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Ice Hockey 101 – Answers To Curious Questions

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Ice hockey is a very fun sport both to play and to watch. It is a team sport where two teams try to score a goal by playing a puck or ball into the opponent’s net. Additionally, ice hockey is a major sports event in the gambling industry with amazing online bookmakers sign up offers but new viewers who lack a prior understanding of the sport may find it confusing. For this reason, we have done our best at compiling answers to some basic questions that you may have concerning this subject. So if you want to know more, slide along with us. 

Who Invented Ice Hockey? 

This is a question to which no one knows the actual answer. The exact origins of ice hockey remain unknown but evidence indicates that it was probably first played over 4000 years ago. Discoveries led archeologists to believe that the sport was played by the Greeks, Native Indians, and several older civilizations. 

In 1875, however, the game was first officially played in Montreal, Canada at Victoria Skating Rink. The first set of rules for this game was put in place by J. G. Creighton, a Canadian from Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is from this country that ice hockey then spread out to England and other European countries, thus becoming a mainstream sport.

How Long Is An Ice Hockey Match? 

Usually, a professional ice hockey game amounts to 60 minutes of actual gameplay that are split into 3 periods of 20 minutes each. It could, however, extend to as long as 2.5 hours for a number of reasons. Some of these reasons include:

  • 15-minute stoppages between each period of gameplay
  • A score tie that leads to an additional 15-minute intermission and an extra 5-minute play
  • The input of commercials also plays a role in extending the duration of a match
  • Breaks in action such as injuries, penalties, fights, etc could also lead to stopping the clock 

How Many Periods Are In Ice Hockey? 

In a game of ice hockey, there are 3 periods of 20 minutes each amounting to 60 minutes of play. These 20-minute periods exclude stoppages in play or NHL intermissions. But for recreational or kid’s hockey, the game is played at runtime. This means that irrespective of any breaks, the match duration remains 60 minutes divided into 3 periods. Games like this usually span through 1 hour 15 minutes, taking into account the warmup period. 

What Is Icing In Ice Hockey? 

Icing is a rule put in place to prevent unnecessary time wastage in a match. Before this rule, it was discovered that the leading team had a tendency to play the puck over the line as a delaying tactic. To understand icing, you must first understand that the hockey rink is divided into two halves separated by a centerline. 

Thus, icing occurs when a player shoots the puck past the opposing team’s goal line before reaching the center line. When this happens, it calls for a face-off in the half of the team at fault. This way, the NHL succeeded in reducing unnecessary time stoppages in a hockey match. 

What Material Is Used To Make Ice Hockey Pucks? 

The pucks used in this sport are usually closed disks made of hardened rubber. They are round and flat with one inch of thickness and 6 oz. weight. Additionally, these pucks are not completely smooth, rather, they have rough patterns along the edges. These grooves make it easy to grab the pucks with hockey sticks. 

Why Do Ice Hockey Players Fight? 

Unlike other sports where fighting is banned, ice hockey, on the other hand, encourages this. Fighting is officially allowed in the sport and it is considered an aspect of “The Code” by the NHL. A popular belief is that fighting brings about a sense of unity between teammates. Also, it is a way to prevent further damage by making the players more accountable. Although penalties are dealt to any player caught engaging in this, fights are still common occurrences in NHL games. 

What Is A Face-Off In Ice Hockey? 

A face-off in hockey refers to the procedure through which a hockey match goes into play. It could be at the start of a period or after scoring a goal. Usually, there are nine different points on the ice rink where a face-off can take place. 

During a face-off, a player is selected from each team to gather around the face-off zone. Other team members rally into position behind and beside the teammate taking the face-off. The referee then drops the puck and the two players struggle for possession of the ball with their hockey sticks. Several rules surround the face-off procedure and they must be adhered to. 

What Is A Drop-Off In Ice Hockey? 

A drop-off is just another word for a face-off. Hence, a drop-off is when the referee drops the puck between two rival players’ hockey sticks. They then fight for possession of the puck. 

Wrap Up 

There are many more terminologies and rules in ice hockey but these are the major ones to know. With this little information, you can watch or play the sport with a lot more understanding. 

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