Hockey Night in....Costa Rica!

It's that time of year again...yes the playoffs are here! I'll admit it's a little strange to be in a country where hockey is no big deal. On a side note, China just built Costa Rica a big new shiny soccer stadium. I think the Canadian government needs to show a little goodwill to CR and build an ice rink!!! I attend a school where the majority of students are American, but only a handful have any interest in hockey. I have found one fast friend from California who is a Kings fan...but I will forgive her. Thankfully there are a few fellow Canadians here who understand why I smile at the mention of the word "zamboni". Kind of by accident this week, I found a few hockey terms translated into Spanish, so I went on a quest to find as much terminology as I could. I even found an internet site where a serious debate was going on (in Spanish) over the translation of the term "chippy". The verdict: unresolved. So I'm looking forward to catching some games online--it's kind of a taste of home, especially when it's tuned into CBC television. Then I get the full deal, including commercials about David Suzuki and petitions to tune into 'The National' after the game. Anyway, here is my list of Spanish hockey vocabulary (commit it to memory--there will be a quiz on Monday), followed by a soundbite of a hockey announcer that made me laugh....

ice=hielo

hockey game=partido de hockey

ice hockey=hockey sobre hielo.... as opposed to.....

field hockey=hockey sobre hierba

goal=portería

goal crease = zona de la portería

goalie, goaltender = portero

goalie's stick=bastón del portero

face-off spot = punto de saque

centre face-off circle = círculo de saque inicial

face-off circle = círculo de reanudación del juego

period=tiempos (tres tiempos)

blue line=línea azul

red line = línea media/roja

centre=centro

neutral zone=zona neutral

defense,defenseman=defensa

wing, winger=extremo

referee=árbitro

linesman=juez de línea

boards=valla de madera

corner=esquina

stick=palo

stick blade=pala del stick

puck=disco

skate(verb)=patinar

skate=patín

skate blade=cuchilla

pass=pasar

hit=golpear

shoot=disparar

helmet=casco

mouthguard=protector bucal

socks=calcetines

mask=careta

gloves=guantes

fights=riñas

penalty=penalti/castigo

penalty box/bench=banquillo de los penaltis

playoff=los playoff