• Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
  • Home
  • Learn Baseball
    • Basic Baseball Overview
    • Baseball Terms
    • Baseball Trivia & Questions
  • Learn Basketball
    • Basic Basketball Overview
    • Basketball Terms
    • Basketball Trivia & Questions
  • Learn Football
    • Basic Football Overview
    • Football Terms
    • Football Trivia & Questions
  • Learn Ice Hockey
    • Basic Ice Hockey Overview
    • Ice Hockey Terms
  • Learn Soccer
    • Basic Soccer Overview
    • Soccer Terms
  • BLOG
    • Shopping Guides
    • The Locker
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • NCAAB
    • NCAAF
    • College Sports
    • Soccer
    • MMA & Boxing
    • THE SCRAPS
    • GIMME!
  • More Sports Lingo
    • Learn Bowling
      • Basic Bowling Overview
      • Bowling Terms
    • Learn Golf
      • Basic Golf Overview
      • Golf Terms
    • Learn Tennis
      • Tennis Overview
      • Tennis Terms
    • Winter Olympics
      • Curling
      • Figure Skating
      • Downhill & Cross Country Skiing
      • Snowboarding
      • Bobsled
    • Archery
    • Billiards
    • Boxing
    • Cricket
    • Cycling & Biking
    • Disc Golf
    • Dog Mushing
    • Fencing
    • Field Hockey
    • Gymnastics
    • Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
    • Motorsports & Car Racing
    • Pickleball
    • Rodeo
    • Rowing
    • Rugby
    • Shooting Sports
    • Skateboarding
    • Sports Betting
    • Swimming
    • Table Tennis
    • Track & Field
    • Volleyball
    • Wrestling

A Place To Learn Sports. On And Off The Field.

You are here: Home / All The Lingo / Sports Terms That Begin With ‘G’ / Goal Crease

Goal Crease

goal crease

What Is The Definition Of Goal Crease In Hockey?What Is The Goal Crease In Hockey? Definition & Meaning

1. This refers to an area of ice that is in front of the goal on an ice rink. The goal crease is marked off with a line that is usually a semi-circle that extends from the goal line and out around the net. This area is usually a different color than the other areas of ice on the rink.

Examples Of How Goal Crease Is Used In Commentary

1. Lindros is called for interference on the goalie after he stands in the goal crease and prevents the goalie from moving freely within the crease.

What Are The NHL Goal Crease Rules?

According to the NHL official site, if an attacking player is standing inside or outside the crease and a goal is scored, the player’s position by itself should not determine if a goal is allowed or disallowed.

However, here are some situations where a goal can be disallowed if a player is within the goal crease:

  1. If an attacking player impairs the goalie’s ability to move freely within the crease due to their positioning, and a goal is scored.
  2. If an attacking player initiates more than incidental contact with the goalie, whether inside or outside the crease, therefore impairing their ability to defend and a goal is scored. This is up to the referee’s discretion only on whether there was more than incidental contact that impaired the goalie. Instant replay is not allowed in this instance.

SportsLingo Goes The Extra-Inch With The Meaning Of Goal Crease

The goal crease was implemented so that it gives the goalie an area that allows them to move and play freely without interference. Otherwise, without the area, their opponent’s could crowd the goalie, obstruct their view and make it hard for them to block shots.

The goal crease is a half circle and the dimensions for NHL and North American hockey leagues are as follows:

  • The sides of the crease will run perpendicular to the goal line and extend 1 foot past each goal posts.
  • The half circle crease will have a 6 foot radius.

Sport The Term Is Used

1. Ice Hockey

Join Our Community

From The Locker

Florence Griffith Joyner’s Incredible Track & Field Legacy

Florence Griffith Joyner’s Incredible Track & Field Legacy

Today marks 25 years since the untimely death of Florence Griffith Joyner. In her 38 years, she achieved some of the greatest accomplishments in … [Read More...]

Beards & Baseball: The House Of David Baseball Team’s Fascinating History

Beards & Baseball: The House Of David Baseball Team’s Fascinating History

Back in the early days of professional baseball, a clean-cut look was required for players. So when the House of David baseball team rolled into town, … [Read More...]

Unscripted with SportsLingo

Shaped By Sports | Tamara Donelson Is Unscripted

Shaped By Sport

How Tamara Donelson fell in love with mountain biking in spite of herself — and why she stepped back from the sport she loved to rediscover fun on her … [Read More...]

Jim Cavale, Unscripted

The Athlete’s Entrepreneur

Jim Cavale left baseball to pursue entrepreneurship — and he’s helped thousands of student-athletes in the process Jim Cavale is competitive by … [Read More...]

Browse Our Sports Dictionary For The Latest Sports Terms & Jargon

  • #
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z
Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | About Us | Contact Us
Copyright © 2025 · SportsLingo.com, a BrainBoost Media LLC. property.

Disclaimer: SportsLingo is an Amazon Associate and earns revenue from qualifying purchases.

In addition, SportsLingo may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from other affiliate networks.