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Hockey 101 - The Rules Explained

Hockey has been called the "fastest game on ice" and for good reason... the action almost never stops! However, the fast pace, line changes and penalties can seem a little intimidating to the novice spectator.

For those of you who know a little about the game but would like to brush up on a few things read on...

The Game
Each game lasts sixty minutes and is divided into three periods of twenty minutes each. If the game is tied at the end of sixty minutes, a five minute "sudden death" overtime period will be played, with the team scoring first being declared the winner. If the score is still tied, a shootout will take place. During the playoffs the game continues until a winner is determined.

During the regular season, a regulation win is worth two points in Elite League standings. Both teams receive one point if the game reaches overtime, and a victory in overtime is worth an additional one point in the Elite League standings. 

On The Ice
Each team plays six men at a time (unless someone has been put in the penalty box). In overtime, each team will have 4 skaters and a goalie instead of five skaters. Substitutions are made when play stops or can be made "on the fly" while play is in progress. Each side has a goalkeeper, a centre, left and right wing and left and right defensemen. 
 

 

 
Goaltender: The "goalie's" chief job is to keep the opposition from scoring.
Defensemen: They try to stop the incoming play at their own blue line. They attempt to break up passes, block shots, cover opposing forwards and clear the puck from in front of their own goal. On offense, they get the puck to their centre and wings, and follow the play in the attacking zone, stationing themselves just inside the opposition's blue line at the "points". 
Centre: The centre leads the attack by carrying the puck on offense. He exchanges passes with his wings to steer the play toward the other opposing team's goal. On defense he tries to break up plays before they get to his end of the ice. 
Wings: The wings work with the centre on the attack to set up shots on goal. Defensively, they try to disrupt plays by the opposing wings and upset their shot attempts. 
 

 

 
Referee: There is one referee who supervises the game, call penalties, determine goals and handle all faceoffs at centre ice to start each period. 
Linesmen: Two are used. They call off sides, icing the puck and handle all faceoffs except those at centre ice. They don't call penalties, but can recommend to the referee that a major penalty be called. 
 

 

 
Minor Penalty (two minutes): Penalties include tripping, hooking, slashing, charging, roughing, holding, elbowing, boarding, cross-checking, kneeing, delay of game, diving, high-sticking and interference. 
Major Penalty (five minutes): Major penalties are called for fighting or when minor penalties are committed with a deliberate intention to injure another player. Major penalties of slashing, spearing, high-sticking, butt-ending, boarding and cross-checking carry an automatic misconduct as well. 
Misconduct (ten minutes): Called for various forms of unsportsmanlike behaviour or when a player incurs a second major penalty in a game. This is a penalty against the player, not the team so a substitute is permitted. 
Delayed Penalty: The whistle to stop play, will be delayed until the penalized team regains possession of the puck.
 

Penalties
A team plays shorthanded when a player is charged with a penalty.

The Officials

The Players