BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO ICE HOCKEY by Juliette Deane

• The game
• The night out
• The bmibaby Elite Ice Hockey League
• The basic rules of the game
• Ice hockey dictionary
• Useful links

The game

What's the object of the game?
The players have to get the puck in the net using sticks to pass it to their team mates, and shoot it at the goal. The team who scores the most goals wins the match.

How are the teams set up?
An ice- hockey match consists of two teams of players and there are roughly 20 players per team.

Do all the players play at the same time?
No, for each team there are six players on the ice at any one time. This consists of the goalie and five other players. The goalie usually plays for the whole match but may swap with a back-up goalie due to an injury or match penalty. The other players will play for two to three minute shifts at a time, and then swap with another player. Each set of players is known as a line, and each line has two defencemen and three forwards. Players do not always all swap at the same time (as a line) some may stay on a bit longer, or come off the ice sooner.

How does the game start?
The players start in the centre of the rink, facing the end where they can score. A player from each team goes to the centre and the referee will drop the puck between them, where they will both try and gain possession of the puck for their team. This is called a face-off.

So how long do they play for?
A game consists of three 20-minute periods. With two breaks in between them (at Basingstoke the breaks last 12 minutes).

Is the game continuous?
No, the play can stop for any number of reasons. For example if a penalty has been called the referee will blow his/her whistle and the clock will stop. The clock will start again when the play is resumed. The clock also stops when a goal is scored, if a player has been injured or if a violation of the rules has occurred.

How is the ice-rink set up?
The ice rink is divided into three main sections, which are the middle zone and the two zones at each end of the rink. These zones are defined by the blue lines, which go across the entire width of the ice, and up the sides of the boards. Click here for the rules section, which explains the purpose of these zones. A red line in the middle of the rink marks the 'half-way line'. At each end of the rink there also red lines that cross the front of the goal called 'the goal-lines'. These are crucial lines as they determine whether or not a goal has been scored when the puck is heading towards a goal. Click here for a diagram of the rink and seating plan.

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The night out

What can I expect from an ice hockey match?
Ice hockey has something for everyone, speed, skill, entertainment and even a bit of violence!

Is it all about fighting then?
Well, yes and no, the nature of the game means tempers will flare from time to time. Generally the violence is not as bad as it looks as the players have huge amounts of protection from all the padding that they have to wear. So violence is not the only thing ice hockey is about, it also involves a great deal of skill, and strength- it's not easy skating in all that padding!

What happens before a match?
Generally people arrive around half an hour before the match starts, although the ice rink opens an hour before. If you arrive early you can watch the players warm up. During the warm up you can stand by the side of the rink, which gives you a great opportunity to really get a feel for the speed and pace of the players. During this time you can also buy yourself a programme which holds information on the home and away teams, and player profiles. In the middle section of the programme you can fill in the penalty and score sheets for each team to help keep track of the game.

Before the match starts the teams are announced and skate onto the ice. Traditionally the away team come out from their changing rooms first then the home team come out. After all the players are on the ice each team lines up along their respective goal lines and as each player is announced they skate to the blue line. When all the players have been announced the National Anthem is played and the game can begin.

What can I expect during the game?
A DJ introduces the players, informs the crowd who scored the goals, or who has penalties and why, so you can fill in the programme if you have one. The DJ will also play music during the breaks in play, which adds to the lively atmosphere of the match. The crowd is also loud, and has various chants and songs (all clean!) to encourage the team.

What goes on in the breaks between periods?
During the break you can just sit back and relax ready for the next period. If you want you can go down to the entrance end of the rink where there are several stands to look at, such as the merchandise table and supporters' club table. There are also various games that go on during the break- such as the ‘lucky puck’ game. You can even just watch others making a fool of themselves- past examples include, a race to push the puck across the ice with your nose in the fastest time- something you're not likely to see every day!
Listen out for announcements for other competitions or break time entertainment, which will be announced on the night. You can also buy food if you wish- click here for a list of the available food services.

