What’s the object of the game?
The players have to get the puck in the net using sticks to pass it to their team mates, and shoot it at the goal. The team who scores the most goals wins the match.
How are the teams set up?
An ice- hockey match consists of two teams of players and there are roughly 20 players per team.
Do all the players play at the same time?
No, for each team there are six players on the ice at any one time. This consists of the goalie and five other players. The goalie usually plays for the whole match but may swap with a back-up goalie due to an injury or match penalty. The other players will play for two to three minute shifts at a time, and then swap with another player. Each set of players is known as a line, and each line has two defencemen and three forwards. Players do not always all swap at the same time (as a line) some may stay on a bit longer, or come off the ice sooner.
How does the game start?
The players start in the centre of the rink, facing the end where they can score. A player from each team goes to the centre and the referee will drop the puck between them, where they will both try and gain possession of the puck for their team. This is called a face-off.
So how long do they play for?
A game consists of three 20-minute periods. With two breaks in between them (at Basingstoke the breaks last 12 minutes).
Is the game continuous?
No, the play can stop for any number of reasons. For example if a penalty has been called the referee will blow his/her whistle and the clock will stop. The clock will start again when the play is resumed. The clock also stops when a goal is scored, if a player has been injured or if a violation of the rules has occurred.
How is the ice-rink set up?
The ice rink is divided into three main sections, which are the middle zone and the two zones at each end of the rink. These zones are defined by the blue lines, which go across the entire width of the ice, and up the sides of the boards. Click here for the rules section, which explains the purpose of these zones. A red line in the middle of the rink marks the ‘half-way line’. At each end of the rink there also red lines that cross the front of the goal called ‘the goal-lines’. These are crucial lines as they determine whether or not a goal has been scored when the puck is heading towards a goal. Click here for a diagram of the rink and seating plan.
The offside rule
This is relevant when a player heads towards the end of the rink they can score in. This is called their attacking zone which is marked by a blue line. The rule states that attacking players cannot cross this blue line before the puck does. If they do the play will stop and a face-off will take place outside the attacking zone in the neutral zone.
The icing rule
To explain this rule you have to imagine the rink divided into two halves divided by the line in the centre. Icing is called if an attacking player shoots the puck from their half of the rink towards the other end of the rink (where they want to score) and it crosses the goal line.
There are a few exceptions to the icing rule. If the puck is iced and it goes into the goal, icing is not called, and a goal is awarded. Secondly if a team is shorthanded, they are allowed to ice the puck.
A goal
When the puck crosses the red goal line into the goal. If the puck is deliberately directed into the goal by a player’s hand or foot the goal will be disallowed. If the puck goes into the net and out again this is still a goal.
The player who scores the goal receives one point for a goal. In ice hockey a maximum of two players can receive a point each for an assist- if they have set up the goal. Click here to view the players individual statistics including the games played (GP), Goals (G) and Assists (A) for each player.
A penalty is when a player is sent off the ice for an offence, such as tripping up another player. This means that the player has to sit in the ’sin bin’ for a certain period of time. Players who carry out minor penalties must not play for two minutes. This means that the team with the penalty will have only four players (plus the goalkeeper) on the ice for two minutes.
A team can receive any number of penalties at any one time, however they can only go down to a minimum of three players at any one time.
When a penalty has been committed play does not automatically stop. If the side without the penalty has possession of the puck then the referee will let play continue, the referee will hold his/her hand up to show a penalty is due and the play will stop when the side with the penalty touches the puck. This can lead to ‘Removing the goal-keeper from the ice’ see below.
A team’s penalty can be cancelled out if their opponents score a goal. The player with the penalty will be able to return to the ice. This will only happen if a team is ‘short-handed’, If the two teams have an equal amount of players in the penalty bin a goal will not cancel the penalty out.
Minor penalty
This is a penalty that lasts for two minutes.
Bench minor penalty
This is when a player or the coach has committed an offence while sitting on the ‘bench’, such as swearing at the referee. In this case the coach has to nominate any player from their team to sit on the bench in the sin-bin.
Major penalty
This is when a player is off for five minutes.
Misconduct
This is when the penalty lasts 10 minutes. For penalties of ten minutes or more the player must still sit in the ‘sin-bin’ but their team will not have to play with on less player on the ice.
Match penalty
This is when a player is sent off the ice for the rest of the match. This player must leave the ice immediately and go to the dressing room for the remainder of the match.
Goalie penalties
When goalkeepers receive a minor, major or misconduct penalty they do not sit in the penalty bin. Instead one of the other players on their team must sit out of the game for the penalty time, and that team will have one less player on the ice. For a match penalty the goalie will have to leave the ice and will be replaced by a back-up goalie.
The players are required to wear special protective equipment and there are several rules concerning this. For example, if a player’s helmet falls off, and they continue to play a penalty will be called.
Sometimes a team will decide to take off their goalie, which means they can have an extra player on the ice. This is common in a number of situations.
Firstly if a penalty is due but the team without a penalty has the puck they may want an extra player to try and score. It is safe to take the goalie off because the other team will not be able to score as when they touch the puck the penalty will be given. Also when a team is on a power play, they may want to take off the goalie and replace them with another player which means they could have a two or three man advantage to score.
Removing the goalie is also common at the very end of the match if the score is close. If a team is one or two goals down they may choose to remove the goalie and have an extra player on the ice because they have ‘nothing to lose’.
The end of the match If the match ends in a draw the players will have a short break and then the play will continue for five minutes with four-on-four skaters*. This is called ‘overtime’. The first team to score will win the game, this type of overtime is known as ’sudden death’- as it is over as soon as a team scores’. If neither team scores in overtime, the result will be a draw. *This applies to EIHL rules
The team that wins receives 2 points; the team that loses doesn’t get any points. Overtime draw: If the teams draw the game will go into overtime . If after overtime the score is still level the teams will each receive 1 point. Overtime win: If a team scores in over time they will receive 2 points, the other team will get 1 point.
