CENTER OR CENTER FORWARD    the center player in the fforward line who usually leads his team's attack when they are trying to score; takes part in most of the face-offs. CENTER FACE-OFF CIRCLE    a 30-foot in diameter circcle at the center of the ice where the puck is dropped in a face-off to start the game and to restart the game after a goal is scored. CENTER ICE    the area between the two blue lines; also called the neutral zone. CENTER LINE    a red, 12-inch wide line aacross the ice midway between the two goals. CHARGING    a minor penalty whicch occurs when a player deliberately moves more than two steps when body checking an opponent; a major penalty is called if it results in serious injury or blood is drawn. CHECK OR CHECKING    any defensive/guarding tactic used by players done by moving their bodies against an opponent to get the puck away; two main types of check - stick and body; CLEARING THE PUCK    getting the puck out of one's own defensive zone. CLEARING THE ZONE    when a defending player seends the puck out of the attaking zone, all the attacking players must leave the zone to avoid being called offsides when the puck reenters the zone. CREASE LINES    the red lines which form tthe semi-circular area with a 6-foot radius in front of the goal called the goal crease. CROSS-CHECKING    a minor penalty which occuurs when a player holds his stick in both hands and drives the shaft into an opponent; a stick check where a player has both hands on the stick and no part of the stick on the ice; if blood is drawn or serious injury occurs, becomes a major penalty and a game misconduct.