Ice hockey beginners guide: What is it and how does it work?

After attending our first ice hockey game at Merseyside’s only ice hockey club, Widnes Wild, we were captivated by the sport.

Our match report of the Wild’s thumping victory over Telford Tigers 2 was our inaugural ice hockey based article, and with more content set to emerge from Widnes’ home at Planet Ice in the future, we decided to complete a beginner’s guide to UK’s biggest indoor sport.

History

Although some experts believe the concept of ice hockey could’ve formed in the UK, the contemporary sport was developed in 1875 in Montreal, Canada.

The Stanley Cup, which later became the NHL, was first awarded in 1893 after amateur leagues began forming in the 1880s.

In the UK, leagues have been in operation since as early as 1903, but it wasn’t until the 1990s when the sport really took off – Manchester Storm, who hold the UK attendance record for a single game (17,245), and Sheffield Steelers attracted fans with their large, American styled arenas.

Attendances fluctuated in the late ’90s after the failure of the ‘Ice Hockey Superleague’, but the UK’s top ice hockey division rebranded as the ‘Elite Ice Hockey League’ in 2003, and the sport’s popularity has been gradually increasing ever since.

Where is ice hockey played?

Unsurprisingly, ice hockey is played on an ice rink – an official rink measures 200 feet by 85 feet.

There is a goal, 4 feet tall and 6 feet wide, at either end of the rink.

The rink is divided into three zones – the defence, neutral and attacking zones each cover roughly a third of the pitch area.

There are five ‘face-off circles’ marked on the rink – one in the centre of the neutral zone, and two in both the attacking and defence zones.

What kit do the players wear?

Each player has their own ice hockey stick and wears a range of protective clothing including:

• Specialised helmet with grilled face-guard.

  

• Shin, elbow, hip, and shoulder guards.
• Thick gauntlet-type gloves.
• Padded shorts
• Knee pads.
• Ice skates with lower ankle support, reinforced toes, and padded tongues.

Large team-coloured sweaters cover the players’ upper half, while long stockings fit over the knee pads.

What is the aim of the game?

The aim of ice hockey is to push the puck – a circular object made of solid vulcanised rubber measuring 3 inches – by 1 inch – into the opposing teams net by using the ice hockey stick.

When this happens, a point is awarded to the scoring team – whoever scores more points, wins.

If the game ends in a tie, the game progresses to overtime, where the first team to score, wins.

How many players are on a team?

An ice hockey team typically consists of 17 to 22 players, with six of those allowed on the ice at any one time.

The six on the ice usually involves:

• One netminder (goalkeeper)
• Two defencemen
• Three forwards

Players can be substituted at any time in the game, and although the netminder typically remains unchanged, teams may risk swapping their netminder for an outskater (defenceman/forward) in the final seconds of a game they’re losing.

How long are the games?

A game is made up three 20-minute periods, commonly divided by 15-minute intervals – the clock is stopped any time a whistle is blown.

What are the rules?

Play is started by a face-off; this when the referee drops the puck between the sticks of two opposing players.

Officials

The game is officiated by two linesmen, and up to two referees, dependant on the league.

The puck

The puck remains live unless a whistle is blown, or it is hit over the barrier surrounding the rink.

Players can stop the puck with any body part at any time, but it can only be pushed forward by skate or stick.

Offsides

An attacking player may only enter the attacking zone behind the puck. This means an attacker that is outside the attacking zone cannot pass the puck to a teammate that is inside the zone.

This is known as offside and will result in a whistle from the referee and a restart though a face-off.

Penalties

Ice Hockey is a full-contact sport, but there a still some actions that are punishable offences:

• Butt Ending – Jabbing an opponent with the top end of the stick.
• Checking from Behind – Whistled when a player hits an opponent from behind and therefore cannot defend himself.
• Cross Checking – Player makes a check with both hands on the stick.
• Elbowing – When a player uses his elbow to foul an opponent.
• Fighting – When players drop their gloves and throw punches at each other.
• Hooking: When a player impedes the progress of an opponent by ‘hooking’ him with his stick.
• Interference: Interfering with or impeding an opponent who does not have the puck.
• Kneeing: Player fouling an opponent with his knee.
• Roughing: Striking another opponent in a minor altercation that the referee determines is not worthy of a major penalty.
• Slashing: Hitting an opponent with your stick, or ‘slashes’ at him to impede his progress or cause injury.
• Spearing: Stabbing at an opponent with the blade of your stick.
• Tripping: Using the stick (or body) to cause an opposing player to fall down

List of rules credited to ‘The UK Rules’.

Punishments

Penalised players are removed from the ice, and sent to the penalty box for a length of time dependant on the severity of the offence.

• Minor (e.g. Tripping) – 2 minutes, no replacement, cut short if opposing team score.
• Bench (e.g. Team delaying game) – 2 minutes, player is chosen by the coach, cut short if opposing team score.
• Major (e.g. Charging, cross-checking) – 5 minutes, no replacement, remains in effect even if opposing team score.
• Misconduct (e.g. abuse of officials, fighting) – 10 minutes, immediate replacement, two misconduct penalties result in ejection from the game

There are further punishments that can be found here.

For more comprehensive coverage of the rules, visit Ice Hockey UK.

Who are the best teams?

Belfast Giants are the current Elite Ice Hockey League champions, after winning their fifth title last season.

Sheffield Steelers have won the most titles (6) since the league was reformed in 2003, with their last title coming in the 2015-16 season.

Where and when can you watch ice hockey?

Widnes Wild are the only ice hockey club in Merseyside, and play every weekend at Planet Ice in Widnes – games typically faceoff in the evenings.

Widnes play in Division 2 North of the English National Ice Hockey League and have been champions of the division for the last three seasons.

Can anyone play ice hockey?

Widnes run ice hockey classes for beginners of all ages, running on Sunday evenings after matches, so anyone can have a go at one of the most unique, fast-paced and entertaining sports in the UK.