Saturday, March 21, 2020 — Game on Ice

Introduction

Today's puzzle from Cox & Rathvon introduces us to some of the greatest names in hockey from the latter half of the twentieth century.

I invite you to leave a comment to let us know how you fared with the puzzle.

Solution to Today's Puzzle

Falcon's Experience ┌────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┬────┐ ███████████████████████████████████ └────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┴────┘ Legend: █ - solved without assistance █ - incorrect prior to use of puzzle solving tools █ - solved with assistance from puzzle solving tools █ - solved with aid of checking letters provided by puzzle solving tools █ - solved but without fully parsing the clue █ - yet to be solved

Click here for an explanation of conventions and symbols used in explaining the parsing of clues.

The purpose of this article is to explain the conventions and symbols that I use on this blog in explaining the parsing of clues.

Legend: The following symbols are used in reviews: "*" anagram "~" sounds like "<" indicates that the preceding letters are reversed "( )" encloses contained letters "_" replaces letters that have been deleted "†" indicates that the word is present in the clue

The review of a clue takes the following general structure:

#a/d   Clue containing parsing markup (num^*)

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^* num = numeration

Explanations pertaining to the wordplay (or first definition in a double definition)

(Horizontal separator)

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Explanations pertaining to the definition (or second definition in a double definition) and solution.

Explanatory Box

An explanatory box provides additional information about the clue. In most cases this information will not necessarily help in solving the clue but provides information about the clue. In the case of the weekday syndicated Daily Telegraph puzzles, such information is often intended to help the North American solver appreciate how the clue may be perceived by a British solver. These boxes may also provide information on people, places, films, television program, works of art and literature, etc. mentioned in the clue. Although the titles of these boxes will usually be drawn from a standard list, I do occasionally throw in a title specifically suggested by the subject at hand. The standard titles include: Scratching the Surface - an explanation of the surface reading of the clue Delving Deeper - in-depth information pertaining to a subject mentioned in an explanation The Story Behind the Picture - for weekday puzzles, information about an illustration found on Big Dave's Crossword Blog What did he/she/they say? - for weekday puzzles, an explanation of a remark made in a review or comment on Big Dave's Crossword Blog What are they talking about? - for weekday puzzles, an explanation of a discussion on Big Dave's Crossword Blog One box that may provide information that could prove helpful in solving the clue is the following: Here and There - for weekday puzzles, discusses words whose British meaning differs from their North American meaning

Note that there are many types of cryptic crossword clue and it is not my intention to exhaustively go through all of them here. I will only deal with clue types to the extent necessary to explain the conventions and symbols used on the blog. Furthermore, be aware that, in the world of cryptic crosswords, there seems to be an exception to every rule.

With one exception that I can think of, cryptic crossword clues provide two routes to the solution. These are commonly referred to as the definition and wordplay. While these terms serve well for most clues, there are some cases where the more formal terms of primary indication and subsidiary indication may be more appropriate.

Most cryptic crossword clues consist of a definition (primary indication) and wordplay (subsidiary indication). The definition may be:

• a "precise definition": a definition that is either taken directly from a dictionary or at least phrased in a non-misleading fashion similar to one that would be found in a dictionary
• a "cryptic definition": a definition misleadingly phrased so as to misdirect the solver either with respect to the meaning of the definition as a whole or to an incorrect sense of a word used in the definition (for example, defining topiary as "clip art")
• a "whimsical definition": a definition "invented" by the setter often by extrapolating a non-existent meaning for a word from a similar word (for example, defining a bird as a "winger" [something possessing wings] or a river as a ''flower" [something that flows] or to extrapolate that, since disembowel means 'to remove the innards of ', that discontent must mean 'to remove the contents of')
• a "definition by example": the presence of one of these is often flagged with a question mark (for example, defining atoll as "coral?" where an atoll is but one form that coral may take).

The only type of clue that I can think of where there are not two ways of finding the solution are those in which the entire clue is a cryptic definition.

I identify precise definitions by marking them with a solid underline in the clue and other varieties of definition (such as cryptic definitions, whimsical definitions, definitions by example, etc.) by marking them with a dotted underline.

In clues in which both definition and wordplay are present, the two parts of the clue combine to provide an overall meaningful statement (the surface reading) which usually bears no relationship to the underlying cryptic reading of the clue. In some cases, an extra word or phrase will be inserted into the clue to create a meaningful link between the definition and wordplay. I define clues which contain such a link word or link phrase as having an explicit link and clues which contain no link word or link phrase as having an implicit link.

