Hockey 101
Game Basics
The Object of the Game
To win the game by scoring more goals than the opposing team.
How to Score Goals
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A team scores when a player shoots the puck into the opposing team’s goal - the average shot is 80-90 mph.
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Players who help set up a goal earn an “assist.” A maximum of two (2) players can assist on each goal.
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Hockey does not employ a large variety of set plays like football. Instead, the players must react from instinct. TEAM WORK IS THE KEY.
Length of Game
A regulation game is three 20-minute periods with 15-minute intermissions in between each period. If the game is tied at the end of regulation both teams are awarded one league point and the game goes into a shootout to determine the winner.
The Puck
Weighs six (6) ounces, is one (1) inch thick and three (3) inches in diameter. The puck is made of compressed, vulcanized rubber, and is frozen to reduce the bounce of the rubber and to reduce friction. The puck can be propelled to over 100 miles per hour.
Shootout
If a regulation game is tied, each team is allowed five shots against the opposing goalie by five different players, taken one at a time, to break the tie.
Speed
Players skate at an average of 30 miles per hour – about 50% faster than humans can run.
Stoppages of Play
Hockey’s excitement is due to the continuous action. Only the officials can stop the game. A whistle stops play when:
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A player receives a penalty
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A goalie stops a shot and holds onto the puck
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The puck is shot out of the rink
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When a player shoots the puck from behind the red center line into the opposing team’s defensive zone and the puck travels past the red goal line but not into the goal (icing).
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A referee determines a player is seriously injured.
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A player catches the puck in his hand and the puck is declared dead
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The puck is caught between sticks and/or skates of two opposing players and neither one can free it, the puck is called “frozen”
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Play does not stop if a player loses any piece of his equipment, including sticks or gloves.
Substitutions of Players Main Rules of the Game
Can substitute players at any time, also called “changing on the fly.”
The Rink
The ice hockey rink at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum has an official surface of 200 feet long by 85 feet wide. The ice is only one (1) inch thick and is surrounded by fiberglass boards approximately three and a half (3 ½) feet high with glass that rises approximately 40 inches above the boards. Four miles of pipe exists under the rink to keep the ice frozen and maintain an ideal surface. The red and blue lines divide the rink into three zones; offensive, neutral and defensive. There is a goal at each end of the rink, each is six feet wide and four feet tall.
The Player Positions
The Goaltender
The main responsibility of the goaltender is to keep the puck from entering the goal. There are no restrictions placed on the methods the goalie employs, he may use any part of his body or piece of equipment to do so, and is allowed to catch or smother the puck. Offensive contributions are limited, a goalkeeper rarely scores a goal and only on rare occasions does he receive credit for an assist.
Defensemen
The two defensemen try to stop the incoming play at their own blue line. They also block shots, clear the puck in front of their goal, and guard the opposing forwards. Offensively, they carry the puck up the ice or pass the puck to the forwards, then follow the play into the attacking zone and help to keep it there.
Center
The center operates mostly up and down the middle of the ice and usually leads his team’s attack by carrying the puck. He is the playmaker and sets up plays by exchanging passes with his two wingmen and tries to steer the play in the attacking zone. He is the quarterback of the team. Defensively, he tries to keep the puck in the attacking zone by breaking up a play before it gets to his team’s side of the ice.
Wings
The two wings (right and left) move up and down the sides of the rink with the direction of play. Offensively, they work with the center on the attack to set up shots on the goal. Good wings usually score more goals and have fewer assists than centers. Defensively, they try to disrupt playmaking by the opposing team’s wings.
The Equipment
Helmet
The helmet is made of lightweight fiber or plastic with an inner cushion of foam padding.
Shoulder Pads
The shoulder pads extend over the front and back to add protection to the chest and upper back.
Elbow Pads
Elbow pads protect the elbows and upper forearms.
Gloves
The gloves have individually padded fingers and also protect the wrist and forearm.
