If you tackle the New York Times crossword often, you know sports clues can trip you up. One that pops up is toward the opposing goal in hockey NYT crossword clue. This clue showed up in the NYT puzzle on March 9, 2025, and the answer is a neat 5-letter word: UPICE.
Many solvers spot toward the opposing goal in a hockey NYT crossword clue and think of basic directions like “north” or “forward.” But in ice hockey, players and announcers use a special phrase for moving toward the opposing goal. They say “up ice.” When squished together for the grid, it becomes UPICE. This fits perfectly and uses common crosswords – words that show up a lot in puzzles because they have helpful letters.
Why “Up Ice” Fits as the Answer to This Hockey Direction Crossword Clue
In hockey, the rink splits into three zones: defending, neutral, and attacking. Your team’s defending zone guards your goalie. The attacking zone sits at the other end, where you try to score on the opponent’s net.
Players skate up ice when they push the puck from their end toward the opposing goal. Commentators say things like:
- “He carries it up ice on the rush!”
- “Great pass up ice to the winger!”
Up ice means advancing toward the enemy’s net – the offensive push. The opposite is “back down ice” or “down ice” when you retreat or clear the puck.
This term comes up all the time in hockey commentary phrases. Even fans who watch casually hear it during games. For NYT solvers, upice NYT crossword answer works great because U-P-I-C-E mixes vowels and consonants in a way that helps fill the grid.
Breaking Down Toward the Opposing Goal in Hockey Clue for Beginners
New to crosswords or hockey? Here’s a simple guide:
- Read the clue carefully – It describes a direction in a sport.
- Count the letters – Most sites list it as 5 letters.
- Think sports lingo – Hockey uses “up ice” (or up-ice with a hyphen) for attacking moves.
- Ignore the space – Crosswords often smash phrases together. “Up ice” turns into UPICE.
- Check crossing letters – If you have a U or P from other words, it locks in fast.
This matches other sports crossword clues where terms get shortened. For example, “hockey surface” becomes ICE, or “score in hockey” becomes GOAL.
Up Ice Crossword Clue: How This Hockey Term Sneaks Into Puzzles
Up ice counts as solid hockey terminology. You hear it in:
- NHL broadcasts
- Player interviews
- Coaching talks about hockey directional terms
It is not super rare like rules about the trapezoid (the area behind the net). In fact, if you want to learn more about that specific hockey rule, check our detailed guide on what is the purpose of the trapezoid in hockey. Most fans who watch a few games pick it up. That makes it fair for the NYT crowd – educated readers who enjoy NYT puzzle answers with a mix of knowledge.
Similar clues appear over time, like toward the opposing goal crossword clue or toward the opponent’s goal crossword. They almost always point to UPICE. Solver sites confirm this 100% for recent puzzles1.
Common Variations of the Toward the Opposing Goal in Hockey Clue
Crossword editors tweak words to keep things fresh. Watch for these related searches:
- Toward the opposing goal crossword clue
- Toward the opposing goal in hockey clue
- NYT crossword hockey clue
- Hockey term crossword answer
- Opposing goal direction clue
- Ice hockey movement term
All lead to the same spot. If you search upice NYT crossword answer, you see it tied to this exact phrasing.
Tips to Solve Hockey-Related Crossword Clues Faster
NYT loves sports, especially New York Times crossword sports clue items. Here are easy ways to get better:
- Learn basic hockey words → Goal, puck, rink, slapshot, and yes – up-ice meaning in hockey. Curious about other fighting terms? See our article on hockey terms for fighting.
- Know crossword tricks → Phrases without spaces (like UPICE) or rebus squares. For more puzzle-solving strategies, read about the Roman numerals in your password should multiply to 35 – another famous brain-teaser!
- Use helper sites wisely → But try the puzzle first for fun! While researching clues online, stay safe from scams with our guide on spotting and reporting phone scams.
- Watch games → NHL highlights teach hockey terminology quick. Want to understand passes better? Check out what does sauce mean in hockey.
- Fill easy clues first → Crossing letters often give away tough ones like this.
Even casual solvers grab it through crosses. One letter from a down clue, and UPICE jumps out.
Why This Clue Sticks With Crossword Enthusiasts
The beauty of toward the opposing goal in hockey NYT crossword clue comes from mixing worlds. Hockey fans smile when they spot their sport. Word lovers enjoy the clever smash of “up ice.”
It shows why people love NYT puzzles – fair, smart, and full of “aha!” moments.
Other fun daily crossword sports terms include:
- ENOTE (golf warning, sort of)
- ARENA (hockey home)
- DEKE (fake out move)
But up ice stays a favorite because it feels fresh yet fair.
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions About This Clue
What is the answer to “toward the opposing goal in hockey” in the NYT crossword?
The answer is UPICE. It is the phrase “up ice” with the space removed — a common crossword trick.
Why do they write it as UPICE instead of “up ice”?
Crossword grids don’t allow spaces, so multi-word phrases are combined. The same happens with answers like “ONKP” for “my lips are sealed” or “NOTIT” for “tag, you’re it.”
Is “up ice” actually a real hockey term?
Yes! Broadcasters and players use “up ice” constantly to mean advancing toward the attacking zone / opposing goal. The opposite direction is “down ice” or “backchecking.”
Has this exact clue appeared before in the New York Times?
Yes, variations toward the opposing goal in hockey NYT crossword clue have been used multiple times, most recently on March 9, 2025, and the answer has always been UPICE or a close variant2.
In Conclusion: Mastering Toward the Opposing Goal in Hockey NYT Crossword Clue
Next time you see the opposing goal in hockey NYT crossword clue, fill in UPICE with confidence. It captures real hockey terminology – moving up ice toward the opponent’s net – packed into a perfect puzzle answer.
This mix of sport and wordplay keeps solvers coming back. Now you know the story behind one of the cooler NYT crossword sports clue entries3.
What other hockey terms have stumped you in puzzles? Share in the comments – maybe we’ll break down the next one!
References and Further Reading
- DanWord.com – Quick answer display for the clue: https://www.danword.com/crossword/Toward_the_opposing_goal_in_hockey_rd2k ↩︎
- Wordplays.com – Direct solver for toward the opposing goal, in hockey: https://www.wordplays.com/crossword-solver/Toward-the-opposing-goal,-in-hockey ↩︎
- XWordInfo.com – Full archive of NYT puzzles, including March 9, 2025 (confirms UPICE at 57-Across): https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=3/9/2025 ↩︎