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HOCKEY MADE SIMPLE

THE PLAYERS

Goaltender: The goalie's primary task is simple - keep the puck out of his own net. Offensively, he might start his team down the ice with a pass, but seldom does he leave the net.

Defensemen: These players try to stop the incoming play at their own blue line. They try to break up passes, block shots, cover opposing forwards (center and wings) and clear the puck from in front of their own goal. Offensively, they get the puck to their forwards and follow the play into the attacking zone, positioning themselves just inside their opponent's blue line at the "points."

Center: The quarterback on the ice, the center leads the attack by carrying the puck on offense. He exchanges passes with his wings to steer the play toward the opposing goal. On defense, he tries to disrupt a play before it gets on his team's side of the ice.

Wings: The wings team with the center on the attack to set up shots on goal. Defensively, they attempt to break up plays by their counterparts and upset shot attempts.

THE OFFICIALS

Referee: The referee supervises the game, calls the penalties, determines if goals are scored and handles faceoffs at center ice at the start of each period.

Linesmen: Two are used. They call offside, offside pass, icing and handle all faceoffs not occurring at center ice. They do not call penalties, but can recommend to the referee that a penalty be called.

Goal Judges: One sits off-ice behind each goal and indicates when the puck has crossed the red goal line by turning on a red light just above his station. The referee can ask his advise on disputed goals, but the referee has final authority and can overrule the goal judge.

Official Scorer: He determines which player scores and credits assists if there are any. He might consult the referee, but the scorer is the final authority in crediting points.

HOCKEY'S THREE MAIN RULES

Offsides: When any member of the attacking team precedes the puck over the defending team's blue line.

THE PENALTIES

A team plays shorthanded when one or more of its players is charged with a penalty. However, no team is forced to play more than two players below full strength (six) at any tiime. If a third penalty is assessed to the same team, it is suspended until the first penalty expires. When a penalty is called on a goalie, a teammate serves his time in the penalty box.

 Minor Penalty: Two minutes - Called for boarding, charging, cross-checking, elbowing, holding, hooking, high-sticking, interference, roughing, slashing, spearing, tripping and unsportsmanlike conduct.

 Major Penalty: Five minutes - Called for fighting or when minor penalties are committed with deliberate intent to injure. Major penalties for slashing, spearing, high-sticking, butt-ending and cross-checking carry automatic game misconducts.

 Misconduct: Ten minutes - Called for various forms of unsportsmanlike behavior or when a player incurs a second major penalty in a game. This is a penalty against an individual and not a team, so a substitute is permitted.

 Penalty Shot: A free shot, unopposed except for the goalie, given to a player who is illegally impeded from behind when in possession of the puck with no opponent between him and the goal except the goalie. The team which commits the offense is not penalized beyond the penalty shot, whether it succeeds or not. 

Delayed Penalty: The whistle is delayed until the penalized team regains possession of the puck.

PENALTIES AND REFEREE'S SIGNALS

BOARDING Called for driving, throwing, checking or tripping an opponent which causes the opponent to be thrown violently into the boards.	CHARGING Called for running, jumping or charging into an opponent (usually taking more than three strides before impact).
CROSS-CHECKING Called when a player delivers a check with both hands on his stick and no part of the stick on the ice.	ELBOWING Called when a player uses his elbow to foul another player.
HIGH-STICKING Called whan a player carries or holds his stick above the normal height of the waist of an Opponent and the stick causes injury to that opponent.	HOLDING Called whan a player holds an opponent with his hands or stick. Holding the stick is called for, well, holding an opponent's stick.
HOOKING Called when a player impedes or seeks to impede the progress of an opponent by "hooking" him with his stick.	INTERFERENCE Called when a player impedes or seeks to impede the progress of an opponent who is not in possession of the puck.
MISCONDUCT Called for various forms of misconduct including the use of abusive language to any person, challenging an official's ruling, etc. (also given to a player receiving two major penalties in a game).	ROUGHING Called when a player or players are deemed guilty of unnecessary roughness, engaging in fisticuffs and/or shoving.
SLASHING Called when a player swings his stick at an opponent or impedes or attempts to impede an opponent by slashing with his stick.	SPEARING Called when a player stabs an opponent with the point of the stick blade while the stick is being carried with one or both hands.
TRIPPING Called when a player places his stick, knee, foot, arm, hand or elbow in such a manner that it causes his opponent to trip or fall.	WASHOUT When signaled by a linesman, it means there is no offsides or icing. The referee will also use this signal to "wave off" a goal.

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COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GAME OF HOCKEY

What is the puck made of?
The puck is made of vulcanized rubber and is three inches in diameter and one inch thick, weighing about six ounces. It is frozen before entering play to make it bounce resistant. 

How fast does the puck travel?
Some of the game's hardest shooters send the puck toward the net at speeds between 90 and 100 mph with the elite shooters easily topping the century mark. Making things even more difficult on the goalie is the puck will frequently curve in flight, much like a baseball.

