The equipment

Before we get started, it is important to keep in mind that safety and comfort are critical to ensuring players have fun and gain confidence while on the ice.  That is why equipment must fit properly to assure maximum performance and protection.  Age and experience will also be factors in determining the appropriate level of equipment.

Here is a preview of the most common pieces of equipment and their main purpose:

Moisture wicking undergarments – Provides warmth and protection from the gear itself while wicking away perspiration during play. 

Supporter/Cup – Essential protective gear. Typically these include a one piece short with built-in cup and Velcro tabs at thighs to hold up ice hockey socks.

Shin Guards (right) - Should cover the knee and shin completely to protect from collisions, sticks and pucks.

Hockey socks – Part of the team uniform and should match the team colors; held in place with garter or Velcro tabs on jock short; pulled over and covers the shin guards. 

Breezers/Hockey pants – Protection for lower spine/tailbone, hips and thighs. The length should come to the top of shin pads.

Skates – Skates are an essential piece of equipment to play ice hockey. Players and parents should place an emphasis on proper fit as skates that are too large (too much room for growth) will hamper skating abilities and comfort.  Periodic quality sharpenings are essential for the skater’s success.

Shoulder pads – These are designed to protect the chest, shoulders and top of arms. Players should try these on to determine best comfort and size for mobility and protection.

Elbow pads (left) – Today's elbow pads are designed to protect the elbow from hard falls or collisions as well as protecting the forearms from sticks and pucks.  To be effective, these should fit well enough that they do not move when worn.

Hockey jersey – Part of the uniform and may be provided by the team or purchased separately. Jerseys should be tried on with shoulder pads to determine appropriate fit.  Generally, sleeves will come just below wrists to top of hand and length will cover to thighs.

Helmet with face mask – The head is the most important part of the body, and the helmet is designed to reduce chance of skull fractures.  No helmet prevents concussions, but they can reduce the risk depending on padding and design.  Construction and design must be approved by HECC which assures they have been tested and meet certain standards.  The face mask minimizes facial injury from sticks or flying pucks.

Mouth guard – Essential for teeth protection.

Gloves - Protects hands, fingers and wrists. It is important to have good finger and hand mobility when worn.

Stick – A straight wood stick is a good starter stick for first time players.  As players become more experienced, they can begin to make decisions on curve, lie and the use of composite sticks. Length of the stick should generally extend from the ice/floor to the player’s chin with skates on – an inch or two more of length is okay to allow for growth.  Equipment experts can provide recommendations for each player and will cut the stick to the proper size.

THe Game

In simple terms, hockey is a high speed game played on ice with the object being to shoot a small rubber puck into the opposing team's net, scoring agoal for your team. Yet, it has a tendency of growing into more of a life long passion than a game.

Hockey has been engrained in the culture of Minnesota for many years. Known also for its numerous lakes and cold winters, it makes sense that the roots of hockey in Minnesota are tied to early games on frozen ponds and lakes long before indoor ice was available.

Since those early years, hockey has grown tremendously.  Aptly nicknamed the State of Hockey, Minnesota is home to more youth hockey players than any other state in the country. The annual State High School Hockey Tournament, a legend in its own right, draws more than 100,000 fans in one weekend.  Minnesota is also home to the NHL's Minnesota Wild, who sold out each of its first nine plus seasons, five NCAA Division I college hockey teams, as well as several Division III programs and junior teams.

Players and Positions

Full ice hockey games are played with six players from each team on the ice, which is considered full strength. (For players age 6U & 8U, games are played cross-ice, which provides them with a more engaging and age-appropriate game experience.) Each team has one goaltender, two defensemen and three forwards. The players are allowed to change with their teammates on the bench during play or stoppages of play following a whistle.

The center is the player that takes the face offs.  Centers are a key position as they often have more defensive responsibilities than the wings but are also expected to produce offensively by scoring goals or setting up their teammates.
 
The left wing and right wing flank the center on face offs. While they have defensive assignments in their own zone, these two forwards often have a slightly more offensive mindset than centers.  Despite their titles, the wingers are not always confined to one side of the ice.
 
Defensemen usually are set up behind the forwards. The defensemen’s main objective is preventing the opposition from scoring and assisting the forwards in getting the puck out of the defensive zone.  They can also contribute on the offensive side but usually don't play as deep in the offensive zone.
 
The last line of defense is the goaltender. The goaltender’s only job is prevent the opponent from scoring. The goalie wears different equipment than the forwards and defensemen, specifically designed to provide more protection and assist them in stopping the puck.

Three Zones of Play

The defensive zone is the area between the goal which your team is defending and the first blue line. This is the zone that your team tries to prevent the opponent from scoring in.

The neutral zone is the area between the two blue lines.

The offensive zone is the area between the second blue line and the opposing team's net. This is the zone in which your team is trying to score.  

During the second period, teams will switch the sides of the ice that they are defending.  Therefore, the zone that was initially their defensive zone becomes their offensive zone and vice versa.  The teams return to their initial nets and zones for the third period.