Pants
Hockey pants have fiber padding on the front and side of the thigh. They’re high enough to protect the kidneys and lower back.
Knee/Shin Pads
Knee and shin pads are made of fiber or plastic and protect these areas with thick, hard padding.
Skates
Hockey skates have hard toes and built-in tendon guards.
Stick
Hockey sticks are made of wood or aluminum and must not exceed 63 inches from heel to end of shaft.
Goaltender Equipment
A goalie’s equipment differs from the other players’ in several ways:
Icing
Icing is called when the team in possession of the puck shoots at the goal from behind the red center line and the puck goes into the end of the rink across the red goal line, but not into the goal. Icing does not occur when a player shoots the puck from the offensive zone side of center ice into the opposition’s end of the rink. Icing is called when:
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A team is short-handed
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If the puck is touched by the goalie before it touches the goal line
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If the puck passes through any part of the goal crease before it crosses the goal line, or goes into the goal
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If a member of the attacking team touches it first
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When, in the judgement of the linesman, a defending team member could have played the puck before it crossed the goal line.
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When, due to penalty or penalties, a team is playing with an uneven number of players.
Offside
All the attacking players must go into the attacking zone after the puck. A player is offside when both of their skates go over the blue line into the attacking zone before the puck. If only one skate is over the blue line, he is onside. Offside prevents an attacking player from waiting near the opponents goal for a long pass.
A two-line pass occurs when a player passes the puck from the defending zone to a teammate past the center red line, thus crossing the blue line and the red line. The puck’s position determines in which zone the pass was made, not the player’s skates.
Penalties
Penalties are called by the referee. The linesmen concentrate mainly on calling offsides and icing. Rarely, a linesman may call a misconduct penalty or ask the referee to assess one if he thinks it is justified.
Minor (MN)
Two minutes in the penalty box for minor infractions including tripping, holding, hooking, interference and high sticking. No substitutions permitted. Penalty is over when the team on the power play scores or two minutes elapse.
Major (MJ)
Five minutes in the penalty box for fighting and minor penalties that are flagrant and result in injury. The penalized player must stay in the penalty box regardless if the power play team scores. No substitutions permitted.
Misconduct
Ten minutes in the penalty box for various forms of unsportsmanlike conduct, the penalized team is allowed to immediately replace the player serving the misconduct penalty. A Game Misconduct or Gross Misconduct penalty called against a player will result in that player’s immediate expulsion from the game for the remainder of its duration. The penalized team is allowed to immediately replace the penalized player on the ice.
Penalty Shot
Occurs when a player is interfered from behind while breaking in alone on the opposing net. The player who has been interfered with may skate on the opponent’s goal and take a shot on the goal contested only by a goaltender. A penalty shot may also be awarded for a rules violation, and not interference with a player. In this case, the designated captain of the team awarded the shot may choose the player to take the shot from among the players on the ice at the time of the violation.
Referee Signal Guide
Boarding
The referee pounds the closed fist of one hand into the other. Boarding is called for driving an opponent into the dasher boards.
Charging
The referee rotates his clenched fists in front of his chest. Charging is called for taking more than three (3) strides before checking an opponent.
Cross-Checking
The referee makes a forward and backward motion with his fists extending from the chest. Cross-checking is called for hitting an opponent with both hands on the stick and with no part of the stick on the ice.
Delayed Calling of Penalty
The referee extends his arm and points to the penalized player until the penalized team regains possession of the puck.
Elbowing
The referee will tap his elbow with the opposite hand. Elbowing is called when a player uses an elbow to impede an opponent.
High-Sticking
The referee will hold both fists, clenched, one above the other at the side of the head. High-sticking is called for carrying the stick above the shoulder against an opponent.
Holding
The referee will clasp his wrists in front of the chest. Holding is called for using hands on an opponent, or his equipment.
Hooking
The referee performs a tugging motion with his arms. Hooking is called for using a stick or block to hook an opponent.
Icing
Linesman’s arms folded across the upper chest.
