Hockey 101

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Hockey is an intense sport that I'm sure many people would adore if they only knew the rules. Since I've lived in this part of the country, I've educated quite a few people on the nuance of hockey (at least as far as my knowledge allows) and have converted quite a few folks into die-hard hockey fans. So, here's the basics of hockey:

Off Sides	The attacking player cannot beat the puck across the defending team's blue line (unless he is skating backwards with control of the puck). If the attacking player does cross first, play is stopped and a face-off is done on neutral ice.

Neutral Ice	Neutral ice, or the neutral zone, is the area between the two side's blue lines. This is also called center ice.

Icing	An icing occurs when a player hits this puck from his side of the neutral zone across the other teams goal line and is touched up by the defending team (with exception of the goalie) prior to an attacking player. When this happens, play is stopped and the puck is brought back down the ice to a face-off spot near the goalie of the team who launched the puck down ice.

Tripping	Well, this is pretty self-explanatory

Boarding	One of the greatest threats to a player (minus losing teeth) is boarding. Boarding is when a player shoves another player into the boards that circle the ice, usually head first. This can cause serious injury to include concussions and broken necks.

Charging	This is when a player takes three or more strides before checking an opponent.

Checking	This is the term used for when one hockey player hits another (not including with his fists)

Cross-Checking	Cross-checking is when a player hits another player with his stick, with both hands on his stick, and his stick isn't touching the ice.

Elbowing	This is pretty obvious, eh?

High-sticking	High-sticking is if you carry the stick higher than shoulder level. If you score a goal during a high-stick, the goal won't count.

Holding	Holding is when you hold onto a player's body with your hands to impede his motion.

Hooking	This is when you use your stick in someone's skate.

Intereference	This is when you impede someone's progress when they aren't involved in playing the puck.

Misconduct	This is the one they call you for if you're cussing ref's or players, arguing with the ref, or doing unsportsman like things...

Slashing	This is when you swing your stick at an opponent... you don't even have to hit him to get this call.

Wash-out	This is the thing an attacking player and potential goal-scorer hate the most... it's when you think you just put the biscuit (puck) in the basket (goal) and the ref slides up and says it doesn't count.

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