THE RULES

Ice Hockey has a complete set of rules that make it a very different game than any other sport. The rules are designed to provide a safe and positive playing environment while promoting skill development and a passion for the game of hockey. 

This page is designed to provide an overview on the most common rules and infractions seen in hockey. For a more in depth look, check out USA Hockey's Mobile Rulebook.

Face-Offs:  This is the method by which the puck is put into play. During a face-off, one player from each team lines up to face each other at one of the rink's nine face-off spots. The referee or linesman drops the puck between the players, who then battle for possession.

Offsides: This occurs when a player enters the offensive zone before the puck. It results in a stoppage of play and neutral zone faceoff.

Icing: When a defending player sends the puck, untouched, from behind the center red line across the opposing team's goal line in the offensive zone. This results in a stoppage of play and a faceoff in the offending team's defensive zone.

Hand Pass: Players in hockey are not allowed to play the puck with their hand outside of their defensive zone. When a player moves the puck to a teammate with his hand, the official blows the whistle, and there is a faceoff at the position where the puck was passed from. At no time can players close their hand on the puck.

High Stick: When the puck is played out of mid-air by a player whose stick is above shoulder height and a teammate is the next to touch the puck, a high stick infraction is called, resulting in a face off in that team's defensive zone.

Minor Penalties: Players can be assessed penalties for improper conduct on the ice.  The most common penalties are minor penalties, in which players must sit in the penalty box for two minutes, or until the other teams scores, while their team plays shorthanded. Here are the most common minor penalties:

• Tripping: Player uses stick, arm, or leg to take an opponent's feet out from under them.
• High-Sticking: Striking an opponent with the stick above shoulder level.
• Slashing: The act of swinging a player's stick at an opponent, whether contact is made or not.
• Holding: Player holds an opponent by using his hands, arms, or legs.
• Interference: Player interferes with or impedes the progress of an opponent who is not in possession of the puck.
• Elbowing: Involves the use of an extended elbow to perform an illegal body check. 
• Cross-Checking: A check made with the stick while both hands are on the stick and arms extending to deliver the hit.
• Hooking: Using the stick in a manner that enables a player to restrain an opponent, typically through a pulling motion.
• Boarding: Checking an opponent in such a manner that causes the opponent to be thrown violently into the boards.
• Roughing: Involves the use of unnecessary roughness during play or between whistles.

Major Penalties: Major penalties are assessed for many of the same infractions that apply to minor penalties except they involve a greater degree of deliberate violence that can result in injury. The player who is serving the five-minute major must stay in the penalty box for the full five minute penalty time, regardless if a goal is scored on the "shorthanded" team.

TERMS & LINGO

“A”: Letter worn on the uniform of the assistant team captain.

ADM: The American Development Model is the primary model for youth hockey in the US. The ADM is designed to successfully develop hockey players by implementing long-term athlete development principles.

Assist: An assist is credited to a player who helps set up a goal. Assists are awarded to the last two offensive players to handle the puck prior to a goal, including those who shoot the puck on net.

Breakaway: A clear scoring opportunity where no defensive player is between the puck carrier and the goaltender.

“C”: Letter worn on the uniform of the team captain.

Crease: Blue semi-circle in front of the goal. Goaltenders receive special privileges and protection while in this area.

Deke: A fake by a player in possession of the puck in order to get around an opponent or to make a goalie move out of position.

Diving: When a player exaggerates being hooked or tripped in an attempt to draw a penalty.

Empty Netter: A goal scored against an opponent that has pulled the goalie for an extra attacker in an attempt to tie the game. This typically happens late in the third period with under two minutes to play in the game.

Forecheck: The way a team's forwards put pressure on the opposing team while in the offensive zone in an effort to keep the puck or take it away from the opposition.

Freezing the Puck: A goalie freezes the puck (when the opposition is threatening to score) by either holding the puck in the glove or trapping it on the ice.

Full Strength: When a team has five skaters on the ice plus their goaltender.

Hat Trick: A player who scores three goals in one game achieves a "hat trick."

"HEP": This acronym refers to Minnesota Hockey's Hockey Education Program. HEP actively encourages a positive athletic experience for youth hockey players by providing a comprehensive approach to player development through parent education and accountability.

Intermission: A break in between each of the three periods.

"LTAD": Stands for long-term athlete development. LTAD provides a holistic model of development for all athletes through a gradual progression of skills and training programs.

One-timer: Shooting the puck immediately upon receiving it without stopping it first.

Penalty Kill: When a team is shorthanded (only four players on the ice) due to a penalty and attempts to prevent the opposition from scoring.

Penalty Shot: A free shot, unopposed except for the goalie, most commonly award to players that have full possession with no opposing player between them and the goalie but are taken down by the opposition.  The team which commits the offense is not penalized beyond the penalty shot, whether it succeeds or not.

Power Play: Happens when a team has a one- or two-man advantage over the opposition due to penalties.