 Which shot is the hardest for a goalie to stop?
Generally speaking, it is one that's low and to the stick side. Some goaltenders overplay to the stick side, presenting a more inviting target on the glove side.

 What about deflections?
Deflections aren't just luck. Players practice redirecting shots by standing at the side of the net and knocking a shot from the outside past the goalie into another area of the goal. 

Which is tougher for the goalie to stop a slap shot or a wrist shot?
The slap shot, while it is harder and faster, is easier for the goalie to time than a wrist shot, which takes the goalie more by surprise.

How thick is the ice?
The ice is approximately 3/4" thick and is usually kept at 16 degrees for the proper hardness. The thicker the sheet of ice becomes, the softer and slower it is.

 What are the standard dimensions of the rink?
The standard is 200' by 85', although some do vary.

Can the puck be kicked in for a goal?
Not intentionally. However, if a puck is deflected off a skate or off a player's body and no overt attempt is made to to throw it or kick it in, a goal is allowed.

 What if an offensive player is in the crease?
If he is there under his own power and the puck goes in, the goal is disallowed. A goal can be awarded if the player was forced into the crease or held there by a defensive player. An offensive player is allowed to carry the puck into the crease and score.

Why do goalies frequently come out of in front of their net?
Usually when a goalie leaves the area immediately in front of the goal it is to reduce the shooting area, cut down the angle of the shooter or for the offensive player to release his shot before he would like to. After coming out of the net, the goalie is usually backing up slowly in an attempt to get the shooter to commit himself first.

Who gets credited for an assist?
The last player or players (no more than two) who touch the puck prior to the goal scorer are awarded assists. For example, if player A passes to player B who passes to player C who scores a goal; players A and B get assists.

 Why doesn't the referee stop fights?
There are several. First, it is his job to watch what is going on and determine who should be penalized. Also, it is quite hazardous in close during a fight and since he is in sole control of the game, he has to protect himself from injury.

 How are the markings - the red and blue lines, goal lines, crease and face-off circles - applied to the ice?
The ice is built up to a half-inch thickness by spraying water over the concrete floor, which has the freezing pipes embedded into it. Then the markings are painted on, after which additional water is sprayed to coat the markings and build the ice to the prescribed thickness.

 What are hockey sticks made of?
Hockey sticks are made of wood, generally northern white ash or rock elm, or aluminum. The handle is one piece and the laminated wooden blade is affixed to it.

 Are all sticks alike?
Far from it. Just as baseball players have individually personalized bats, so too do hockey players have their own patterned sticks. Flexibility, the angle of the blade, weight, etc., vary from player to player.

HOCKEY TALK

For fans new to the game, hockey has a language all its own. The following guide should be helpful in picking up hockey's lingo.

 Back Check: To hinder an opponent heading toward and into the defending zone.

Blue Lines: The pair of one-foot wide blue lines which extend across the ice at a distance of 60 feet from each goal. These lines break up the ice into attacking, neutral and defending zones.

Body Check: Use of the body on an opponent. It is legal when the opponent has possession of the puck or was the last player to have touched it.

Butt-ending: To hit an opponent with the end of the stick farthest from the blade. It is illegal and calls for a penalty.

Goal Crease: Area directly in front of the goaltender. It is four feet wide and eight feet long and marked off by red lines. Offensive players who do not have possession of the puck may not enter.

Deke: To fake an opponent out of position.

Face Off: The dropping of the puck between one player from each team to begin or resume play.

Forecheck: To check an opponent in his end of the rink, preventing an offensive rush.

Freezing the Puck: To hold the puck against the boards with either the skate or stick to get a stoppage of play.

Goal Line: The red line which runs between the goal posts and extends in both directions to the side boards.

Goal Mouth: The area just in front of the goal and crease lines.

Hat Trick: The scoring of three or more goals by a player in one game.

One-timer: Hitting the puck directly upon receiving a pass. The offensive player takes his backswing while the puck is on its way to him and tries to time his swing with the arrival of the puck.

Penalty Box: The area opposite the team benches where penalized players serve time.

Power Play: A power play occurs when a team has a one-man or two-man advantage because of an opponent's penalties.

Pulling the Goalie: Replacing the goalie with an extra skater in a high-risk attempt to tie the game. This primarily occurs when a team trails, usually by one goal, late in the game.

Save: A shot blocked by the goaltender, which would have bean a goal had it not been stopped.

Screened Shot: The goaltender's view is blocked by players between he and the shooter.

Slap Shot: Hitting the puck with the blade of the stick after taking a full backswing.

Slot: The area immediately in front of the goal crease. It is from this zone that most goals are scored and where the most furious activity takes place.

Splitting the Defense: The player with the puck attempts to squeeze between the opponent's defensemen.

Stick Handling: To control the puck along the ice with the stick.

Top Shelf: Term used to describe when an offensive player shoots high in an attempt to beat the goalie by shooting the puck into the top portion of the net.

Wraparound: A player skates around behind the opposing goal and attempts to wrap the puck around the goal post and under the goalie. 

Wrist Shot: Hitting the puck with the blade of the stick using a quick snap of the wrist rather than a full back swing.