What is a crease in hockey?

A crease in hockey refers to the marked area in front of the goal, also known as the goal crease or goalie crease. It is a semi-circular region in which the goaltender stands and it serves various purposes:

1. Predominantly for the goalie: The main purpose of the crease is to establish a protected area for the goalie to guard the goal, preventing opposition players from interfering with them. The crease allows the goaltender to focus on making saves without getting obstructed or checked by opposing players.

2. Goaltender interference: Opposing players are not allowed to enter the crease and make contact with the goalie when they are standing in their designated area. If an opponent runs into or interferes with the goalie while inside the crease, penalties may be assessed.

3. Goal review: In the case of a potential goal, officials will often review whether any player's skate or stick was inside the crease during the act of scoring. If an attacking player is in the crease, it may result in the disallowance of a goal.

4. Puck recovery: The crease is also used for rebound control. When a shot is blocked or saved by the goalie, players from both teams may try to get into the crease to retrieve or deflect the loose puck. This often leads to intense battles between attackers and defenders trying to gain possession.

5. Limiting the goalie's movement: While the goalie has the right to move outside the crease to challenge shooters or make saves, they must not interfere with opposing players from outside the crease. They are subject to penalties if they intentionally impede or hit an opponent.

Overall, the crease in hockey acts as a designated zone to protect and give the goalie proper space to perform their duties without interference, while also maintaining fair play regarding goal-scoring opportunities.