Pass (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
In ice hockey
, a pass is the movement of the puck
from one player to another, usually by a motion of the stick
. A pass differs from a shot
, in that a pass is typically weaker than a shot and is not directed at the opponent's net with the intention of scoring a goal. The function of passing in ice hockey during gameplay strongly resembles the role of passing in other goal sports such as soccer or lacrosse
. Passing (along with skating
, shooting, and stick handling) is one the most fundamental skills in hockey. An effective pass is described as being "stick to stick" or "tape to tape", referring to the tape on the blade of a hockey stick. Effective passing requires good vision, anticipation, and timing. A player that is an effetive passer will normally record many assists
, which are awarded to the second and third last player to touch the puck before a goal. The National Hockey League record for most career assists 1,963 by Wayne Gretzky
, who is considered one of the best passers of all time.
Different types of passes are employed in different situations or using different techniques:
Backhand
pass : using the back side of the blade of the stick.
Centering pass : to the put the puck into the centre of the ice (the "slot"). This is the most dangerous pass in hockey both because it provides the best opportunity to score and because if the intended receiver misses it, there is a strong likelihood that the puck will come to an opponent with few obstacles to the net.
Clear-out or Clearing pass: a pass out of a team's defensive zone. Its primary purpose is defensive, to prevent the opposition from getting the puck for the opportunity to score.
Cross-ice pass : a pass that traverses the width of the ice surface (e.g. from the left winger to the right winger).
Drop pass : when a player passes the puck directly behind him to a teammate. If executed properly, the puck stops moving and the pass's receiver catches up to it.
Hand pass : a pass made with the hand. It is legal when both passer and recipient are inside the defending zone, otherwise illegal. An illegal hand pass results in a stoppage of play and a faceoff
at the position where the puck was passed from.
Headmaning the puck : (a.k.a. a stretch pass, an outlet pass, or a long bomb) a long pass that allows one's team to move out of their defensive zone and start a rush. An especially long and well executed one that results in a breakaway
is then called a breakaway pass.
No-look pass : made while not looking at the receiver.
Offside
pass : a pass to a player who is offside. This can mean a two-line pass, a pass that crosses two lines marked on the ice for such purposes. Depending on the era and league, the centre red line may or may not count as such a line. Or, it can refer to a pass to a player who has entered the offensive zone before the puck. This type of pass is always offside no matter how many lines it crosses
Saucer pass
: an airborne pass from one player to another. It is called a saucer pass because the puck resembles a flying saucer
in mid air.
Slap pass : a hard shot aimed at a teammates stick. It is a shot that is intentionally aimed away from the net to an open teammates stick. This has been perfected to date by the Grand River Gators in RIM A division hockey.
Suicide pass : a pass that forces the receiver to look down or away from the play in order to find the puck, leaving them vulnerable to a powerful body check.
Tic-tac-toe : a play that involves two quick passes and a shot and results in a goal.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
, a pass is the movement of the puck
Puck (sports)
A puck is a disk used in various games serving the same functions as a ball does in ball games. The best-known use of pucks is in ice hockey, a major international sport.- Etymology :The origin of the word "puck" is obscure...
from one player to another, usually by a motion of the stick
Hockey stick
A hockey stick is a piece of equipment used in field hockey, ice hockey or roller hockey to move the ball or puck.- Field hockey :Field hockey sticks have an end which varies in shape, often depending on the players position...
. A pass differs from a shot
Shot (ice hockey)
A shot in ice hockey is an attempt by a player to score a goal by striking the puck with their stick in the direction of the net.-Shovel:The shovel shot is the simplest most basic shot in a shooter's arsenal. Its execution is simply a shoveling motion to push the puck in the desired direction...
, in that a pass is typically weaker than a shot and is not directed at the opponent's net with the intention of scoring a goal. The function of passing in ice hockey during gameplay strongly resembles the role of passing in other goal sports such as soccer or lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
. Passing (along with skating
Ice skating
Ice skating is moving on ice by using ice skates. It can be done for a variety of reasons, including leisure, traveling, and various sports. Ice skating occurs both on specially prepared indoor and outdoor tracks, as well as on naturally occurring bodies of frozen water, such as lakes and...
