Cage

The net

Call up

A player who is brought up to the NHL team who holds his rights from the Junior or minor pro team.

Camp by the side of the net

The positioning of a player beside the net in an effort to receive a pass or get a rebound.

Cannonading Blast

A term made popular by Danny Gallivan on Hockey Night in Canada. It referred to a hard slap shot.

Captain

The leader of the team who wears the "C". The captain may be voted on by the team or assigned by the organization. The captain is looked to for motivation of the team. He is the only person who is allowed to talk to the referee about rule interpretations and penalty calls.

Catching Glove

The glove used to catch the puck with. It resembles a baseball trapper. Today's catching gloves have evolved into much larger versions of their predecessors.

Caught up ice

A player who is left behind in the attacking zone as the opposing team regains possession of the puck and moves it back to their attacking zone.

Center

One of the three forward positions (others are left and right wings). The center usually takes the face offs and coordinates his line mates in critical situations.

Center line

The red line that divides the ice into two equal halves.

Change on the fly (go)

The act of substituting players while play is in progress. In high pressure situations this is the time when teams commit an infraction by having too many men on the ice. See line change.

Charging

Taking two or more strides before hitting an opponent. Committing this infraction can result in a two minute penalty.

Cheap shot

A questionable and dirty hit on an opponent, sometimes meant to injure.

Check

To take your opponent off the puck or out of the play

Checker

A player who's special skill is to keep this man or the opposing team from making a play or scoring.

Checking line

A forward line who's job it is to play a defensive style of play and prevent the oppostion from scoring, rather than play offensively and attempting to score.

Chest pad

The padded piece of equipment worn by goalies to protect their chests. Today's protective equipment is made from low weight, high impact materials similar to protective vests worn by police forces.

Chippy

A dirty style of play that uses illegal stick work such as hooking and slashing the opponents ankles and forearms.

Chops

Teeth or the mouth.

Chukker

Originating from the game of polo, it refers to a period of play.

Clear the puck

The act of getting the puck out of the defending zone by either shooting or skating it out.

Clutch and grab

A style of play used by a slower players to impede the progress of their opponents.

Coach

The person who is responsible for preparing strategies, conducting practices, directing players during games, and deciding which players will participate in games.

Coach's Corner

An intermission segment conducted during Hockey Night in Canada. The segment features ex NHL coach Don (Grapes) Cherry and TV host Ron MacLean. Cherry is well known for his controversial stance on issues and he and Ron are often at odds on many subjects.

Coincidental Penalties

Penalties that are assessed against both teams at the same time during which neither team plays shorthanded.

Color commentator

The radio or TV announcer who provides analysis of the game via statistics and anecdotes.

Concussion

An injury caused by repeated or violent hits to the upper body or head which can result in unconsciousness and/or disorientation. The affects of concussions are cumulative and can result in severe brain injury. Despite the use of high tech helmets concussions still occur with regularity.

Contain

To keep the opponent's team from breaking out of their defensive zone, or prevent them from attacking with any type of regularity.

Cooler

The penalty box. See box, sin bin, penalty box

Corners

The rounded portion of the boards between the goal line and end boards. This is the area where teams shoot in the puck when they are attacking. This is also the area where players do a great deal of hitting and checking in order to gain possession of the puck.

Cover

To watch an opposing player closely to prevent him from getting into the play. See shadow.

Cowpie

Slang for the puck. See also biscuit, bootheel.

Crease

See goal crease

Crossbar

The horizontal part of the goal between the goal posts.

Cross check

To make contact with an opponent while holding one's stick with both hands which can result in a two or five minute penalty.

Cup

Short form for the most prized award in NHL hockey and the longest championship trophy in pro sports. It is awarded annually to the winner of the Stanley Cup finals. The finals have taken many forms throughout the years and is currently the best of 7 format between the winners of the Conference finals.

cup

The protective equipment worn by athletes to protect the genital area. Also known as a "can"

Curve

The warp in the blade of a stick. See also banana blade

Cutting down the angle

A goaltending technique in which the goalie moves out from the net in order to cut down the amount of net the shooter can see.

Cycling the puck

The movement of the puck along the boards in the offensive corners. Usually done with two or more players where they skate close to the boards and at predetermined points the puck is left behind and the other skater picks it up. See leave the puck, drop pass.