Interference
The referee will cross his arms in front of his chest with fists closed. Interference is called for having contact with an opponent not in possession of the puck.
Kneeing
The referee will slap the knee with the palm of his hand. Kneeing is called when using a knee to impede opponent.
Misconduct
The referee will place both hands on his hips. This penalty is called for various forms of misconduct, or when a player incurs a second major penalty in a game.
Roughing
The referee will perform a thrusting motion with his arm extending from the side. Roughing is called for engaging in fisticuffs or shoving.
Slashing
The referee will chop one hand across the opposite forearm. Slashing is called for swinging the stick at an opponent.
Spearing
The referee will perform a jabbing motion with both hands in front of the body. Spearing is called for using the stick like a spear.
Tripping
The referee will strike the right leg with the right hand below the knee. Tripping is called for using the stick, arm or leg to cause the opponent to trip or fall.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct
The referee will use both hands to form a “T” in front of the chest.
Wash-Out
The referee will swing both arms across the body with the palms down. When this penalty signal is used by the referee, it means goal is disallowed; when it is used by a linesman, it means no off-side or no icing.
Hockey Lingo
Assists
A pass or series of passes which immediately precede a goal. A maximum of two assists are credited for one goal. The goal-scorer cannot be credited with an assist.
Backcheck
Forwards in the enemy zone skate back quickly to their own end to protect the goal.
Body Check
To ride or drive an opponent into the dasher boards. Slowing or stopping an opponent with the puck by using his hip or shoulder. (Legal)
Breakaway
On a breakaway a player skates in on the goal ahead of all opponents except the goaltender; no opponent between the puck carrier and opponent’s goal except the goalkeeper.
Butt-Ending
Hitting an opponent with the end of the stick farthest from the blade. Illegal and calls for a penalty.
Charging
Taking more than two (2) strides, or jumping before checking an opponent. Illegal and calls from a penalty.
Crease
Semi-circular area with a six-foot (6-foot) radius drawn in front of the goal. No attacking player may enter into this area unless pushed in.
Cross-Checking
Hitting an opponent with both hands on the stick and no part of the stick on the ice. Illegal and calls for a penalty.
Puck carrier passes the puck behind him to a trailing teammate.
Deke
To fake out an opponent.
Faceoff
How the puck is put into play to start the game or after any stop in game action.
Five-Hole
A goal passes through the goalie’s legs.
Forechecking
Hustling into the opponent’s defensive zone by the forwards who want to keep the puck there, and hopefully take it away.
Freezing the Puck
Pinning the puck against the boards with either the stick or skates.
Game Misconduct
Suspension for balance of game, regardless of how much time remains to be played.
Hat Trick
Three goals scored by the same player in one game.
Headmanning
When a player passes the puck forward to an attacking teammate.
High-Sticking
Illegally striking an opponent with the stick above shoulder level.
Interference
Impeding the progress of an opponent who doesn’t have the puck or who is in contention for the puck. Also called for knocking an opponent’s fallen stick out of his reach. Illegal and calls for a penalty.
Neutral Zone
Center ice between the blue lines.
Penalty Killing
The time that a team is playing shorthanded.
Poke Check
To dislodge the puck from the puck carrier by stabbing at it with the blade of a stick. (Legal)
Point
Position just inside the opposition’s blue line usually manned by a defenseman when their team is in control of the puck in the opposition’s zone.
Power Play
A team with more players on the ice than the opposition due to penalties.
Screen Shot
A shot the goalie cannot see clearly because of a player between him and the shooter.
Shorthanded
The team playing with one or more players in the penalty box.
Slap Shot
A shot in which the player raises the stick in a back swing with his strong hand held low on the shaft and his other hand on the end as a pivot. When the stick comes down to the puck, the player leans into the stick, adding power to the shot which can reach velocities up to 120 miles per hour.
Slashing
Sticking an opponent with the stick. Illegal and calls for a penalty even if no contact occurs.
Slot
The “alley” between the two circles directly in front of the nets.