I mark the existence of an explicit link by enclosing the link word or link phrase between forward slashes (/link/) and mark the existence of an implicit link with double forward slashes (//) positioned between the definition and wordplay.

Examples

A few examples may help to illustrate these points more clearly.

The first example is a clue used by Jay in DT 28573:

• 4d   Fellow left work // a failure (4)

Here the definition is "a failure" which is marked with a solid underline to show that it is a precise definition. The wordplay parses as F (fellow; abbrev.) + L (left; abbrev.) + OP (work; abbrev. used in music) which gives us the solution F|L|OP. The double forward slashes (//) between the definition and wordplay indicate the existence of an "implicit link" between the two parts of the clue (that is, no extra words are inserted into the clue to form the link).

The second example is a clue used by Giovanni in DT 28575:

• 29a   Female going to match // travels with mother in advance (10)

Here the definition "female going to match" is cryptic (the setter is attempting to misdirect our thoughts to a sports event rather than a marriage ceremony) and thus is marked with a a dotted underline. The wordplay is {RIDES (travels) + (with) MA (mother)} contained in (in) BID (advance) giving us the solution B(RIDES|MA)ID. As in the first example, the double forward slashes indicate the presence of an implicit link.

The third example is a clue used by Rufus is DT 28583:

• 18d   Knight caught by misplaced big blow /is/ staggering (8)

Here the definition is "staggering" which is marked with a solid underline to show that it is a precise definition. The wordplay parses as N ([chess symbol for] knight) contained in (caught in) an anagram (misplaced) of BIG BLOW producing the solution WOBBLI(N)G. Finally, forward slashes mark the link word (/is/).

I also use distinctive underlining to mark &lit.^[7] and semi-&lit. clues. Note that the reviewers on Big Dave's Crossword Blog generally prefer to refer to these clue types by the less pretentious names of all-in-one or semi-all-in-one clues respectively.

In an &lit. clue^[7] (or all-in-one clue) the entire clue provides not only the definition (when read one way), but under a different interpretation also serves as the wordplay.

In future, I will mark such clues with a combined solid and dashed underline. Although this is a departure from past practice, it would seem to make more sense than using a dotted underline as I have in the past). Henceforth, the dotted underline will be reserved for cryptic definitions.

In a semi-&lit. clue (or semi-all-in-one clue), either:

• the entire clue acts as the definition while a portion of the clue provides the wordplay; or
• the entire clue acts as the wordplay while a portion of the clue provides the definition.

For these clues, I will mark the definition with a solid underline and the wordplay with a  dashed underline. This means that a portion of the clue may have a solid underline, a portion of the clue may have a dashed underline and a portion of the clue may have a combined solid and dashed underline.

One final clue type is what I characterize as a cryptic definition comprised of a precise definition combined with cryptic elaboration. For example, in DT 28560 (setter unknown) the following clue appears:

•  26d   Heroic exploit, whichever way you look at it (4)

As the entire clue is a cryptic definition, it is marked with a dotted underline. The 'precise definition' is "heroic exploit" and is indicated by a solid underline.

Given the numeration, the precise definition could give rise to at least two solutions, DEED or FEAT. However, the 'cryptic elaboration' ("whichever way you look at it") indicates that the solution is a palindrome thereby immediately eliminating one of the two obvious choices.

Note that the part of the clue that I have called 'cryptic elaboration' does not provide a second independent route to the solution (as the wordplay would do in most other types of clue). Rather it merely provides a piece of additional information (elaboration) related to the 'precise definition'.

Again, this approach is a departure from past practice, but like the other changes mentioned previously is intended to remove inconsistencies in the way that I have been applying parsing markup to clues. The markup rules that I have been using until now evolved bit-by-bit over a long period of time resulting in some degree of internal inconsistency.

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Across

1a	Star // skater is knocked for a loop (8)

ASTERISK* — anagram of (knocked for a loop) SKATER IS

5a	A power unit with zip returned // home to the Senators (6)

{O|TTAW|A}< — reversal of (returned) A (†) + WATT (power unit) + O (zip; zero, nada [the letter 'O' looks like the figure representing zero])

9a	Shucks, /it’s/ Bobby and Brett (5)

HULLS — double definition

Bobby Hull^[7], nicknamed "The Golden Jet", is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. In his 23 years (1957-1980) in the National Hockey League (NHL) and World Hockey Association (WHA), Hull played for the Chicago Black Hawks, Winnipeg Jets, and Hartford Whalers.

