Ice Hockey

I

Introduction

Ice Hockey, fast-paced winter sport in which two opposing teams of skaters use long, curved sticks to try to drive a hard rubber disk into each other’s goal. A rough, action-packed game, ice hockey is considered one of the fastest of all sports. It is played in about 30 countries, principally in North America, Europe, and the countries of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Ice hockey is especially popular in Canada, where the modern game developed. Other forms of the sport include field hockey and street hockey.

II

Rink

Ice hockey can be played outdoors or indoors. Most games are played indoors, where the arena is called a rink. A rink has a rectangular ice surface surrounded by a hard, fixed fence or wall, commonly called the boards. The boards are generally 40 to 48 in (1 to 1.2 m) high. They curve at each corner of the rink. Shatterproof glass fixed atop the boards keeps the puck in play and protects spectators. The rink’s dimensions are determined not by the size, age, or skill levels of players, but by where the rink is built. This means that youth hockey players generally compete on the same-sized ice surface as older, more skilled competitors. Standard rinks in North America are 200 ft (60.9 m) long and 85 ft (25.9 m) wide. Most rinks outside North America are 200.13 ft (61 m) long and 98.5 ft (30 m) wide.

Rinks are divided into sections, or zones, by painted lines across the ice. Circles and dots also mark important locations. The red centerline splits the ice surface in half. Blue lines situated roughly 60 ft (18 m) from each goal denote end zones. For each team, the zone that it is defending is the defending zone, and the one that houses the opponents’ goal is the attacking zone. The area between the blue lines is the neutral zone.

The blue spot at center ice is where play begins. Additionally, there are eight red spots on the rink, all approximately 24 feet (7.3 m) from the boards, where play starts again after it has been stopped during a game.

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At each end of the rink, there is a red line at the point where the boards begin to curve. In the middle of this goal line, the goal is moored. Each goal consists of an iron frame 4 ft (1.22 m) high and 6 ft (1.83 m) wide. Extending from the back of the frame down to the ice surface are thin, curved bars that support a mesh net. Goals are held in place by short pegs embedded in the ice. The pegs and goal posts separate if sufficient contact is made, so that players are less likely to be injured when colliding with the net. Play stops whenever a net is knocked from its pegs.

In front of the net is a painted half-circle called the crease. Attacking players are prohibited from entering this area unless the puck is already there. Attacking players are also prohibited from making contact with the goaltender, or goalie, while in the crease.

Most rinks have benches for each team. The benches for both teams are on the same side of the ice, but are separated. Each bench has a door at both ends that opens into the bench area, away from the ice. Defensive players generally sit at one end of a bench, offensive players at the other. Because players are often substituted while the puck is in play, players frequently change on the fly, jumping over the boards and onto the ice to replace teammates. Coaches and one or two members of each team’s medical and equipment staff are the only other people allowed in the bench area.

Opposite the team benches on the other side of the rink are the penalty boxes. Players must go to the box after the referee calls a penalty against them. Like team benches, the penalty boxes are behind the boards, with a door that swings into the box. The boxes for each team are usually separated by a partition or booth where the game timekeeper and penalty timekeeper sit. An official opens the penalty box door when a player’s penalty expires. If the puck is in play, players leaving the box either join the play or skate to their bench.

III

Team

In a regulation ice hockey game, each team fields six players. There are three positions: forward, defense, and goalie. The three forwards—the center, left wing, and right wing—form a unit called a line. A team rotates lines in and out of the game to maximize effectiveness and keep players fresh. The forwards are joined by two defenders, who also rotate in and out of the game, though less frequently than the forwards. The goalie generally plays the entire game. Although positions are named, players are not bound by rules from skating to all areas of the rink. Forwards sometimes play defense, and defenders will score on occasion.

Centers generally skate between the wings and serve as the focal point of the offense. The left and right wings skate on their respective sides of the rink and remain there while playing offense or defense. Traditionally, centers are good passers who feed the puck to the wings, who are good shooters.

