one’s leg in the hope that the puck doesn’t hit you so you don’t get hurt.
- Flood‐ when the Zamboni cleans the ice.
- Flow‐ long hockey hair. Proper flow is a true sight to behold when trailing behind a player.
- Gino‐ a goal
- Gordie Howe Hatrick‐ recording a goal, assist and fight in the same game
- Grocery stick (aka bookend)‐ the player (typically a forward) that doesn’t get much playing time who divides the forwards and defensemen on the bench.
- Grinder‐ A player with limited skills that generally players lower in the lineup. Also known as a plumber.
- Hatrick (hatty)‐ Scoring three goals in a game.
- Mitts‐ gloves. A player with sick mitts is very good with the puck.
- Muffin‐ a weak shot.
- Natural Hatrick‐ scoring three consecutive goals in a game.
- Old school‐ generally referring to someone who has old equipment or a goalie with an old style of playing net. Ex., “Did you see that pad stack? That goalie is old school!”
- Player Agent‐ a person, typically a parent, who has blinders for one child and who feels that they, and they alone, know how to get that player to the NHL.
- Pizza (serving up a pizza)‐ a turnover in the middle of the ice that provides the other team with a fantastic scoring chance.
- Pylon‐ an extremely slow player. Typically a player who gets turnstiled frequently
- Ride the Pine‐ when a player spends most of their time on the bench not getting very much playing time.
- Rink Rat‐ someone who loves and always wants to be at the rink.
- Sauce‐ a type of pass that lifts off the ice over an obstacle and does not flutter.
- Shelf/top cheddar/upstairs‐ all terms referring to the top corner of the net
- Shinny‐ a pick‐up game of hockey, the game in its purest form.
- Shutout‐ when one team doesn’t score during a game, can also be referred to as a goose‐egg
- Sick‐ slang used positively when a player executes a play that requires a lot of skill
- Sin bin‐ the penalty box.
- Snipe‐ A well placed shot resulting in a goal.
- Sold out Barn (SOB)‐ reference to a game with lots of spectators in the arena (see, barn).
- Suicide pass‐ a pass that causes a teammate to look over their shoulder behind them to receive it. By not looking in front of them these players are very susceptible to huge hits.
- Sweater‐ the only other correct way to reference a hockey jersey
- Toe drag‐ a move which consists of holding the puck on the forehand away from the body. When a defender makes a move for the puck the puck carrier uses the “toe” of their stick to pull the puck back towards them
- Turnstile‐a name for someone who gets deked and walked around when trying to play defense. Can also
- be used as a verb to chirp someone “You got turnstiled!”
- Twig‐ stick
- The wall‐ the boards
- Yard sale‐ when a player gets hit, or falls and loses equipment (stick, gloves, helmet) all over the ice.