Brett Hull^[7], son of Bobby Hull and nicknamed "The Golden Brett", is a Canadian-American former professional ice hockey player and general manager, and currently an executive vice president of the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings and Phoenix Coyotes between 1986 and 2005.

10a	Crafty players // mad at Orr & Espo (9)

OPERATORS* — anagram of (mad) AT ORR + (&) ESPO

Scratching the Surface

Bobby Orr[7] is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 12 seasons (1966-1978), the initial 10 with the Boston Bruins followed by two with the Chicago Black Hawks. Phil Esposito[7], familiarly known as Espo, is a Canadian broadcaster, and former professional ice hockey player, coach and executive. He played 18 seasons (1963-1981) in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers.

12a	Plan // a Ranger tweaked (7)

ARRANGE* — anagram of (tweaked) A RANGER

The New York Rangers^[7] are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference.

13a	Hockey great Bryan loses one // horse at the races (7)

TROTT_ER — TROTT[I]ER (hockey great Bryan) with the letter 'I' removed (missing [the Roman numeral for] one)

Bryan Trottier^[7] is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 18 seasons (1975-1994) in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins.

14a	“Spotting” /is/ not a hockey penalty (8)

NOT|ICING — NOT (†) + ICING (a hockey penalty)

In ice hockey, icing^[12] is an infraction in which a player in their team's defensive half of the rink hits the puck past the opponent's goal line but not into the net.

A Bit of Nitpicking
To be precise, I would say that icing is an infraction but not a penalty. Icing the puck results in a face-off in the defensive zone of the team committing the infraction -- not a stint in the penalty box for the player committing the infraction.

16a	Pronounced Gretzky/’s/ decline (4)

WANE~ — sounds like (pronounced) WAYNE (Gretzky)

Wayne Gretzky^[7], known as "The Great One" and regarded by many as "the greatest hockey player ever",  is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and head coach. He played 20 seasons (1979-1999)* in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers.

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^* For the 1978-79 hockey season, Gretzky played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) for the Indianapolis Racers and Edmonton Oilers. The WHA collapsed following that season and the Oilers joined the NHL.

20a	Imitate Lemieux’s last /and/ highest point (4)

APE|X — APE (imitate) + X (LemieuX's last [final letter])

Mario Lemieux^[7], nicknamed "The Magnificent One" or Le Magnifique (as well as "Super Mario"), is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played parts of 17 National Hockey League (NHL) seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins from 1984 to 2006, assuming ownership of the club in 1999.

21a	Famous team in game somewhat // heated (8)

_S|TEAM|IN|G_ — hidden in (somewhat) famouS TEAM IN Game

24a	Mark in the Hall of Fame /is/ not so neat (7)

MESSIER — double definition

Mark Messier^[7] is a Canadian former professional ice hockey center of the National Hockey League and former special assistant to the president and general manager of the New York Rangers. He played a quarter of a century in the NHL (1979–2004) with the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks.

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^* During the 1978-79 hockey season, Messier played professionally with the World Hockey Association (WHA)'s Indianapolis Racers and Cincinnati Stingers.

26a	More playful hockey: ultimately, // shooting at a target (7)

ARCHER|Y — ARCHER (more playful) + Y (hockey ultimately; final letter of hockeY)

Arch^[5] (adj.) is used in the sense of deliberately or affectedly playful and teasing.

27a	Hockey squad // is absorbing bad word of mouth? (9)

I(SLANDER)S —IS (†) containing (absorbing) SLANDER (bad word of mouth)

The New York Islanders^[7] are a professional ice hockey team based in the New York metropolitan area. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference. The team splits its home games between Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, and Barclays Center in the New York City borough of Brooklyn.

28a	Rattle // Hasek terribly (5)

SHAKE* — anagram of (terribly) HASEK

Scratching the Surface

Dominik Hašek[7], nicknamed "The Dominator", is a Czech former professional ice hockey goaltender. In his 16-season (1990-2008)* National Hockey League (NHL) career, he played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings and the Ottawa Senators. * Hašek retired for the 2002-03 season, coming out of retirement the following year. The NHL Lockout in 2004-05 resulted in the cancellation of that season. Hašek also played 10 seasons of professional hockey in Europe before joining the NHL and two more seasons after leaving.

