This page is to help all the hockey newbies out there and to let the diehard hockey fans brush up on there rules. We offer this part of our site from our on going goal to spread the great game of hockey and allow fans to learn the rules so they can have the full experience that hockey offers when they watch it.

_The History of Hockey

Ice hockey is an adaptation of the native American game of lacrosse. In fact, many of the first rules were borrowed directly from the game and changed for action on ice. The first formal game was recorded in Kingston, Ontario in 1855. Twenty years later, students of Montreal's McGill University (credited for much of the games early development), imposed a code of conduct familiarly known as the McGill Rules. Many of those same principles govern the game today. In 1885, Canada's first national hockey association was formed with teams quickly influencing their neighbors to the south. By 1896, teams were competing in the New York area with the first game between the U.S. and Canada played in 1899. The first professional hockey league, called the National Hockey Association, formed in 1909. The four original teams from that league (Toronto, Ottawa, and two from Montreal) were among the first to play under the auspices of the new National Hockey League (NHL) in 1917. the first 6 teams (the "Original Six") in the NHL were Detroit, Boston, Montreal, New York, Toronto, and Chicago. Today, the NHL has 26 teams, 20 of which are in the U.S. The four new expansion teams and the year they begin play are as follows: Nashville (1998-1999), Atlanta (1999-2000), Columbus (2000-2001), Minnesota (2000-2001).

_The Positions

OFFENSE: Center - Most like the quarterback in football in regards to play-making ability. Operating up and down the middle of the ice, centers lead their team's attack by passing the puck between his two wings to set up goals. Defensively, he tries to keep the play from leaving the attack zone. As the play approaches his own goal, it's the centers job to hustle and break up the opposing team's plays. Wings - You can't fly with just one. These guys follow the action up and down the rink on either side of the center. Left and right wings pass back and forth, trying to position themselves for a shot on goal. Defensively, they guard the opponent's wings and attempt to disrupt them. DEFENSE: Defensemen - The two defensemen try to stop the incoming play before any chance of scoring is possible. They block shots, clear the puck from their own net area and entertain the opposing team's forwards with body shots and ridicule. Offensively, they move the puck up the ice and pass to the forwards, then follow the play into the attack zone. Goaltender (or "Netminder") - As the last line of defense, everyone takes a shot at the goalie. This player's challenge is to keep the puck from entering his teams goal. Goalies can use any piece of equipment or any part of his body (even his head) to protect his net.

_The Rules

The Rink - The ice-covered area on which the game is played is called the rink. Although hockey can be played on any size rink, official NHL rinks measure 200' by 85'. Each hockey rink is divided into three playing zones: offensive, defensive, and neutral zone. Each is noted by a line, either red or blue, extending the width of the rink. The Stick - Hockey sticks are made of wood, aluminum, graphite, or a combination of the three. The blade may be no longer than 12 inches long and 3 inches wide. The stick itself may be no longer than 60 inches long. The Puck - The puck is a six ounce black disk made of vulcanized rubber. It measures one inch thick and three inches in diameter. Pucks are frozen before each game to keep them from bouncing. Player's Equipment - For such a tough game, hockey has strange equipment; girdles, gloves - some guys even wear hose. It's all in the name of safety. Skates are made from thick leather, hard protective plastic and ballistic material. The same material is used to structure the body's remaining armor which includes shin pads, padded gloves, shoulder pads, padded pants, elbow pads, and a helmet with a face mask (optional) and mouthpiece. A goalkeeper's equipment includes a catching glove, a blocker, upper body protectors, flat bladed skates with protective shells, leg pads and a goal stick. Don't forget the girdle (a tight one piece protective unit) and chest protectors (made of flack material) and you're ready to rumble. The Team - Each team may have six players on the ice at a time. Three of these players are offensive players: left wing, center and right wing. Two are defensemen: right and left defensemen. The goalie is the third player who in desperate situations can be taken off the ice for another skater, usually a forward. The Officials - In most games, three officials determine fair play. A referee calls violations and penalties and determines judgment calls. The referee is assisted by two linesmen who call offsides and icing (which are explained later on this page). Other officials include a timekeeper, scorer, penalty timekeeper and two goal judges to determine if a puck should be counted as an official point. Duration of Game - NHL games consist of three 20-minute periods, plus two 15-minute intermissions. In the regular season, a 5-minute sudden death overtime period is played if the score is tied at the end of the three periods. If the score is still tied, the game is declared a draw and each team receives a point. In a playoff game, overtime periods are 20-minutes with sudden death periods lasting until one team scores. Substitution - A player may be substituted for any other player on the team at any time, provided that the player being substituted is within 5 feet of the bench. Method of Scoring - A team scores a point, or a goal when it sends the puck across the goal line into the net or net area of the opposing team's goal. Number of Players - A team may have no more than 18 players, plus two goalkeepers. One player is chosen as captain and two others as alternate captains. Teams may also list two alternatives on the roster. Face-off - each period begins with a face-off at center ice. A face-off is much like a jump ball in basketball: it's a fair way of putting the puck into play. During a face-off, one player from each team lines up so that they face each other in one of the rink's five circles. The referee drops the puck between the players, who try to gain possession of the puck or pass it to a member of their team. Handling the Puck - Only the goalkeeper may use hands to cover the puck and stop play. Other players may use their hands use hands to pass the puck to a teammate only if both are are in their defensive zone and only if they don't close their hand over the puck. Puck Out-of-Bounds - If a puck leaves the rink or strikes anything other than the boards, goalposts, plexiglass or an official, it's called out of bounds. Penalties - A penalty is called by the referee when a player or a team breaks one of the rules. Players are whistled for four kinds of penalties, major, minors, misconducts, and match penalties. Penalty Shot - A one-on-one shootout with the goalie awarded when a player is fouled from behind and denied a breakaway scoring opportunity. Also called for intentionally displacing the goal post during a breakaway or when defending players other than the goalie cover up the puck in the goal crease.

_Other Information

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