HOCKEY 101: Back to the Basics
HOCKEY 101 SEMINAR (Sept. 23, 2023): Before the Great Falls Americans hockey game against the Gillette (WY) Wild, the Americans Team Owner Matt Leaf presented a “Hockey 101” seminar to fans who came to the September 23, 2023 game. He discusssed hockey terminology, the rules and basic strategy during his 30 minutes presentation. Fans had the chance to ask questions at the end. Click here for the Hockey 101 pamphlet from the session. The Hockey 101 Photo Gallery is below.
THE POSITIONS
GOALTENDER: Also known as the “goalie.” His primary responsibility is to keep the puck out of the net. Occasionally, he will get credit for an assist, and only rarely scores a goal (usually by shooting the puck into the opposing net after the other team has pulled its goalie). He cannot touch the puck on the other side of the red line.
FORWARDS: The two wings and the center. The three players often make up a “line” and play together. The two wings’ primary area is on the outside of the rink, and must be physical and willing to dig the puck off the boards. The center typically plays in the middle and is the “quarterback” of the team. Centers are expected to cover more area than any other player, and are often the most creative skaters on the ice. The center is most often responsible for taking faceoffs, but other players sometimes are asked to take faceoffs as well.
DEFENSEMEN: A left defenseman and a right defenseman make up a “pairing.” Their primary responsibilities are to help the goalie keep the puck out of the net, and start the offense once their team takes control of the puck. Some are “stay-at-home” defensemen who specialize in their defensive role, while others are “two-way” defensemen who are more skilled at the offensive end of the rink.
ABOUT THE GAME
The goal is simple: score more times than your opponent, and you win. A regulation hockey game is 60 minutes long, split into three periods of 20 minutes each. If the game is tied after 60 minutes, a five-minute sudden-death overtime is played, followed by a three-round shootout. (If the shootout is tied after three rounds, extra rounds are played until one team has scored more than the other. In the playoffs, teams continue to play 20 minutes at a time until one team scores.)
The ice surface is called a “rink” – other sports use a ball, but hockey uses a vulcanized rubber “puck,” which the players shoot and pass with their sticks. The “boards” are topped by Plexiglas that surround the ice, separating the crowd from the rink and helping to keep the puck in play. When play stops, it is restarted with a faceoff, at one of the nine dots on the ice meant for that purpose.
Most of the time, each team has six players on the ice, including the goalie – no team is ever allowed to play with fewer than four. Teams can – and frequently do – substitute while the puck is in play. A team may be forced to play short a player for two minutes if a penalty is called – more dangerous and flagrant penalties may last for four or five minutes. A team can be forced to play without a particular player for 10 minutes – or for the rest of a game – for a misconduct penalty, but does not have to play short a player during that time.
RULES, EQUIPMENT, ETC.
“A” – Letter worn on the alternate captains’ jerseys. See “C” below.
ATTACKING ZONE – The opposing team’s end of the ice, beyond the blue line.
BIRDCAGE – The full-face wire cage that many players have attached to their helmets while on the ice. See “fishbowl” below.
BLOCKER – The rectangular pad that the goalie wears opposite his glove hand.
BREAKAWAY – When a player skates with the puck toward the other team’s goalie, with no defenders in between.
BREEZERS – Hockey pants.
“C” – Letter worn on the captains’ jerseys. See “A” above.
DEFENSIVE ZONE – A team’s own end of the rink, behind its own blue line.
EVEN STRENGTH – When both teams have the same number of players on the ice. When both teams have six players on the ice (including the goalie) this is “full strength.”
EXTRA ATTACKER – The skater that replaces a team’s goalie on the ice, usually when trailing at the end of a close game.
FACEOFF – The method used to restart play after a stoppage, where an official drops the puck between a player from each team.
FISHBOWL – The full-face plastic shield that many players have attached to their helmets while on the ice. See “birdcage” above.
