A Beginner’s Guide to the Lingo

Stepping into a hockey rink for the first time can feel like visiting a foreign country where everyone speaks a fast-paced, slang-heavy language. Between the loud bangs of the puck against the boards and the blur of skaters, you’ll hear coaches and players yelling about “apples,” “biscuits,” and “five-holes.” To help you navigate your next game—whether you’re in the stands or on the bench—here is a breakdown of the essential terminology every beginner needs to know.

The Anatomy of the Game

Before you can master the slang, you have to understand the basic mechanics and rules that govern the flow of play.

• Faceoff: How every game and play begins. Two players face each other, and the referee drops the puck between them to battle for possession.
• The Crease: The blue semi-circle in front of the net. This is the goalie’s “home.” If an attacking player enters this area before the puck, the goal may be disallowed.
• Icing: When a player shoots the puck from their own side of the center red line all the way past the opponent’s goal line without anyone touching it. This usually results in a faceoff in the shooting team’s defensive zone.
• Offside: A rule designed to keep the game structured. An attacking player cannot enter the offensive zone (past the blue line) before the puck does.
• Power Play vs. Penalty Kill: When a team takes a penalty, they are sent to the “Sin Bin” (penalty box). The team with more players on the ice is on the Power Play, while the team with fewer players is on the Penalty Kill.

Essential Slang: Speaking Like a Pro

Hockey culture is famous for its unique—and often funny—slang. Here are the most common terms you’ll hear in the locker room.

Flow / Lettuce: References to a player’s hair, especially when it sticks out and flows from beneath the helmet.

The Biscuit: Slang for the puck. “Put the biscuit in the basket” means score a goal!

Apple: An assist. If you set up your teammate for a goal, you just earned yourself an apple.

Five-Hole: The space between a goalie’s leg pads. It is a prime target for shooters.

Celly: Short for “celebration.” This is what you do after you score that “Gino” (goal).

Mitts: A player’s hands or gloves. Having “soft mitts” means you have great stickhandling skills.

Chirp: Trash talk. If you’re teasing the opposing team, you’re chirping them.

Ultimately, mastering the language of the rink is the first step toward feeling like a true part of the team, turning every “celly” and “apple” into a shared moment of victory.

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By Vitalina Andrushchenko, Staff Writer