What happens after the match?
After the third 20 minute period the play will stop and (unless overtime is required- see rules) a player from each team will be awarded a 'Man of the Match' award. The players then do a 'lap of honour' of the rink. Sometimes, after this the players are required to pose for photos, for presentations to fans. Generally after the match a couple of the players from the home team will be available at the entrance area of the rink to sign your programme or photos as a memento. You can check the match statistics and how the other teams in the league have done after the match on this Website.

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The bmibaby Elite Ice Hockey League

The Basingstoke Bison play in the bmibaby Elite Ice Hockey League. The official league site can be accessed at: http://www.eliteleague.co.uk/ - this site shows all the rules and press releases of the bmibaby Elite Ice Hockey League. To view the other teams in the league and their locations click here.

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The basic rules of the game

The offside rule
This is relevant when a player heads towards the end of the rink they can score in. This is called their attacking zone which is marked by a blue line. The rule states that attacking players cannot cross this blue line before the puck does. If they do the play will stop and a face-off will take place outside the attacking zone in the neutral zone.

The icing rule
To explain this rule you have to imagine the rink divided into two halves divided by the line in the centre. Icing is called if an attacking player shoots the puck from their half of the rink towards the other end of the rink (where they want to score) and it crosses the goal line.

There are a few exceptions to the icing rule. If the puck is iced and it goes into the goal, icing is not called, and a goal is awarded. Secondly if a team is shorthanded, they are allowed to ice the puck.

A goal
When the puck crosses the red goal line into the goal. If the puck is deliberately directed into the goal by a player’s hand or foot the goal will be disallowed. If the puck goes into the net and out again this is still a goal.

The player who scores the goal receives one point for a goal. In ice hockey a maximum of two players can receive a point each for an assist- if they have set up the goal. Click here to view the players individual statistics including the games played (GP), Goals (G) and Assists (A) for each player.

Penalties
A penalty is when a player is sent off the ice for an offence, such as tripping up another player. This means that the player has to sit in the 'sin bin' for a certain period of time. Players who carry out minor penalties must not play for two minutes. This means that the team with the penalty will have only four players (plus the goalkeeper) on the ice for two minutes.

A team can receive any number of penalties at any one time, however they can only go down to a minimum of three players at any one time.

When a penalty has been committed play does not automatically stop. If the side without the penalty has possession of the puck then the referee will let play continue, the referee will hold his/her hand up to show a penalty is due and the play will stop when the side with the penalty touches the puck. This can lead to ‘Removing the goal-keeper from the ice' see below.

A team’s penalty can be cancelled out if their opponents score a goal. The player with the penalty will be able to return to the ice. This will only happen if a team is ‘short-handed’, If the two teams have an equal amount of players in the penalty bin a goal will not cancel the penalty out.

Minor penalty This is a penalty that lasts for two minutes.

Bench minor penalty This is when a player or the coach has committed an offence while sitting on the 'bench', such as swearing at the referee. In this case the coach has to nominate any player from their team to sit on the bench in the sin-bin.

Major penalty
This is when a player is off for five minutes.

Misconduct
This is when the penalty lasts 10 minutes. For penalties of ten minutes or more the player must still sit in the ‘sin-bin’ but their team will not have to play with on less player on the ice.

Match penalty This is when a player is sent off the ice for the rest of the match. This player must leave the ice immediately and go to the dressing room for the remainder of the match.

Goalie penalties When goalkeepers receive a minor, major or misconduct penalty they do not sit in the penalty bin. Instead one of the other players on their team must sit out of the game for the penalty time, and that team will have one less player on the ice. For a match penalty the goalie will have to leave the ice and will be replaced by a back-up goalie.

Equipment
The players are required to wear special protective equipment and there are several rules concerning this. For example, if a player's helmet falls off, and they continue to play a penalty will be called.

Removing the goal-keeper from the ice
Sometimes a team will decide to take off their goalie, which means they can have an extra player on the ice. This is common in a number of situations.

Firstly if a penalty is due but the team without a penalty has the puck they may want an extra player to try and score. It is safe to take the goalie off because the other team will not be able to score as when they touch the puck the penalty will be given. Also when a team is on a power play, they may want to take off the goalie and replace them with another player which means they could have a two or three man advantage to score.

