A game of ice hockey starts with a face-off at the center-ice face-off circle. When the referee drops the puck, the opposing centers try to gain possession, or direct it to a teammate. Either by passing the puck to a teammate in a better position, or by "carrying" the puck himself, a player for the team in possession tries to gain a position on the ice where he or she can take the best possible shot on the opponent's net. The greater the number, and the better the shots on goal a team take, the better its chances of scoring.
Except when a player has been sent off the ice to serve a penalty, there are six players for each team on the ice at any one time: a goalie (goaltender, goalkeeper, netminder), two defensemen, and three forwards. The two defensemen play on either side of the rink and are thus called the left and right defensemen. The three forward positions are left wing, center, and right wing.
Because hockey is a fast paced, highly aerobic, game that requires players to expend a great deal of energy in short bursts, hockey teams sometimes carry as many as 18 to 20 players, although youth hockey teams are usually smaller, especially at the very young levels. Included are three forward lines and at least two pairs of defensemen, who rotate onto the ice (play shifts) about every 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Most teams will carry two goaltenders, but usually one plays an entire game. His only rest comes when there is a stoppage of play whistled by the referee or a linesman, when the puck is at the other end of the rink (though he must remain alert), and during between-period intermissions, which vary in length depending on the age of the players, but usually last 10 to 15 minutes.
Unlike most other sports, ice hockey does not require that changes in personnel be made only when there is a stoppage in play. Substitutions (called "line changes") often occur "on the fly." Because there may be non-stop action for a period of several minutes without a whistle stopping play, a player may skate over to his bench just off the ice surface and immediately be replaced by a teammate who plays the same position. The hazards of changing personnel on the fly are twofold: if it is not done at just the right time the opposing team may be able to take advantage of the temporary shortage in manpower to create an "odd-man rush"; and, if confusion occurs during the line change, a team may end up being penalized (too many men on the ice).
Length Of Game
At the college and professional levels, the game is played in three 20-minute periods. At the youth level, the periods are shorter. The team that scores the most goals by the end of the third period is the winner. In 1983, the NHL adopted a rule allowing for one 5-minute sudden death overtime period in regular season games, as well as play off games. Because of strict time constraints at local rinks regarding ice time, overtime is usually not played in regular season league play in youth hockey, although overtime is common during playoffs and at most tournaments.
The game is played in a rink, which is an ice covered rectangular surface with curved corners. Wooden walls about three or four feet high, called "boards," surround the rink. At each end is a cage, or goal into which the players try to hit the puck using wooden sticks, with curved ends. Ice is usually made only once for games involving younger players (ages 5 to 14). In the older age groups (over 14), ice is sometimes made twice. A new "sheet" of ice, or "cut" usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes to make. In junior hockey (ages 16 to 20), ice is made before the game and between periods, as in the NHL.
The two common, non-penalty infractions in hockey are offsides and icing.
Offsides
Occurs
when a player from one team has both skates completely in the other
team's defensive zone (inside, and not touching the blue line) before
the puck is in the zone.
Is intended to prevent players from standing by the goal, waiting for the puck, when it is not in the attacking zone.
Results in a face off at one of the red spots in the neutral zone nearest to where the infraction occurred.
Icing
Is called when a player passes the puck across both the center (red) and goal lines before a teammate or an opponent touches it.
Is
intended to discourage a team from simply shooting the puck into its
opponent's defensive end instead of passing or carrying it out through
the neutral zone.
Results in a face off back in the defensive zone of the team committing the infraction at the red spot in the circle on the side nearest where the puck crossed the goal line.
Other more serious infractions include holding, tripping, and hooking, spearing and cross-checking. A player who commits these types of fouls must sit in the penalty box ("sin bin") for from two to five minutes. Even more serious fouls can draw 5 or 10 minute, or even game misconduct, penalties. Fighting is usually a game misconduct in youth hockey, and sometimes the league will suspend the player for several games thereafter, depending on the severity of the infraction. In junior hockey, fighting is a 5-minute misconduct, but, depending on the league, it can also be a game misconduct. In of the higher junior hockey leagues, like the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in Canada, the rules are almost exactly like the NHL.
The team that is penalized
must play "shorthanded," while the other team, at full strength, is on
the "power play." The penalized player is allowed to return when the
penalty expires, or when the other team scores a goal, whichever occurs
first. For a description and pictures of the official's signals for
penalties, click [link to new article on signals]