GOAL JUDGE – An off-ice official who helps the referees and linesmen determine when the puck has entered the net. The goal judge turns on a red light to signal that a goal has been scored.
HAND PASS – The act of passing the puck with one’s hand. Legal only behind a team’s own blue line.
ICING – When a player shoots the puck from his own half of the rink across the other team’s goal line without scoring a goal or the puck being touched. (Does not apply during a penalty kill)
LINE CHANGE – When teams substitute multiple players at one time. Usually, a forward line (three players) or a defensive pairing (two players), or both, are substituted together.
NEUTRAL ZONE – The space at the middle of the rink, between the blue lines.
OFFSIDE – Is called when a player enters the attacking zone before the puck.
PENALTY BOX – Where penalized players sit while required to remain off the ice. Also known as the “sin bin.”
PENALTY KILL – The act of playing shorthanded due to at least one penalty.
PENALTY SHOT – Is awarded to a team to make up for a violation that prevents an obvious scoring chance, usually by tripping a player from behind while on a breakaway.
“THE POINT” – The area just inside a team’s blue line, next to the boards.
POWER PLAY – The act of playing with more players on the ice than an opponent due to an opponent’s penalty.
PULL THE GOALIE – When a team removes its goaltender from the ice and replaces him with an extra skater, usually when trailing late in a close game.
SLOT – The area directly in front of the net and between the faceoff circles.
VISOR – The horizontal piece of plastic attached to the front of a player’s helmet for eye protection. Only players age 18 and older are allowed to wear one.
Q & A
HOW BIG IS THE GOAL? Six feet wide, and four feet high.
WHO GETS CREDIT FOR AN ASSIST? Assists are awarded to up to the last two players on the scoring team who touch the puck before the player who scores. If a player scores into his own net, the last player on the other team to touch the puck gets credit for the goal.
IS IT A GOAL IF THE PUCK STOPS ON THE GOAL LINE? No. The puck must completely cross the goal line.
CAN THE PUCK BE KICKED OR THROWN INTO THE NET? No. A deflection off of any part of the body is fine, though – in fact, players often practice deflecting the puck in another direction in order to score or move the puck in a desired direction.
ARE ALL STICKS ALIKE? No. Hockey sticks are highly customized, like baseball bats – each player has his preference in terms of size, the angle of the blade, etc.
HOW ABOUT THE ICE? Hockey ice is typically maintained at 16 degrees, and about 3/4″ thick. Miles of small pipes underneath the rink help to keep the rink frozen. Only part of the ice is built up before the rink is painted white, and before the lines and logos are painted or laid down onto the ice. The rest of the ice on top keeps the lines and logos sealed underneath the surface of the rink.
AND THE PUCK? The puck is one inch thick and three inches across, weighing roughly six ounces. It is kept frozen before being put into play in order to minimize bouncing.
WHAT IS A “HAT TRICK?” A hat trick is another way of saying that a player has scored three goals in a single game. The term goes back to the 1850s, and originally applied to a different sport: cricket. Legend has it, a bowler (similar to a pitcher), took three wickets on three straight balls. This was such an incredible trick, the fans took up a collection and rewarded him with a hat.
WHY DO THE LINESMEN HAVE TO BREAK UP FIGHTS? Since the referee is responsible for handing out penalties during a game, the referee is observing which players should receive penalties, and has to focus on restoring order and staying in control of the game.
HOW FAST DOES THE PUCK TRAVEL? Shots from junior players don’t travel quite as fast, but shots from pro hockey players have been clocked at well over 100 miles per hour. The puck has been known to curve in flight like a baseball, making the goalie’s job even harder. Nets are required to be above the glass at each end of the rink to protect fans sitting behind the goals from these shots.
THE REFEREE SIGNALS
REFEREE: Wears the orange armbands,and is in charge of the officiating crew for any game. The referee is the only official with the authority to issue penalties.
LINESMEN: Are primarily responsible for watching violations regarding the red and blue lines (such as offside and icing). Linesmen are also expected to break up altercations during the game.