What Are Apples in Hockey? A Simple Guide to This Popular Slang Term

At Best Chirps Hockey, we’re all about two things: clean-but-deadly chirps and helping new fans understand the sport. And part of understanding hockey isn’t just knowing the rules. It’s also knowing the slang. Hockey has a lot of it, and it can feel like learning a whole new language when you’re first getting into the game.

One of the very first slang terms I learned watching hockey was the word “apple.” If you’ve heard it tossed around during a game and wondered what on earth fruit has to do with hockey, I’ve got you.

Let’s break it down.

So… What Are Apples in Hockey?

In hockey, an “apple” is simply a slang term for an assist. When a goal is scored, an assist is awarded to the one or two players who touched the puck right before the goal scorer did. These are the teammates who helped set up the play, made the pass, or created the moment that made the goal possible.

So yes. When someone says a player got an “apple,” they mean they earned an assist.

No fruit involved.

Why Assists (a.k.a. Apples) Matter

Hockey is fast, strategic, and incredibly team-oriented. Most goals don’t happen because of one person. They happen because teammates work together to execute the play.

That’s why apples are such a big deal. They recognize the players who set up the scoring chances, not just the one who finishes the job.

You’ll hear commentators mention apples during games, you’ll see the stat tracked on score sheets, and you’ll hear players celebrate them in interviews because they show who’s making great plays happen.

Apple = Assist. Simple as That.

So if you’re brand new to the sport and someone says a guy has “two apples,” you now know exactly what they’re talking about.

Hockey slang can feel overwhelming, but once you start learning it, the whole game becomes way more fun!