Like the wings, each defender skates on a specific side of the rink. Although some defenders have exceptional offensive skills, their primary responsibility is to prevent opponents from scoring. Defense is considered the most difficult position to master because defenders must skate backward as well as they skate forward, so that when the opposition attacks, they can face the rush and stop it. They must also be strong enough to prevent opponents from standing in front of the net, where they can easily score.

The goalie has one primary responsibility: to prevent the puck from entering the net. Good skating and puck-handling skills are advantages, but the ability to react quickly and block shots are the goalie’s most important skills. Each blocked shot, called a save, is recorded. A goalie’s save percentage, goals-against average (the number of goals allowed per game), and win-loss-tie record are the primary indications of his or her skill level.

A coach and one or more assistants instruct and motivate the players before and during games. The coaches develop strategies to exploit their team’s strengths and minimize its weaknesses. During games, a coach determines which players will play, and when. The coach’s main objective is to deploy the team in favorable matchups that pit the best defensive players against the opponent’s top scorers and vice versa. Because ice hockey is a game of speed and strength, the coach must also ensure that a slower or smaller line does not play against an opponent’s faster or larger line.

One player from each team serves as captain, appointed by the coach or elected by the players. Generally this person is a respected and trusted leader, and often a top player. The captain wears a C on the uniform jersey, and one or two alternate captains wear an A on their jerseys. The captain and the alternates are the only players permitted to speak with officials regarding rulings made during the game. The captain relays these explanations and interpretations to the coach, who must remain on the bench.

IV

Play

Organized ice hockey games are divided into three equal segments called periods. Professional, top-level international, and college games are played for 60 minutes in three 20-minute periods. Two 15-minute intermissions after the first and second periods allow players to rest while the ice is resurfaced. At lower levels, games are shorter, generally 30 or 45 minutes.

Each period begins with a face-off at the blue dot at center ice. During the face-off one player from each team lines up at the dot with the stick blade on the ice. After the referee drops the puck, the two players attempt to gain possession of it. Quick hands and strength are essential qualities for players participating in the face-off.

Once the puck is dropped, it is in play until an official’s whistle stops it, a goal is scored, or time expires. The team on offense tries to move the puck forward and score. The forwards are generally at the head of an offensive rush, while the defenders move up behind them. Meanwhile, the forwards of the defensive team pressure the puck-carriers or position themselves to prevent passes between members of the offensive team. The defenders move back to protect the goalie and net area.

Possession of the puck changes frequently, and sometimes intentionally. In a common offensive tactic known as forechecking, offensive teams knock the puck into an opponent’s end of the rink, then pressure the opponent who retrieves it. This sometimes allows teams to regain possession far down the ice. Possession also changes when the defense intercepts a pass or when defenders bump a player who has the puck, causing him or her to lose control of it.

Play stops after goals are scored, when penalties or other violations are called, after serious injuries occur, and when the puck leaves the playing area. Officials also stop play when the puck is out of their sight for more than one or two seconds. This happens most frequently when a goalie blocks a shot and then covers the puck. The goalie is the only player allowed to stop play in this way.

Play does not stop if the puck touches an official or if a player’s equipment is damaged. Sticks that break must be dropped to the ice (except by goalies), and players must continue on without one until another stick can be retrieved. After play stops, it is almost always resumed by a face-off at the closest face-off dot. Each face-off represents a chance to gain possession of the puck, so the closer a face-off is held to a net, the more important possession becomes.

In most leagues, games tied at the end of regulation play simply end. But sometimes play continues in an overtime period, called sudden death. In these cases, the first team to score in overtime is declared the winner, even if time still remains in the overtime period. Depending on the prevailing rules, some games end in ties if neither team scores during overtime. In games where a winner must be determined—such as a playoff game—there are two main ways to determine the winner. Overtime periods can be played until one team scores a goal, or the teams can have a shoot-out after two overtimes. A shoot-out is when a series of players from each team (usually five) alternate in taking shots on goal. The team that scores the most times wins the game. Many professional minor leagues use shootouts during non-playoff games, when a game remains tied even after a completed overtime period.

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