Coming Home Magazine

THE BASICS Indoor ice hockey, an evolution of stick-and-ball games played thousands of years ago, originated in Canada in 1875. Today, matches are played on a rectangular 200-foot-by-85-foot ice rink enclosed by boards and Plexiglass. Rinks have a goal at each end and are divided into three zones. A red line with a faceoff circle at the center ice divides the ice in half, and the two blue lines at an equal distance on either side mark neutral, offensive, and defensive zones. You'll also find various lines, dots, and circles that distinguish locations for penalties, restarts, referees, and more. During the game, teams decked out in protective gear glide and collide as they try to score goals by shooting a rubber disc, or "puck," into the opposing team's net. At the professional and college levels, games are split into three 20-minute periods, with 15-minute intermissions between them. THE OBJECTIVE In a standard match, both teams place six players on the ice, including goalies. The game begins with a faceoff in the rink's center circle, where a referee drops the puck between two players trying to gain possession. On offense, players try to move toward the other team's net to score, either by passing the puck to teammates or skating down the ice themselves. On defense, players attempt to stop the puck-carrying player's progress with their bodies or sticks to earn offensive possession. Whichever team has the most goals at the end is the winner. If both teams have the same number of goals after regulation time, the game goes into overtime. A shootout may determine the winner if the score is still tied after that, with one player from each team attempting to score on the opposing goalie. Hockey has a very physical style of play. The rules permit body checking, which allows players to use their bodies to stop the puck carrier. Not all contact is tolerated, though. Penalties are assessed for excessive roughness and rule violations, like tripping, holding, and other unregulated contact with players and hockey sticks. With players going full force, don't be surprised if you see a fight or two break out. It's all a part of the culture that makes hockey unique, strengthening bonds between teammates and increasing game-day intensity. While fights typically play out, involved players may receive penalties for roughing. Penalties force the offending player to sit outside the rink in a penalty box, leaving their team short-handed for a period of time. THE POSITIONS Hockey has six player positions: three forwards (a center and two wingers), two defensemen, and one goalie, each with a distinct role: • Center: As its name suggests, this position occupies the central part of the ice, acting as the playmaker and scorer on offense and disruptor on defense. This player is usually responsible for their team's faceoffs, too. • Wingers (left wing and right wing): These two primarily focus on offense, working with the center to create scoring opportunities and putting pressure on the other team's defenders. • Defensemen (left and right): They assist their goalie by aggressively disrupting the offensive players with their bodies and hockey sticks. After successfully stealing the puck, they turn into initiators on offense, passing the puck down-ice to their center and wingers. • Goalie: Also known as a goaltender, a goalie is the last line of defense. They stand directly before their team's goal line to block opposing shots. THE LINGO To truly appreciate hockey, you need to understand its terminology: • Power play: When one team has more players on the ice than the other, often because an opposing player is serving a penalty. • Penalty kill: The act of defending against a power play. • Offside: A violation that occurs if an attacking player enters the offensive zone before the puck, resulting in a stoppage of play and a faceoff outside the offensive zone. • Icing: A violation for a player that shoots the puck across the rink's center and the opposing team's goal line without another player touching the puck. Play is stopped, and a faceoff occurs in the offensive team's defensive zone. • Hat trick: When a player scores three goals in one game. Traditionally, fans throw hats onto the ice to celebrate. • Breakaway: When an offensive player possesses the puck with only the goalie between them and the goal. • Deke: Shifts of the body and feet by offensive players used to get defenders out of position. COMING HOME MAGAZINE 23

• Cover