If you’re new to hockey or have a child who’s just taking it up, this page is a great starting point. We offer a basic overview of ice hockey rules, covering the fundamentals of gameplay, scoring and penalties. On another page, we cover positions in hockey.
This is by no means a comprehensive rule book, but rather a quick guide to get you better acquainted with the sport. Whether you’re watching from the stands or cheering from home, understanding these basics will help you follow the action and enjoy the game more.
Object of the Game
Hockey is played on an ice rink where two teams of skaters with sticks try to score goals by knocking a puck into the opponent’s net. The object is to score more goals than the opposing team within the allotted time, which is typically 60 minutes divided into three 20-minute periods.
The Rink
The ice-covered rink has a rectangular shape with rounded corners. Its key areas include:
- Goals: Located at each end of the rink, each is guarded by a goaltender.
- Goal Lines: These narrow red lines are drawn across the ice, extending from one side of the rink to the other and running underneath the two posts of the goal. A puck must completely cross the goal line to be counted as a goal.
- Blue Lines: Two blue lines divide the rink into three zones: the defending zone, the neutral zone, and the attacking zone. (The neutral zone is the same for both teams, but one team’s attacking zone is the other team’s defending zone.) These lines play a critical role in determining offside plays.
- Centre Line: A red line that cuts across the middle of the rink, dividing it into two equal halves.
- Faceoff Circles and Spots: Designated areas where play is restarted following a stoppage. There are several faceoff spots throughout the rink, including five in the neutral zone (one at centre ice), and two in each attacking zone.
- Penalty Boxes: Areas located off the side of the ice where players serve time for penalties.
- Player Benches: These are where players sit when they are not on the ice.
- Goal Crease: A semi-circular area marked in front of each goal, designed to protect the goaltender. Offensive players are restricted in their interactions with the goaltender in this area.
Faceoffs
A faceoff starts the game and restarts play after stoppages. Two opposing players face each other at the designated spot and an official drops the puck between them. Each player tries to gain control of the puck for their team as soon as it hits the ice.
Faceoffs occur at the beginning of each period, after goals, icing calls, and other stoppages of play dictated by the rules. The location of the faceoff within the rink depends on the reason for the stoppage.
Offside
The offside rule helps regulate player positioning and ensure fair play. A team is considered offside if a player enters the attacking zone (the area of the ice beyond the opponent’s blue line) before the puck has crossed into that zone. If this happens, play is stopped and a faceoff is held in the neutral zone.
The offside rule encourages teams to move up the ice as a unit and prevents players from waiting near the opposing team’s goal for a pass.
Players caught in the offensive zone when a puck enters it may immediately retreat to the neutral zone without playing the puck. They will not be called for offside, and may then re-enter the offensive zone.
Icing
Icing occurs when a player shoots the puck across both the centre red line and the opposing team’s goal line without it being touched, and an opposing player is first to reach it.
The rule prevents teams from simply clearing the puck to the other end of the rink to avoid offensive pressure.
When icing is called, play is stopped and a faceoff takes place in the defensive zone of the team that committed the infraction. This provides a potential advantage to the opposing team.
To give teams a break when they are killing a penalty, they cannot be called for icing while shorthanded.
Penalties
Penalties are enforced to maintain fair play and safety, with infractions leading to players being sent to the penalty box. This gives the opposing team a man advantage known as a power play.
Penalties are categorized into minor, major, misconduct, and match penalties.
Minor Penalties (2 minutes)
- Hooking: Using the stick to impede a player’s movement.
- Tripping: Causing a player to fall by using a stick, arm, or leg.
- Slashing: Swinging the stick at an opponent.
- Interference: Impeding an opponent who does not have the puck.
- Holding: Grabbing an opponent with the hands or stick.
- High-sticking: Hitting an opponent with the stick above shoulder level.
- Cross-checking: Using the shaft of the stick to push or hit an opponent.
- Too Many Men on the Ice: Occurs when a team has more players on the ice than allowed. This can happen due to miscommunication during player substitutions.
- Delay of Game: This penalty can be called for several actions that unnecessarily stop play or attempt to gain an unfair advantage by delaying the game, such as a goalie displacing the net or a player shooting the puck over the glass from his own defensive zone.
Major Penalties (5 minutes)
- Fighting: Engaging in a fistfight.
- Boarding: Checking an opponent violently into the boards.
- Spearing: Jabbing an opponent with the blade of the stick.
- Charging: Taking several strides or jumping into a check.
These penalties are more severe and often involve intent to injure.
Misconduct Penalties (10 minutes)
Given for unsportsmanlike behavior or repeated infractions. The player sits out but the team does not play shorthanded unless concurrent minor penalties are assessed.
Match Penalties
For actions with intent to injure. Results in ejection from the game and a potential suspension. The team must play shorthanded for five minutes, similar to a major penalty, but another player serves the time.
The enforcement of these penalties aims to keep the game safe and fair, with the specific consequences depending on the severity and nature of the infraction.
How Goals are Scored
A goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the goal posts and beneath the crossbar. Goals can be scored in various ways, including shots, deflections, and tap-ins.
What Might Negate a Goal
- Puck did not fully cross goal line: If any part of the puck remains on or before the goal line, the goal is not counted.
- Kicking or throwing puck: Goals are disallowed if the puck is kicked, thrown or deliberately directed into the goal by any part of the body other than the stick. Goals resulting from the puck deflecting off an attacking player’s body or equipment in a non-deliberate manner are OK.
- Goalie interference: A goal is negated if an attacking player interferes with the goaltender, preventing them from making a save (unless the attacking player was pushed into the goaltender by a defender).
- High stick: A goal is disallowed if the puck is batted into the net by a stick that is above the height of the crossbar at the moment of contact.
- Play stopped: Goals scored after play has been stopped by officials, for any reason, do not count.
- Offside or icing violations: Goals scored following a play that should have been stopped for offside or icing are negated.
Officials
Hockey games are overseen by a team of officials, each with specific roles and responsibilities. There are on-ice officials (referees and linesmen) and off-ice officials.
Referees
Referees are primarily responsible for enforcing the rules of the game, calling penalties, and making decisions on goals. They are the highest authority on the ice and have the final say in most disputes.
Responsibilities:
- Calling penalties for infractions of the rules.
- Judging whether goals are legally scored.
- Supervising the faceoff.
- Stopping and starting play as necessary.
Linesmen
Linesmen are tasked with assisting the referees by calling violations involving the blue and red lines, such as offsides and icing calls. They also handle faceoffs (except the opening faceoff of each period, which is conducted by a referee) and help manage disputes and fights.
Responsibilities:
- Calling offsides, icing, and sometimes handling puck out-of-play situations.
- Breaking up scuffles and fights.
- Assisting with the enforcement of rules regarding faceoffs.
Off-ice Officials
Off-ice officials include a variety of positions such as the goal judges, timekeepers, penalty box attendants, and the official scorer.
- Goal Judges: Determine whether the puck has crossed the goal line.
- Timekeepers: Keep track of game time, penalty time, and timeouts.
- Penalty Box Attendants: Manage the penalty box, ensuring players serve their time accurately.
- Official Scorer: Keeps the official score, noting goals, assists, penalties, and other relevant statistics.