Carom
A rebound of the puck off the boards or any other object.
Center or center forward
The center player in the forward line who usually leads his team’s attack when they are trying to score a goal; he takes part in most of the face-offs; he controls the puck and tries to score or pass it to a teammate who is in a better position to score a goal.
Center face-off circle
A circle, measuring 30 feet in diameter, at the center of the ice where the puck is dropped in a face-off to start the game and to restart the game after a goal has been scored.
Center ice
The area between the two blue lines, also called the neutral zone.
Centering pass
A pass from an attacking player towards the middle of the ice to a teammate with a better angle at the goal.
Center line
A red, 12-inch wide line across the ice midway between the two goals.
Charging
A minor penalty which occurs when a player makes a deliberate move of more than two steps when body checking an opponent; if serious injury is caused or blood is drawn it becomes a major penalty.
Check or checking
Any contact initiated by a defending player against an opponent to get the puck away from him or slow him down; there are two main types of checks: stick check and body check; these are only allowed against a player in control of the puck or against the last player to control it immediately after he gives it up; checking after too many steps or strides becomes charging.
Clearing the puck
Getting the puck out of one’s own defensive zone.
Clearing the zone
When a defending player sends the puck out of the opponent’s attacking zone, all the attacking players must leave or clear the zone to avoid being called offsides when the puck reenters the zone.
Cover
When a player stays close to an opponent to prevent him from receiving a pass or making a play on offense.
Crease lines
The red lines that form the semi-circular area with a 6-foot radius in front of the goal called the goal crease.
Cross bar
The horizontal bar that connects the top of the two goalposts.
Cross-checking
A minor penalty which occurs when a player holds his stick in both hands and drives the shaft into an opponent; a stick check where a player has both hands on the stick and no part of the stick on the ice; if serious injury is caused or blood is drawn it becomes a major penalty and a game misconduct.