Spearing
Using the stick like a spear. Illegal and calls for a 5-minute major penalty.
Stick-Handling
Carrying the puck along the ice with the stick.
Sweep-Check
Using the entire length of the stick while laying flat on the ice in order to take the puck from the center.
Wrist Shot
A shot made using a strong flicking of the wrist and forearm muscles with the stick blade kept on the ice; is slower, but more accurate than a slap shot.
Zamboni
Machine used to clean the ice and smooth it out between periods. The Zamboni is named after its inventor, Frank Zamboni.
Did You Know?
The worlds first ice surface to be frozen by mechanical means was the Glaciarium in
Before 1914, referees used to place the puck on the ice between the players’ sticks for face-offs. This led to many cuts, bruises, and even broken hands for the referees. Starting in 1914, the referees were allowed to drop the puck between the players’ sticks.
The in-line skate was actually designed before the roller skate in the 18th century by the Dutch and was simply a metal frame attached to an old hockey boot. It was not manufactured, however, until the early 1980’s by the Olson brothers in
How Did the Game of Hockey Begin?
Until the mid-1980’s, it was generally accepted that ice hockey derived from English field hockey and Indian lacrosse and was spread throughout Canada by British soldiers in the mid-1800’s. Research then turned up the mention of a hockey-like game, played in the early 1800’s in
The name hockey – as the organized game came to be known, has been attributed to the French word “hoquet” (shepherd’s stick.) The term rink, referring to the designated area of play, was originally used in the game of curling in 18th-century
Early hockey games allowed as many as 30 players a side on the ice, and the goals were two stones, each frozen into one end of the ice. The first use of a puck, instead of a ball, was recorded at
Hockey Q & A
Q. What year was the first formal ice hockey game played in?
A. The first year on record was 1855 in
Q. What happens when the puck is deflected by a player?
A. Many people think that deflections are mere luck. Actually, however, players practice on deflections constantly, standing off to the side of the nets, or in front, and deflecting the shot from outside to another area of the cage. Seldom does a goalie have time to react to a deflection as the puck changes directions off someone else’s stick or skate.
Q. What year did the National Hockey League begin its first season?
A. In 1917, the NHL began with the following “Original Six” teams: Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Q. What was the price of the
A. The Stanley Cup was purchased in the late 1890’s by Lord Stanley of
Q. What is the size and weight of an official game puck?
A. An official game puck measures three inches in diameter and one inch thick. It weighs six ounces and is constructed of vulcanized rubber. The puck is not only solid to remove the “bounce,” but it is frozen prior to professional games to make it even more bounce resistant.
Q. Can a puck be kicked into the net for a score?
A. Not kicked in intentionally, but a puck can be deflected off a skate, or off a player’s body if no overt attempt is made to throw it or kick it in.
Q. What if a puck is stopped, or stops on the goal line?
A. There is no goal. The puck must completely clear the goal line between the posts to be counted as a goal.
Q. Which is more difficult for a goalie to stop: a slap shot or a wrist shot?
A. There are several factors involved. Generally speaking, the wrist shot takes the goalie more by surprise. The slap shot, while it is harder and faster, can frequently be timed by the netminder.
Q. What are the dimensions of player’s sticks?
A. The stick shaft (heel of the blade to the top grip of the shaft) may not exceed 63 inches. The stick blade (heel to toe) may be no more than 12 inches long and three inches wide. Sticks weigh 17 to 25 ounces. All sticks are not alike; they may be made of wood, aluminum, graphite, fiberglass, plastic or a combination of all five (generally, northern white ash or rock elm is used for the wooden parts of the stick.) The handle is one piece and the laminate blade is affixed to it. Each player has their own personalized and patterned stick.
Q. What are hockey sticks made of?
A. Generally, northern white ash, or rock elm. The handle is one piece and the laminated blade is affixed to it. Sticks may not exceed 58 inches in length.
