Hockey Glossary of Terms-F-G

Facemask

The protective equipment worn by a goalie to protect his face, neck and head. Jacques Plante was the first goalie to wear a facemask in regular season play.

Face-off

The dropping of the puck between two opposing players to start play.

Face-off circle

The red circles painted on the ice where face offs take place. There are 2 face off circles painted in each end. Players are not allowed to enter the face off circle before the puck is dropped.

Face-off dot

Solid red dots painted on the ice where face offs occur. There is a face off dot in each face off circle and one at center ice. There are two others between each blue line and the center line. Over the years the placement of some face off dots have moved according to rule changes.

Face-off specialist

A player whose specialty is winning face offs.

Fan (person)

A spectator or supporter of a particular team.

Fan (shot)

An attempt by a player to take a shot, and either missing the puck completely, or failing to make full contact with it.

Feed

The act of passing the puck.

Fence

A term used by old timers which refers to the glass that surrounds the rink. Prior to plexiglass protecting fans, chain link fence surrounded rinks.

Finish a check

A player who checks his opponent so well that he eliminates him (opponent) completely from the play.

Fire wagon hockey

Exciting, fast paced, wide open offensive play. See also end to end action

Fisticuffs

Fighting. See also altercation, brouhaha, drop the gloves.

Five hole

The area between a goalies legs. At one time some goalies had their pads colored white to give their opponents the illusion that the five hole was bigger than it really is and thus tricking the player to shoot at it.

Five on five

A term usually used when a penalty has expired and teams are back at full strength. Also used when coincidental penalties occur and neither team has a man advantage.

Five on four

One team playing with five skaters, while the other team plays with 4 skaters. See also down a man, shorthanded.

Five on three

A situation where one team has a two man advantage in terms of players who are not playing goal. A team cannot play with less than 3 skaters at any one time.

Floater

A player who waits for opportunities to score but will not, or is unable to backcheck deep into his own zone or the attack zone. Sometimes referred to as a goal suck.

Flying Frenchmen

A nickname for the Montreal Canadiens

Forechecking

Checking the opposing team in their defensive zone. See also hemmed in, contain

Forehand

A players natural way to shoot the puck. Opposite to backhand.

Forward

One of 3 players on the ice whose primary role is to attack the other team and score. There are 3 forward positions, the left wing, right wing and center.

Four on four

A situation where both teams have a man in the penalty box at the same time.

Four pointer

A game between two teams who are close to each other in the standings. When one team wins it creates a 4-point swing in the standings. It is said to be a four pointer because the winning team will receive 2 points for the win, and by winning it prevents the other team from increasing their point total on that same night, thus preventing them from 2 points. Added up, it makes four.

Free agent

A player whose contract has expired and is free to sign with any team he chooses.

Freeze the puck

A move that pins the puck against the board forcing a stoppage in play. Often done to allow a team to regroup. See move it.

Full strength

The state of a team when it has no players in the penalty box.

Futures

A short term for future considerations. A team may trade a player in return for the right to consider players that may become available in the future.

Gallery Gods

Fans who had seats in the upper levels of the old Boston Garden. Also referred to as the nose bleed seats.

Game day

The day of a game.

Game day skate

A light practice held on game day, usually in the morning.

Game misconduct

One of the most severe penalties handed out to a player, and involves the ejection of a player from the game and a fine. The commissioner may review the case a levy additional fines or suspensions. The penalized player's team does not play shorthanded unless a coincidental minor or major penalty was given at the same time.

Garbage Goal

A term used to describe a goal that was scored with little effort or particular skill, but mostly on luck. The term was popularized in the 1970's on goals scored by Phil Esposito, as many of his goals were scored on deflections and misdirected shots while he was in front of the net.

Gardens

One of several names for an arena. Arenas that have "Gardens" in the name are usually referred to as the "Gardens". Examples are Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, The Boston Garden in Boston and Madison Square Garden in New York.

Give and go

A passing sequence where one player passes the puck to a team mate, and then skates to an open position to take a pass back from the player he originally passed to.

Glass

Glass was first used in the early '50's and replaced the wire mess that originally surrounded hockey rinks. The glass afforded better visibility but it is not unbreakable, and when broken it shatters like a car windshield.

