REFERENCE
Hockey Stats Glossary: Every Abbreviation Explained for Parents
Official box scores and apps like GameSheet are packed with abbreviations. If you have ever wondered what S or GAA actually mean, this glossary is for you. Clear, parent-friendly definitions for every stat you will see.
Offense
These are the stats that show up first in every box score. They measure scoring and playmaking — but remember, they only tell part of the story.
G — Goals
The number of times a player put the puck in the net.
The most celebrated stat, but it does not reveal how many chances it took to get there.
A — Assists
A pass or play that directly leads to a goal. Primary (1st) and secondary (2nd) assists are often both counted.
Shows playmaking, but misses the breakout passes and board battles that started the rush.
P — Points
Goals plus assists. The standard measure of offensive production.
Widely cited, yet it ignores defensive play, shot volume, and ice time.
SOG — Shots on Goal
Attempts that would have scored if the goalie had not made a save. Missed and blocked shots do not count.
A player with high SOG is creating chances, even if the goals are not there yet.
S — Shots (Attempted)
All shot attempts, including those on net, missed, and blocked. Some leagues use S for shots on goal; others use it for total attempts. Check your app's legend.
This is the stat parents ask about most. If your child is taking more shots, the scoring usually follows.
GW / GWG — Game-Winning Goal
The goal that put the winning team ahead for good.
A fun highlight, but it depends on game flow — not always the 'best' goal of the night.
ENG — Empty-Net Goal
A goal scored into an unguarded net, usually late in a game when the trailing team pulls their goalie.
Counts in stats, but coaches rarely weight it the same as even-strength scoring.
Defense & Two-Way Play
These numbers describe how a player impacts the game when the other team has the puck. They are easy to overlook, but coaches notice them.
+ — Plus (+)
A player is on the ice when their team scores an even-strength or shorthanded goal.
One half of the plus/minus equation.
- — Minus (-)
A player is on the ice when the opposing team scores an even-strength or power-play goal.
The other half. Context matters: was it a breakaway caused by a line change, or a blown coverage?
+/- — Plus/Minus
The difference between plus and minus events. A positive number means the team outscored opponents while that player was on the ice.
A rough two-way indicator, but it is heavily influenced by teammates, linemates, and usage.
PIM — Penalty Minutes
Total time a player spent in the penalty box.
Discipline matters, but not all penalties are equal. A hard-checking minor is different from a lazy hook.
HIT — Hits
Body checks delivered to separate an opponent from the puck.
Shows physical engagement. Some leagues do not track this consistently.
BLK — Blocked Shots
A player intentionally gets in front of an opponent's shot to prevent it from reaching the net.
A key defensive stat, especially for defensemen who sacrifice their body to protect the goalie.
TOI — Time on Ice
Total minutes a player was on the ice during the game.
Coaches reward trust with minutes. Rising TOI is often a leading indicator of a growing role.
FO / FOW / FOL — Faceoffs (Won / Lost)
Faceoffs taken, won, and lost. Often shown as a percentage.
Critical for centers. Winning draws means starting shifts with possession.
Goaltending
These stats belong to the goalie, but they are shaped heavily by the defense in front of them.
SV — Saves
The number of shots the goalie stopped.
More saves does not always mean better play — it can mean the other team had more chances.
SA — Shots Against
Total shots the goalie faced.
Combined with saves, this gives you the full picture of workload.
GA — Goals Against
The number of goals the goalie allowed.
Context is everything. A 3-goal night against 40 shots is very different from 3 goals on 12 shots.
GAA — Goals Against Average
Goals allowed per 60 minutes of play. Calculated across multiple games.
The standard goaltending metric. Lower is better, but team defense quality skews it heavily.
SV% — Save Percentage
Saves divided by shots against. Expressed as a decimal (e.g., .915).
A more precise measure of goalie performance than GAA. Anything above .900 is solid at youth levels.
SO — Shutout
A complete game where the goalie allows zero goals.
Usually a team achievement, not just a goalie achievement.
Special Teams
Power play and penalty kill stats show how a player performs when the team has an advantage or disadvantage.
PP — Power Play
When the opposing team has a player in the penalty box, giving your team a man advantage.
Coaches track which players get PP time — it is a sign of offensive trust.
PPG — Power Play Goal
A goal scored during a power play.
Valuable, but some coaches weight even-strength goals more heavily for development.
PPA — Power Play Assist
An assist on a power-play goal.
Shows a player is contributing during high-leverage offensive minutes.
PPP — Power Play Points
Goals plus assists on the power play.
A quick way to see who produces when the team has an advantage.
SH — Shorthanded
When your team has a player in the penalty box, playing with a man disadvantage.
Shorthanded minutes are tough. Coaches notice players who stay disciplined and block lanes.
SHG — Shorthanded Goal
A goal scored while your team is shorthanded.
Rare and exciting. Usually comes from speed and anticipation.
SHA — Shorthanded Assist
An assist on a shorthanded goal.
Even rarer. Shows a player who thinks ahead while under pressure.
Go deeper than the box score.
RinkSheet tracks the development stats that official apps miss — shot volume, shift length, rest ratios, and more. Coming soon.
Coming soon