ASSISTS: are credited to the previous offensive player(s) to have played the puck prior to the goal scorer. Once the opposing team gains possession, it cancels any previous possession for purposes of assists. The opposing team (a player or goaltender) merely contacting or deflecting the puck without controlling it does NOT constitute possession. EXAMPLE 1: Players A and B handle the puck. Opposing player gains possession but turns the puck over to player C and C scores.  NO assists credited to A or B. EXAMPLE 2: Player A handles the puck. Opposing player gains possession but turns the puck over to player B. B passes to player C and C scores. Only B is credited the assist. EXAMPLE 3: Players A and B handle the puck. Opposing player does not gain possession but only deflects the puck to player C and C scores.  A and B are credited with assists. EXAMPLE 4: Player A  passes to player B who shoots the puck which is saved by the goaltender. However, player C scores on the rebound. Players A and B are credited with assists.

PLUS/MINUS: A player is awarded a “plus” when a player is on the ice when his team scores an even-strength or shorthanded goal. A player receives a “minus” when the player is on the ice for an even-strength or shorthanded goal scored by the opposing team.

GAME WINNING GOAL (GWG): The goal that gives the winning team the lead that is never relinquished. EXAMPLE: With the score tied 1-1, Team A scores to give Team A a 2-1 lead. Team A eventually wins 6-3 but never relinquishes the lead – Team A is never thereafter tied or losing after the score was 2-1. The player who scored the second goal is credited with the game winning goal.

SHOTS ON GOAL: A shot that will enter the goal if it is not stopped by the goaltender. Every goal and every save counts as shots on goal. If a shot hits the goal post or crossbar it is not considered to be a shot on goal.

GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE (GAA): The average number of goals a goaltender allows per game adjusted for overtime and partial playing time. EXAMPLES: Goaltender allows 3 goals in a regulation game – the goaltender’s GAA for the game is 3.00. Goaltender allows 3 goals in two periods played – the goaltender’s GAA is 4.50 (1.5 goals against per period calculated over three periods of play). If a goaltender plays a partial period, then the GAA is calculated based upon the total game minutes divided by minutes played multiplied by the total number of goals allowed – in a game where a goaltender plays 10 minutes and allows 2 goals, the goaltender’s GAA for the game is 9.00 (45 minutes/10 minutes played = 4.5 x 2 goal against = 9.00) .

SAVE PERCENTAGE: The number of saves made by the goaltender divided by the number of total shots faced. EXAMPLE: Goaltender faces 10 total shots and makes 9 saves allowing 1 goal. The goaltender’s save % is 0.900.