Glove Hand

The catching hand used by a goalie, opposite to the blocker hand. See also catching glove.

Glove pass

A pass that is given to a team mate by means of the hand. This type of pass is illegal except in the defensive zone.

Glove side

The side of the goal located on the goalie's catching glove side. Opposite of the stick side.

Go ahead goal

The goal which breaks a tie.

Goal (scoring)

A goal is credited to the scoring team when the entire puck crosses over the red goal line between the posts of the net.

Goal (statistics)

A player is credited with one point in his scoring statistics when he scores a goal. See goal (scoring)

Goal Crease

The area around the goal net which is marked in some fashion. Players are not allowed to skate through the crease or stand in it unless the puck enters the crease first. The crease has undergone dimensional and shape changes over the years and is currently painted blue.

Goal Judge

The official who sits directly behind the net to determine if a goal has been scored. If he decides that a goal has been scored he will turn on a red light.

Goal light

The red light that is turned on by the goal judge if he decides a goal has been scored. The red light will not come on if the green light is on, indicating the end of the period. This means that a goal cannot be signalled as being scored after time has run out. The green light signals the end of the period.

Goal line

The line that extends across the end of the rink at both ends. This line determines if a goal has been scored if the puck crosses the line and enters the net, and is also used to determine if icing should be called.

Goal mesh

The netting used to stop the puck once it has entered the goal net.

Goal Mouth

The area in front of the net roughly equal to the goal crease. See goal crease

Goal Net

The 4' X 6' rectangle structure that players attempt to put the puck in.

Goal Suck

A derrogatory term for a player who puts himself well ahead of the play in order to take advantage of an easy scoring chance.

Goal post

The vertical posts on either side of the goal net, supporting the crossbar. The mesh is attached to the goal posts and crossbar.

Goaler

Early name for a goaltender. See also goalie, goaltender

Goalie

The player who plays the postion of goaltender.

Goals against (team)

The number of goals a team has scored against them.

Goals against (player)

One half of a players plus-minus statistic where the number of goals against while a player is on the ice is subtracted from the number of goals for while a player is on the ice. A positive result is desired.

Goals against average (GAA)

The average number of goals allowed by a goalie or team per 60 minutes of hockey play. For a goalie this is one of his major statistics. The Vezina Trophy was at one time awarded to the goalie with the lowest Goals Against Average.

Goaltender

The players whose main function is to protect the goal net of his team and stop the opposing team from scoring. The goalie wears different protection than his team mates, has a bigger stick and is the only player allowed to touch the puck with his hands.

Go down low

Play that is concentrated in the corners of the offensive zone. See corners, dig.

Golden Helmet

In some European leagues, the player who leads his team in goals wears a golden helmet.

Gondola

The broadcast area in Maple Leaf Gardens, located high above the ice, where famed Foster Hewitt used to make his Hockey Night in Canada broadcasts from.

Gone

Indicating a player has been ejected from the game. "You're gone!"

Goon

A player with limited playing skills whose main purpose is to fight or intimidate his opponents. See also enforcer.

Go upstairs (shot)

To shoot the puck towards the top of the net. See also top shelf

Go upstairs (video review)

The process where the referee either by his choice or request by a team will call up to the video review officials to have them look at the replay and make the call.

Gretzky's Office

The area directly behind the back of the goal net where superstar Wayne Gretzky would position himself. From here Gretzky could control the play by either passing the puck to a team mate in front of the net, or bringing it out in front himself for a wraparound goal. See wraparound goal.

Grinder

A hardworking player known for his checking ability. See also Lunch pail player, mucker.

Groin injury

A pulling or tearing of the muscles in the inner upper thigh area. This injury is nuisance because skating requires the constant use of these muscles, and an injury to this area will usually side line a player for a few days or even weeks.

Gross misconduct

A penalty called by the referee against any player, coach or trainer if in the referee's opinion the person in question is guilty of gross misconduct of any kind. The team will not play shorthanded and the incident will be reviewed by the commissioner and possible fines and suspensions may be levied. See also game misconduct, misconduct.