Q. Are all sticks alike?
A. Far from it. Just as baseball players have their individually personalized bats, so hockey players have their “patterned” sticks. Flexibility, lie (angle of the blade), weight, etc., vary from player to player.
Q. What if an offensive player is in the crease during a goal?
A. If he is there under his own power, there is no score. A goal may be awarded if he was forced into the crease or held there by a defending player. An offensive player may carry the puck into the crease and score.
Q. The goalie frequently comes far out of the nets, doesn’t this leave a very inviting target?
A. Most often, when the goaltender comes out in front, it is to reduce the shooting area, cut down the angle of the shooter or force the shooter to unleash his shot too wide or too soon. Of course, after coming out of the net, the goalie is usually backing up slowly, trying to get the shooter to commit first.
Q. Can a goalie score a goal?
A. While it is not unusual for a goalie to be credited with an assist, very few goalies in hockey history have actually scored a goal.
Q. Who gets credit for an assist?
A. The last player, or players (not more than two) who touch the puck prior to the scoring of a goal. As an example, player A passes to B who passes to C who passes to D who scores the goal; players C and B are credited with “assists.” However, if C controls the puck and passes it to D, who scores, only C would get credit for the assist.
Q. What are the dimensions of the nets?
A. The nets are six feet wide and four feet high – allowing twenty-four square feet between the pipes for potential scoring opportunity.
Q. How fast does the puck travel?
A. Some slap-shot shooters can propel the puck between 90-100 miles per hour (MPH). Speeds of up to 120 MPH have been recorded by some of the hardest shooters. Compounding the problem for goaltenders is that frequently the puck will curve in flight, much like a baseball.
Q. What is a “Hat Trick”?
A. A “Hat Trick” is when one player scores three goals in one game. A “Natural Hat Trick” is scoring three goals in a row within the same period, with no intervening goals from either team. A “Gordy Howe Hat Trick” is when a player has a goal, an assist and a fight during one game.
Q. Why is it called a “Hat Trick”?
A. This question poses some difficulty as there exist numerous answers and no definite way of proving which historical view is correct. Below you will find outlined the four most common answers.
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Hockey borrowed the term from Cricket. In 1958, a Cricket player in took three wickets with consecutive balls, an incredible trick. As a reward, his club gave the bowler a new hat, hence the name “Hat Trick.”
- In the early days of hockey history, players earned little money from their teams and fans were not allowed to give the players money. In those days, hats were a sign of wealth and affluence and were worn by all respectable men. As a result, the fans gave players hats instead of money. Unable, due to rules and practicality, to give players a hat after every game, fans only gave a hat to a player when he accomplished the impressive feat of scoring three goals in one game.
- When the sport of hockey first began, it was a very different game than it is today. Instead of putting the puck into the net to score, the players had to knock the puck, on the ice, between two posts. The goal judge sat five feet back from the posts and waved his hankie when a goal was scored. On one windy day, a goal judge had his hankie blow away. To get the attention of the players and fans when a goal was scored, he threw his hat on the ice. It just so happened to be after the player scored his third goal. From this point on, fans took to throwing their hats on the ice after a “Hat Trick!”
- “I take my hat off to you.” When a player managed the amazing task of scoring three goals in one game, the fans recognized this by taking their hats off to the player. This eventually turned into the fans throwing their hats on the ice after a “Hat Trick!”
Q. When hockey players suit up with all of their equipment, how much more do they weigh?
A. On average, when a player suits up with skates, helmet, shoulder pads, shin pads, elbow pads, gloves, hockey pants, socks, stick, suspenders, garter belt, athletic supporter and jersey, they are adding an extra 25-35 pounds to their body weight. The equipment used by goalies increase their weight by 40-45 pounds.
Q. Why doesn’t the referee help quell fights?
A. Several reasons: for one, he’s observing who should receive the penalties for the infractions; also, it is quite hazardous in those close quarters with sticks and gloves and players frequently on the ice. Since he is in sole control of the game, the referee has to protect himself from injury.
