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Know Your Sport: Ice Hockey – Rules and Facts
In last week’s edition of Know Your Sport, we looked at the sport of ice hockey in general. This week, we will look at various rules and interesting facts about this fascinating sport. The hockey rink: The ice hockey rink is specifically designed for the game, with boards that surround the playing area.
Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins NHL hockey team.
The hockey rink:
The ice hockey rink is specifically designed for the game, with boards that surround the playing area. A glass wall or shield is also put into place to protect the fans from the puck that flies around the rink at high speed.
There are also a number of different lines and markers on the ice from which to restart play and to guide the referees.
There are two blue lines on a hockey rink that divide the rink into three parts namely the defensive zone, the neutral zone and the attacking zone. Players go offside when they move the puck from the attacking zone to the neutral zone in one move.
There are also eight face-off areas with four bigger face-off areas on opposite ends of the ice. These areas are normally used to restart play after a stoppage.
How fouls and penalties are committed:
In ice hockey, hips and shoulders can be used to hit other players if they have the puck in order to regain possession. This is legal and allowed but, in some instances, penalties are called when the lines are crossed.
Elbowing: When a player impedes or strikes an opponent with his elbow.
Delay of Game: Failing to keep the puck in motion.
High-Sticking: Hitting an opponent above the shoulders with the hockey stick.
Holding: Impeding an opponent with one’s arms or hands.
Interference: Body checking an opponent who does not have the puck or who has not passed the puck.
Slashing: Swinging one’s stick at an opponent.
Shot Types:
Slap shot: This is the most powerful shot to execute and works well if there is a gap in the goalie’s defence. It is less accurate, though, mainly because of the immense power placed on the shot.
Wrist shot: The wrist shot is a lifted shot that is more accurate than a slap shot but is hit with less power. These shots are excellent when trying to hit a certain part of the net accurately.
Backhand shot: As the name suggests, this is a shot that is hit in reverse with the back of the stick. The crucial aspect of this shot is that it gives the defence and goalie little time to react as it is difficult to predict the puck’s direction.
Interesting facts:
168 centimetres: The height of the Stanley Cup, hockey’s most prestigious cup that teams play for in the NHL.
2856: The average number of metres that an NHL ice hockey player covers on the ice during an game.
552: Most consecutive NHL games played by the former goalie, Glenn Hall.
Geordie Howe hat-trick: A player who scores a goal, provides an assist and wins a fight. The honour is named after Geordie Howe, one of the all-time
The ice hockey rink is specifically designed for the game, with boards that surround the playing area. A glass wall or shield is also put into place to protect the fans from the puck that flies around the rink at high speed.
There are also a number of different lines and markers on the ice from which to restart play and to guide the referees.
There are two blue lines on a hockey rink that divide the rink into three parts namely the defensive zone, the neutral zone and the attacking zone. Players go offside when they move the puck from the attacking zone to the neutral zone in one move.
There are also eight face-off areas with four bigger face-off areas on opposite ends of the ice. These areas are normally used to restart play after a stoppage.
How fouls and penalties are committed:
In ice hockey, hips and shoulders can be used to hit other players if they have the puck in order to regain possession. This is legal and allowed but, in some instances, penalties are called when the lines are crossed.
Elbowing: When a player impedes or strikes an opponent with his elbow.
Delay of Game: Failing to keep the puck in motion.
High-Sticking: Hitting an opponent above the shoulders with the hockey stick.
Holding: Impeding an opponent with one’s arms or hands.
Interference: Body checking an opponent who does not have the puck or who has not passed the puck.
Slashing: Swinging one’s stick at an opponent.
Shot Types:
Slap shot: This is the most powerful shot to execute and works well if there is a gap in the goalie’s defence. It is less accurate, though, mainly because of the immense power placed on the shot.
Wrist shot: The wrist shot is a lifted shot that is more accurate than a slap shot but is hit with less power. These shots are excellent when trying to hit a certain part of the net accurately.
Backhand shot: As the name suggests, this is a shot that is hit in reverse with the back of the stick. The crucial aspect of this shot is that it gives the defence and goalie little time to react as it is difficult to predict the puck’s direction.
Interesting facts:
168 centimetres: The height of the Stanley Cup, hockey’s most prestigious cup that teams play for in the NHL.
2856: The average number of metres that an NHL ice hockey player covers on the ice during an game.
552: Most consecutive NHL games played by the former goalie, Glenn Hall.
Geordie Howe hat-trick: A player who scores a goal, provides an assist and wins a fight. The honour is named after Geordie Howe, one of the all-time