29a	Quiet hockey arena/’s/ contract (6)

SH|RINK — SH ([admonition to be] quiet) + rink (hockey arena)

30a	After start of play, Orr & Espo transformed // role in The Tempest (8)

P|ROSPERO* — anagram of (transformed) {ORR + (&) ESPO} following (after) P (start [initial letter] of Play)

Prospero^[7] is a fictional character and the protagonist of William Shakespeare's play The Tempest.

Scratching the Surface
See 10a for an explanation of "Orr & Espo".

Down

1d	Volcanic fallout hit // religious retreat (6)

ASH|RAM — ASH (volcanic fallout) + RAM (hit)

An ashram^[5] (especially in South Asia) is a hermitage, monastic community, or other place of religious retreat.

2d	Standing, // cheer in mesmerized state (9)

T(OLE)RANCE — OLE ([Spanish] cheer) contained in (in) TRANCE (mesmerized state)

Although it sounds exceedingly awkward to my ear, I suppose that one could employ the gerund 'standing' in place of the noun 'tolerance' ⇒ I warn you, do not take my standing of your insolence for granted.

3d	Judge keeps returning nose // ring (8)

R(ESON<)ATE — RATE (judge) containing (keeps) reversal of (returning) NOSE (†)

4d	Get one goal, /or/ twenty (5)

SCORE — double definition

6d	Part of a service // to tape anew (6)

TEAPOT* — anagram of (anew) TO TAPE

7d	Concerning // a clash of opponents (5)

A|BOUT — A (†) + BOUT (clash of opponents)

8d	Miscellaneous // dope, or Danson (8)

ASS|OR|TED — ASS (dope) + OR (†) + TED (Danson)

Ted Danson^[7] is an American actor who is likely best known for playing the role of Sam Malone on the NBC sitcom Cheers.

11d	Upset at noise, // land (7)

ESTONIA* — anagram of (upset) AT NOISE

15d	Circle // bunk next to large lake (7)

COT|ERIE — COT (bunk) + (next to) ERIE (large lake)

17d	Collect // silver Gregory put away (9)

AG|GREG|ATE — AG ([symbol for the chemical element] silver) + GREG(ory) + ATE (put away)

18d	Second-rate gun accessories // serving women (8)

B|ARM|AIDS — B (second-rate) + ARM (gun) + AIDS (accessories)

19d	Gives the wrong role to // young lady having fling (8)

MIS(CAST)S — MISS (young lady) containing (having) CAST (fling)

22d	Enlist // non-U.S. soldiers going back to front (4,2)

{SIG|N ON}< — reversal of (going back to front) {NON (†) + GIS (US soldiers)}

23d	Louisiana style // in crazy decor (6)

_ZY|DECO_ — hidden in (in) craZY DECOr

Zydeco^[5] is a kind of black American dance music originally from southern Louisiana, typically featuring accordion and guitar.

25d	Fly around left // of the sun (5)

SO(L)AR — SOAR (fly) containing (around) L(eft)

26d	Norse gods // arise cryptically (5)

AESIR* — anagram of (cryptically) ARISE

In Norse mythology, Æsir^[5] denotes the Norse gods and goddesses collectively, including Odin, Thor, and Balder.

Epilogue

With virtually all major sports shut down around the world due to COVID-19, the NHL is far from the only organization whose games are "on ice".

Key to Reference Sources: 

^[1]   - The Chambers Dictionary, 11th Edition
^[2]   - Search Chambers - (Chambers 21st Century Dictionary)
^[3]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)
^[4]   - TheFreeDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
^[5]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Dictionary of English)
^[6]   - Oxford Dictionaries (Oxford Advanced American Dictionary)
^[7]   - Wikipedia
^[8]   - Reverso Online Dictionary (Collins French-English Dictionary)
^[9]   - Infoplease (Random House Unabridged Dictionary)
^[10] - CollinsDictionary.com (Collins English Dictionary)
^[11] - TheFreeDictionary.com (Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary)
^[12] - CollinsDictionary.com (Webster’s New World College Dictionary)
^[13] - MacmillanDictionary.com (Macmillan Dictionary)
^[14] - CollinsDictionary.com (COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary)

Signing off for today — Falcon