, shooting, and stick handling) is one the most fundamental skills in hockey. An effective pass is described as being "stick to stick" or "tape to tape", referring to the tape on the blade of a hockey stick. Effective passing requires good vision, anticipation, and timing. A player that is an effetive passer will normally record many assists
Assist (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal...
, which are awarded to the second and third last player to touch the puck before a goal. The National Hockey League record for most career assists 1,963 by Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
, who is considered one of the best passers of all time.
Different types of passes are employed in different situations or using different techniques:
Backhand
Backhand
The backhand is a tennis shot in which one swings the racquet around one's body in the direction where one wants the ball to go, usually performed from the baseline or as an approach shot. The term is also used in other racquet sports, and other areas where a similar motion is employed...
pass : using the back side of the blade of the stick.
Centering pass : to the put the puck into the centre of the ice (the "slot"). This is the most dangerous pass in hockey both because it provides the best opportunity to score and because if the intended receiver misses it, there is a strong likelihood that the puck will come to an opponent with few obstacles to the net.
Clear-out or Clearing pass: a pass out of a team's defensive zone. Its primary purpose is defensive, to prevent the opposition from getting the puck for the opportunity to score.
Cross-ice pass : a pass that traverses the width of the ice surface (e.g. from the left winger to the right winger).
Drop pass : when a player passes the puck directly behind him to a teammate. If executed properly, the puck stops moving and the pass's receiver catches up to it.
Hand pass : a pass made with the hand. It is legal when both passer and recipient are inside the defending zone, otherwise illegal. An illegal hand pass results in a stoppage of play and a faceoff
Faceoff
A face-off is the method used to begin play in ice hockey and some other sports. The two teams line up in opposition to each other, and the opposing centres attempt to gain control of the puck after it is dropped between their sticks by an official. One of the referees drops the puck at centre ice...
at the position where the puck was passed from.
Headmaning the puck : (a.k.a. a stretch pass, an outlet pass, or a long bomb) a long pass that allows one's team to move out of their defensive zone and start a rush. An especially long and well executed one that results in a breakaway
Breakaway (ice hockey)
A breakaway is a situation in ice hockey in which a player with the puck has no defending players, except for the goaltender, between himself and the opposing goal, leaving him free to skate in and shoot at will . A breakaway is considered a lapse on the part of the defending team...
is then called a breakaway pass.
No-look pass : made while not looking at the receiver.
Offside
Offside (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, the current play is offside if a player on the attacking team enters the attacking zone before the puck itself enters the zone, either carried by a teammate or sent into the attacking zone by an attacking player. If a defending player carries, passes, or otherwise intentionally sends...
pass : a pass to a player who is offside. This can mean a two-line pass, a pass that crosses two lines marked on the ice for such purposes. Depending on the era and league, the centre red line may or may not count as such a line. Or, it can refer to a pass to a player who has entered the offensive zone before the puck. This type of pass is always offside no matter how many lines it crosses
Saucer pass
Saucer pass
The saucer pass is an ice hockey term, which means passing the puck to someone else so it flies in the air like a flying saucer. This makes the pass very difficult to intercept by opposing players but will land flat on the ice making it simple to control for the receiving player. The saucer pass...
: an airborne pass from one player to another. It is called a saucer pass because the puck resembles a flying saucer
Flying saucer
A flying saucer is a type of unidentified flying object sometimes believed to be of alien origin with a disc or saucer-shaped body, usually described as silver or metallic, occasionally reported as covered with running lights or surrounded with a glowing light, hovering or moving rapidly either...
in mid air.
Slap pass : a hard shot aimed at a teammates stick. It is a shot that is intentionally aimed away from the net to an open teammates stick. This has been perfected to date by the Grand River Gators in RIM A division hockey.
Suicide pass : a pass that forces the receiver to look down or away from the play in order to find the puck, leaving them vulnerable to a powerful body check.
Tic-tac-toe : a play that involves two quick passes and a shot and results in a goal.