From phrases to plays, the hockey world is an intricate world, with a language all its own. With the Boston College Eagles’ recent NCAA Division 1 Hockey National Championship, the Heights is a buzz with hockey talk. Having grown up on the other side of the glass watching my brother navigate the politics and plays of the sport, I’m here to help you Superfans understand what the sport is all about.
You thought the tumult of politics was restricted to public office. Well, add testosterone and thousands of screaming fans, and you have an image of the chaos and excitement that is the hockey world. Here are some of the most misunderstood and mysterious phrases and concepts you’ll encounter at the rink or while grabbing a drink.
Recruit – Recruit is the term for a player who was or is being pursued by a hockey program. This term is almost always used when speaking about college hockey. A player can be recruited by more than one team, just as a team can recruit more than one player. A player, however, can only ‘commit’ to one college program (see “commitment” for details). The term recruit should not be confused with draftees or those selected in the NHL draft, as the two are operated independently and are in no way mutual processes, and are not interchangeable terms.
Ex: Dean Youngbloood is being recruited by Boston College, Boston University, and University of Michigan, but he has yet to make a commitment.
Commitment – The goal for a college hockey program is to recruit top players. This is done by having both parties enter into agreements that solidify the connection between the college hockey team and the player. They also serve as a promise that the player will report to the team at a predetermined time and ensure that the college will hold a roster spot for the player. Commitments are sometimes made four years in advance or just weeks before the season starts, depending on the circumstances. In certain instances, a player who had, for example, a commitment for the 2013 season, may be asked to come a season early or later depending on the needs of the team. It should be noted that a commitment does not guarantee playing time.
Ex: The Hansen brothers have each secured a commitment to join the Eagles for the 2013-2014 season.
Rookie – A rookie is someone who is in their first or “rookie” year of a given organization, club, or team.
Ex: Dean Youngblood had a stellar rookie season, or a giveaway at the blue line?!? Rookie move!
PG – No, this is not a movie rating; PG is an abbreviation for post-graduation. Often, a player in athletics will take a year after graduating high school to mature physically and in their game, to allow them more time to secure a college commitment or a commitment to a better program.
Ex: Why is Number 14 a 21-year-old freshman? He did a PG year at Avon Old Farms and then another year of Juniors.
Juniors – Juniors is a blanket term for the vast array of Junior Hockey Leagues. There is Jr. A , Jr. B, Empire Junior Hockey League, Eastern Junior Hockey League – all with different rules, regulations, and levels of competition. All of these programs are amateur, meaning players are in no way paid or compensated for their play. This differs from the Canadian Junior Leagues, including, but not limited to, the Western Junior Hockey League (usually called “The Dub”), The Ontario Hockey League (referred to as “The O”).
Starter – Starter is someone who is chosen as part of the starting lineup. This includes a “line” of forwards, which consists of a right wing, a center who takes the faceoff, and a left wing. A defensive pairing or two defensemen and the starting goaltender also are components of the starting lineup. In hockey, unlike in other sports, the starting lineup holds less significance. The goaltender is really the only position that the term “starter” holds a lot of significance for. The starting lineup is chosen usually to “set the tone” for the game, rather than being representative of the team’s best players. Therefore, just because someone is a “starter” it doesn’t mean they are the “stars.” Also, the starters in hockey rotate more regularly than in college basketball, for example. The First Line or the Top Line is a much more significant distinction, as the First Line holds prestige, gets more playing time, and has more opportunities on the power play.
Draft – The Draft is the shorthand name for the National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft, which is an annual meeting in which each of the 30 franchises of the National Hockey League systematically select the rights to available amateur ice hockey players who meet draft eligibility requirements (North American players 18–20 years old and Europeans of all ages entering league). The draft consists of 7 rounds, with the most desirable players being chosen first. Thus, being chosen in the first round is a great accomplishment, and also involves the player attending the draft in person, often accompanied by their family. The event is televised.
Draft pick – A player who is chosen in the NHL draft by a franchise is called a Draft pick, or the term can be used to define the pick itself, which can be used to select a player or traded to another team. The draft is also a goldmine for awkward photos; here is one of my personal faves. Nice Blue Steel there, buddy!
Signed – While a player’s rights are available to the team which drafted them, they are not under contract at the point of the NHL draft. This is why drafted college players can still remain eligible to play college hockey. A professionally signed player cannot play college hockey. It should also be noted that undrafted players can be still be signed by NHL teams, as they are free-agents and unbound to a specific franchise. It should be noted that not all college hockey players are drafted, as NCAA and the NHL are two separate entities.
AHL – The American Hockey League is the “farm league” team or affiliated franchise that serves as a feeder to the National Hockey League. The two leagues are not the same, and are operated independently. It is not uncommon for players to spend time in the AHL before transitioning to the NHL, as there is a difference in the speed and style of play. Salaries are considerably lower in the AHL, yet it is still a professional league.
So next time you’re hanging at Hillside, or heading out to Cityside to catch the latest game, you won’t make a rookie move when it comes to hockey talk!
Photo Sources:
alienhockey.blogspot.com
ncaa.com
nhl.com
habseyesontheprize.com
4manwolfpack.blogspot.com