Know the Rules

Playing Surface

• There are 5 lines on the ice: 2 goal lines, 2 blue lines separating the offensive/defensive zones from the neutral zone, and the centre red line.

Periods

• Hockey is divided into 3 periods, each 20 minutes long.

Players

• There are 6 players on a hockey team – 5 skaters and 1 netminder.
• There are an unlimited amount of substitutions and they can happen at any time during the game, except when the defensive team ices the puck.

Icing

• Icing is when the defending team shoots the puck down the ice across 2 red lines (the red centre line and the goal line), without it touching another player.

Face-off

• A face-off occurs at the start of each period, and every time there is a stoppage in play.

Power Play

• When a team is penalized, the result is a power play for the opposing team.
• If the team on the power plays scores the power play is over; if the short-handed team scores the power play isn’t over.

Penalties

Two Minute Minor Penalties

• By far the most common penalty awarded, for incidents such as: hooking, slashing, delay of game, interference, goaltender interference, tripping, roughing, elbowing, boarding, cross checking, charging, holding, high sticking, kneeing, check from behind, spearing, unsportsmanlike conduct, t0o many men on the ice.

Four Minute Double Minor Penalties

• Any minor penalty that draws blood from the cause of the penalty.

Five minute Major Penalties

• Penalties such as fighting, charging, hit from behind, and hit to the head.
• The player must stay in the penalty box for the entire 5 minutes, even if their short-handed team is scored upon.

Ten Minute Misconduct Penalties

• Penalties such as fighting, charging, hit from behind, unsportsmanlike conduct, and hit to the head.
• The player must stay in the penalty box for the entire 10 minutes, even if their short-handed team is scored upon.

Game Misconduct Penalties

• Penalties such as charging, hit from behind, spearing, unsportsmanlike conduct, hit to the head.
• The player is suspended for the remainder of the game and depending on the severity of the penalty, will receive additional suspension.

Penalty Shot

• A penalty shot is rewarded to the offensive player when a breakaway and the defending obstructs the player enough so they do not get a shot off.
• On a penalty shot, the shooter starts from centre ice and is only allowed one shot, even if there is a rebound.

Offside

• Offside occurs when an offensive player crosses the offensive blue line before the puck crosses the blue line.