The Elusive Five-Hole: Understanding the Term in Ice Hockey

In the fast-paced and strategic world of ice hockey, specific terminology helps players and fans alike understand the nuances of the game. One such term is the "five-hole," a critical area for scoring that every player aims to exploit.

What is the Five-Hole?

The five-hole is an ice hockey term for the space between a goaltender's legs. The phrases "through the five-hole" and "gone five-hole" are used when a player scores by shooting the puck into the goal between the goaltender's legs.

The potential scoring areas around a goal are numbered from one to four starting in the lower right corner and proceeding clockwise at each corner of the net. The fifth area - the five-hole - is between the goalie's leg pads and skates.

The name and its first recorded usage was in 1976 by Flyer Reggie Leach.

The term is also used in basketball, association football, field hockey, and lacrosse.

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Additional Hockey Terminology

To fully grasp the game, it's helpful to understand other common hockey terms:

* Break out - When a team gains control of the puck in their defensive end they will “break out” with the puck to go on the attack.* Change on the fly - A team may change its players even as play continues.* Cherry Picker - A player who stays at center ice and does not help their team on defense.* Cycling - Cycling is an offensive strategy used to keep control of the puck by keeping it close the boards.* Deke (Deking) - A deke is used by an offensive player with the puck to confuse a defender or goalie. It is a fake or feint move.* Delayed Penalty - A penalty that has not yet resulted in a stoppage of play because the team that will have the man advantage is in possession of the puck.* Dump and chase - A style of hockey where a team shoots the puck into one of the corners of the offensive zone and then pursues it.* Game misconduct - A player is suspended for the remainder of the game if they receive a game misconduct.* Grinder - A type of player known for his checking ability and work ethic.* Hand Pass - The act of passing the puck using one’s hand.* Hash marks - The straight lines emerging from the two big circles in front of both nets.* Hash marks - Hash marks are small lines, which are perpendicular to the edge of the face off circles.* Hat Trick - When a player scores three goals in a game it is known as a hat trick.* Icing - When a player shoots the puck from his side of the ice down past the center red line and goal line with no interference.* Lettuce - A great head of hockey hair.* Long Change - In the second period, the goaltenders change ends, meaning that the players’ bench is closer to the offensive zone rather than the defensive zone.* Mucker - Similar to a grinder, but one who adds a more physical temperament to his game.* Offsides - An offsides is called when a player precedes the puck into the offensive zone as indicated by the blue line.* Olympic Sheet - An NHL rink is 85′ x 200′.* One timer - The act of shooting the puck directly off a pass.* An Olympic rink (or sheet) is 100′ x 200′. International competitions are generally played on Olympic sheets.* Pinch - A pinch is when a defenseman either (a) attempts to hold the offensive blue line when the opponent has the puck and is attempting to clear their zone, or (b) leaves the blue line and pushes further into the offensive zone to play the puck.* Plus/Minus - When a goal is scored for a player’s team while the player is on the ice it is counted as +1.* Point - The point is an area just inside the blue line of the attacking zone.* Sacuer Pass - A pass in which the puck is passed to another player such that it flies in the air like a flying saucer.* Salad - Beautiful hockey hair.* Scoring Chance - A scoring chance is defined as a clear play directed toward the opposing net from a dangerous scoring area - loosely defined as the top of the circle in and inside the faceoff dots, though sometimes slightly more generous than that depending on the amount of immediately-preceding puck movement or screens in front of the net.* Screening - When a player on the opposing team obstructs the goalie’s view, it is called screening.* Wave off - When a stoppage of play is about to occur, the referee may decide to continue play by “waving off” the stoppage.* Warm up the bus - The outcome of the game has pretty much been decided and the visitor is going to lose.

Goaltender's Perspective: Defending the Net

Goalies must protect various areas around the net:

* Glove side, low - This area is defined by the goaltender's arm and glove on the top, the ice on the bottom, and the outside post of the goal.* Stick side, high - This area is defined by the goal post, top of the goal, and the goalie's arm and stick.* Stick side, low - This area is the lower half of the stick side, defined by the stick and arm, the ice, and the outer post of the goal.

During a butterfly-style save, this area is also covered by the leg pad with the blocker stacked on top to protect against low shots.

When a goaltender is standing, the paddle of the stick is used to cover this area.

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