Removing the goalie is also common at the very end of the match if the score is close. If a team is one or two goals down they may choose to remove the goalie and have an extra player on the ice because they have ‘nothing to lose’.

The end of the match If the match ends in a draw the players will have a short break and then the play will continue for five minutes with four-on-four skaters*. This is called 'overtime'. The first team to score will win the game, this type of overtime is known as 'sudden death'- as it is over as soon as a team scores'. If neither team scores in overtime, the result will be a draw. *This applies to EIHL rules

Points awarded Win: The team that wins receives 2 points; the team that loses doesn't get any points. Overtime draw: If the teams draw the game will go into overtime . If after overtime the score is still level the teams will each receive 1 point. Overtime win: If a team scores in over time they will receive 2 points, the other team will get 1 point.

• Information for this section has been backed up by the USA official hockey rules 2001-2003

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Ice hockey dictionary

An explanation of terms in this page and some you may hear when watching a match.

Attacking zone: Either end portion of ice rink in which a team is trying to score.

Boards: The boards surrounding the ice rink which support the plexi glass.

Bench: The place where the players sit when they are not on the ice. Each team has a separate bench at the side of the rink where they sit while the game is in play.

Defending zone: Either one of the end sections of the ice rink when the goal is being defended.

Defencemen: A defending player, who's' role is to stop the opposition scoring.

EIHL: bmibaby Elite Ice Hockey League

Face-off: This is carried out at the very beginning of the game and at any point during the game when the play has been stopped and needs to be started again. Two players face each other and the referee drops the puck in between them. It is then up to these players to try and gain possession of the puck and continue play.

Forward: An attacking player- whose role is to set up and score goals.

Goalie/Goalkeeper: The player whose role is to stand in front of the goal and prevent the puck from getting into the goal.

Goal-judge: A goal-judge is placed off-ice at each end of the rink behind the goal. It is their job to decide in a goal dispute whether the puck has crossed the goal line or not. To confirm a goal the goal-judge will activate the red light on the plexi glass above the goal.

Linesmen: There are two linesmen present at each match. Their role is to call any offside or icing offences. Linesmen do not generally have the authority to call penalties.

'Lucky puck' game: A game where fans 'purchase' a numbered puck. Fans stand at the side of the rink- opposite the announcers box, and throw their puck onto the ice. The person whose puck gets closest to the dot in the centre of the ice wins.

Man of the match: The player deemed to be most deserved of praise for their efforts during the game. This player will be announced at the end of the match and awarded a prize

Neutral zone: The area between the attacking and defending zone in the centre of the ice.

Overtime: If the score is equal after 60 minutes of play a further period of play is sometimes required to decide the winner. In the EIHL the rule is that a draw results in 5 minutes of over time, if neither team scores a goal in overtime then the game will be declared a draw.

Penalty-bin: See 'Sin-bin'.

Plexi glass: The glass surrounding the rink area.

Power play: When a team has at least one player more than their opponents on the ice.

Puck: The rubber disk players use to pass to each other and score using their sticks.

Referee: The official who has overall control over the game and the other officials. The official’s uniform is black trousers and a black and white stripped shirt. A referee can be distinguished from the lines-men by the orange band worn around the top of their arms.

Shorthanded: When a team has fewer players on the ice than their opponents do, due to penalties.

'Sin-bin': Or 'penalty bin' this is a separate area a player has to sit in for the duration of the penalty (if it is a minor, major or misconduct penalty).

Sudden death overtime: Overtime in which the match ends immediately after a goal has been scored.

Zone: Any of the three main sections of the ice rink area marked out by the blue lines on the ice.

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Useful Links

If, after reading this you want to sample the game yourself, find out more information about ice hockey in Basingstoke or ice hockey in general the following links may be of interest.

Links to pages on this site
Ticket prices
Seating plan
Contact details for ticket purchase
Supporters Club page
For the next home game and all other information visit the home page

Links to other pages
For more information on the EIHL visit The EIHL website
For a detailed guide to the rules and regulations of ice hockey visit:
USA Hockey Official Playing Rules 2001- 2003

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