One might think the backcheck in hockey is the opposite of the forecheck. Here’s what the term actually means.

Having a strong transition game in hockey is one of the most important aspects of being an NHL player. It involves playing the whole 200 feet of a hockey rink and moving up and down the ice effortlessly. It’s one of the hallmarks of the Vegas Golden Knights, for they’ve employed players who’ve moved through different zones without any complications.

However, a team can be caught off-guard and put on the defensive. That’s bad news, specifically if that team has fallen behind the opposing offense, leading to a breakaway. The result could be a goal that leads to a complete momentum shift, hurting the victimized club.

Therefore, it’s expected that hockey teams like the Golden Knights want to avoid this. No matter if it’s careless turnovers or errant passes, it can cost them the game. It’s in a similar vein to a bad goaltender interference call, which can ruin any hope of winning a game. Therefore, it’s best to avoid this energy-sucking vampire at all costs.

Of course, there’s a term that can help prevent this if it’s developed right. It’s the backcheck in hockey and it’s meant to be a part of that transition game. What does the term mean on the ice? Is it the exact opposite of the forecheck? Get your pens and piece of paper out, class. It’s time for some more Hockey 101.

The definition of the backcheck in hockey (and how it affects the Vegas Golden Knights)

No, it’s not where the referees check a hockey player for any ticks or other pests. It’s also not where a player skates backward into an opponent, smashing him into the boards. The definition of the term is as follows:

“To skate back towards one’s own goal while closely defending against the offensive rushes of an opposing player in ice hockey.”

– Merriam-Webster

A successful backcheck means skating to the other end successfully to stop the other team from attacking the net. As mentioned, this situation can arise from a faulty turnover, errant pass, or different circumstances, leading to the team going into transition.

The perfect example of this was in 2019 when the Vegas Golden Knights faced off against the San Jose Sharks in Game 6. With the game in the second overtime, Vegas was on the power play. Suddenly, Marc-Edouard Vlasic gets a hold of an errant puck and passes it to future Golden Knight, Tomas Hertl.

With Vegas now on the backcheck, Hertl only has one defender to deal with. He fires a wrist shot past Marc-Andre Fleury for the game-winning goal. Golden Knights fans knew what happened in the next game, with disaster striking the franchise. Fans are hoping another disastrous backcheck isn’t in the team’s future this season… or beyond.