What Are The Rules Of Ice Hockey?

The origins of ice hockey date go back to the 19th century in Canada where variations of the modern hockey game were played in frosty conditions. Since then the sport has gone on in order to become one of the largest in the world with the main participants originating from North America. The National Hockey League (NHL) is the largest league in the world and currently turns over millions of dollars each year.

Closing Hand On Puck

Any hockey player, other than a goaltender, who catches a puck needs to immediately knock or put it back down to the ice.  Any violation of this will lead to a two-minute minor.

Ice Hockey Face-Offs

Face-offs are utilised to start periods of play and to restart play after a stoppage. A face-off means two opposing players standing opposite each other at approximately one stick’s blade apart as well as the official dropping the puck between them. The two players then try to gain possession of the puck.

Delay Of Game

The following events will result in a two-minute minor penalty for the delay of game:

  • Deliberately shooting or – alternatively – batting the puck outside the playing area.
  • Deliberately shifting the goal from its normal position.
  • Failure to deliver the proper number of players on the ice surface following a warning from an official or – alternatively – for making an illegal substitution

Icing The Puck

Just like when you play Roulette in New Zealand you need to know soe of the terms to know the rules. Icing the puck is not allowed when the teams are at the same numerical strength. Thus, it is a violation when a player on his team’s side of the red centre line shoots the hockey puck all the way down the ice, it cut across the red goal line itself and it is first touched by a defending player.  When this takes place, play ceases and then the puck is returned to the opposing team’s area – at the opposite side of the ice – for a face-off in the.

Icing the puck is not called in the following circumstances:

  • If the goalie plays the puck through leaving his net.
  • If the puck cuts across a part of the goal crease.
  • When a defending opponent, according to the judgment of the linesman, could have played the puck before it crossed the red goal line.
  • When one of the attacking players, who was onside (in exactly the same zone) when the puck was shot down the ice, has the ability to touch it first.
  • When a team is playing short-handed owing to a penalty or penalties.

Offside

A team is offside when any one of the members of the attacking team leads the puck carrier a good distance over the defending team’s blue line.   The position of the player’s skates – and then not that of his stick – is the determining factor.  If both the skates go over the blue line before the puck, the player is offside.  If he has only one skate that is over the blue line as well as one on it, he is onside.