blueliner
/ˈbluːlʌɪnə/noun Ice Hockey
A defenceman: the blueliner has played in a total of 110 games...
- A 5'10", 180 lb. blueliner was named the league's top defenceman.
- It was a well-deserved honor for the league's accomplished blueliner.
- Not since the halcyon days of Orr and Denis Potvin has a young blueliner been so dominant at his position.
Origin
1930s: from blue line, with reference to the usual position of defensive players in the area behind this line on their team's side of the rink.