Once you understand the fundamental
rules and regulations of the game of hockey, you'll really begin
to enjoy it. These are the NHL official rules through the 2001-02
season.
The Game
Each game lasts sixty minutes and is divided into
three periods of twenty minutes each. If the game is tied at the
end of sixty minutes, a five minute "sudden death" overtime period
will be played, with the team scoring first being declared the winner.
If the overtime ends in a tie, the game is recorded as such, except
during the playoffs and finals, where the game continues until a
win. A tie at the end of regulation play is worth one point to each
team in the NHL Standings. A victory in overtime is worth an additional
one point in the NHL standings.
On The Ice
Each team plays six men at a time (unless someone
has been put in the penalty box). In overtime, each team will have
4 skaters and a goalie instead of five skaters. Substitutions are
made when play stops or can be made "on the fly" while play is in
progress. Each side has a goalkeeper, a center, left and right wing
and left and right defensemen.
The Players
Goalkeeper: The "goalie's" chief job is to
keep the opposition from scoring. A goalie may start his own team
down the ice with a pass, but seldom does he leave the net.
Defensemen: They try to
stop the incoming play at their own blueline. They attempt to break
up passes, block shots, cover opposing forwards and clear the puck
from in front of their own goal. On offense, they get the puck to
their center and wings, and follow the play in the attacking zone,
stationing themselves just inside the opposition's blue line at
the "points".
Center: The center leads
the attack by carrying the puck on offense. He exchanges passes
with his wings to steer the play toward the other opposing team's
goal. On defense he tries to break up plays before they get to his
end of the ice.
Wings: The wings work with
the center on the attack to set up shots on goal. Defensively, they
try to disrupt plays by the opposing wings and upset their shot
attempts.
The Officials
Referee: He supervises the game, calls penalties,
determines goals and handles all faceoffs at center ice to start
each period.
Linesmen: Two are used.
They call offsides, offsides passes, icing the puck and handle all
faceoffs except those at center ice. They don't call penalties,
but can recommend to the referee that a penalty be called.
Penalties
A team plays shorthanded when a player is charged
with a penalty.
Minor Penalty (two minutes):
Called for tripping, hooking, slashing, charging, roughing, holding,
elbowing, boarding, cross-checking, kneeling, delay of game, high-sticking
and interference.
Major Penalty (five minutes):
Called for fighting or when minor penalties are committed with a
deliberate intention to injure another player. Major penalties of
slashing, spearing, high-sticking, butt-ending, boarding and cross-checking
carry an automatic misconduct as well.
Misconduct (ten minutes):
Called for various forms of unsportsmanlike behavior or when a player
incurs a second major penalty in a game. This is a penalty against
the player, not the team so a substitute is permitted.
Delayed Penalty: The whistle,
stopping play, will be delayed until the penalized team regains
possession of the puck.
