What if a puck is stopped, or stops on the goal line?
There is no goal.  The puck must completely clear the goal line between the posts to be counted as a goal.

What if an offensive player is in the crease, the red outlined area in front of the nets?
If he is there under his own power, there is no goal.  A goal may be awarded if he was forced into the crease or held there by a defending player.  An offensive player may carry the puck into the crease and score.

Why is it called a hat trick when a player scores three goals in a game?
A hat trick originally meant three goals in a row, with no intervening goals by either team.  Hockey borrowed the term from Cricket.  In 1858, a cricket player in England took three wickets with consecutive balls, an incredible trick.  As a reward, his club gave the bowler a new hat, hence the term "hat trick."  Also a "natural hat trick" is the term now used for scoring three back-to-back goals without anyone else scoring a goal in between.

How large of an area does the goalie protect?
The nets are six feet wide, four feet high - a target of 24 square feet.

Who gets credit for an assist?
The last player, or players (not more than two) who touch the puck prior to the scoring of a goal.  Example: Player A passes to B who passes to C who passes to D who scores the goal.  Players C and B are credited with assists.  However, if C controls the puck and passes to D who scores, only C would get credit for an assist.

What is the 5 hole?
The space between a goalies pads.

More to come..........Send us your Questions!!