Rink: The ice on which the game of hockey is played. Rinks are typically 200-feet long by 85-feet wide.  This is also referred to as an NHL-sized rink.  Olympic rinks are 200-feet long by 100-feet wide.

Save: When a goalie prevents a shot from going into the net.

Screen: Occurs when one or more players are between the shooter and the goalie, shielding the goalie’s view of the play and incoming shot.

Shot on Goal: An attempt by the attacking team to score a goal by shooting the puck toward the net. This results in either a save or a goal.

Shorthanded: Happens to your team when the opposing team has a one- or two-man advantage due to penalties.

Slap Shot: A slap shot occurs when the player swings the stick back and then quickly forward, slapping the puck ahead with a forehand shot.

Snap Shot: An abbreviated slap shot that occurs without the stick leaving the ice. The purpose of the snap shot is to combine the main advantages of the wrist shot (shot accuracy and quick delivery) and the slap shot (puck speed).

Stick-handling: A term for carrying the puck along the ice with the stick.

Turnover: Losing control of the puck to the opposing team.

Wrist Shot: Players roll their wrists quickly and powerfully to generate a shot. Typically, the most common and accurate type of shot.

Zamboni: The vehicle used to prepare the rink's ice surface before the game and during intermissions. The Zamboni scrapes a thin layer off the ice while also puting down a fresh layer of heated water that freezes to form a new layer of ice.

ADVANCED HOCKEY LINGO

Backchecking: Forwards in the attacking zone skate back to their own end to prevent opponent’s shots on goal.

Biscuit: A common term for a hockey puck.

Barn: A common term for an ice rink.

Barn Burner: A very intense game where the crowd becomes loud and boisterous.

Box: A defensive system (similar to the diamond) often used by teams on the penalty kill.

Breakout: The play used by the attacking team to move the puck out of its own zone and up the ice toward the opponent's goal.

Butterfly: A style of goaltending where the goalie tends to cover the lower half of the net with his or her leg pads.

Bucket: Slang term for a helmet.

Cherry Picking: When a player, generally a forward, hangs out by the red line while the play is in his/her team's defensive zone. The player is waiting for an outlet pass so that he can have a breakaway.

Changing on the Fly: When players from the bench substitute for players on the ice while the clock is running.

Coast to Coast: Refers to when a player carries the puck from deep in his own defensive zone, all the way to the opposing team’s goal.

Crashing the Net: A strategy in which a forward heads toward the opponent's net in hopes of deflecting a shot, banging a loose puck in, obstructing the goaltender's view, or simply creating mayhem that could lead to a scoring chance for his team.

Dangling: When a player uses great stickhandling moves to skate through the opposing team while maintaining possession of the puck.

Dump and Chase: A style of hockey where a team shoots the puck into one of the corners of the offensive zone and then pursues it.

Five-Hole: The hole between the goalie’s leg pads. If a player scores a goal and the puck went in between the goalie’s pads, the puck went through the five-hole.

Garbage Goal: A goal that takes little talent to score. Most such goals are scored from right in front of the net, often when the goaltender is out of position.

Headmanning: When a player passes the puck to a teammate who is ahead and typically closer to the opposing team's goal.

Howitzer: A very fast slap shot.

Laser: A hard, accurate shot.

Light the Lamp: To “light the lamp” is to score a goal. There is a goal judge positioned right behind the net who activates a red light when the puck crosses the goal line.

Natural Hat Trick: Scoring three goals in a row.

Neutral Zone Trap: A defensive ice-hockey strategy used by a team to prevent an opposing team from proceeding through the neutral zone (the area between both blue lines) by forcing turnovers in that area.

Odd-Man Rush: When one team races towards the opposing teams goalie with an extra player. Usually either a two-on-one or three-on-two into the offensive zone.

Pinch: Defensemen are usually positioned near the blue line in the offensive zone, but a "pinching" defenseman will leave his position and push further into the offensive zone in order to support the forwards and keep the puck in the zone.

Pipe: The pipe is the goal post. Also referred to as the "iron".

Point: A position just inside the blue line usually occupied by a defenseman when their team is in control of the puck in the offensive zone.

Poke Check: Trying to knock the puck away from an opponent by stabbing at it with the blade of the stick.

Pulling the Goalie: A team that is losing will sometimes take their own goalie off the ice and use another forward. This situation occurs most frequently near the end of the game when a team is behind and needs some emergency offense.

“The Room”: A hockey team's dressing room. It also loosely refers to a team's chemistry or aura that surrounds the team, or a team's camaraderie.

Saucer pass: An airborne pass from one player to another. It is called a saucer pass because the puck resembles a flying saucer in midair.

Shadow: When a player covers an opponent one-on-one everywhere on the ice in order to limit the effectiveness of his opponent.

Shinny: A pick-up game of hockey usually played on a frozen pond.

Shorty: A shorthanded goal.

Sieve: Slang term for a goalie that gives up a lot of goals and appears to have a lot of holes.

Sin Bin: Place a player goes after he is called for a penalty. Also simply known as the penalty box.

Slot: The prime scoring area up the middle of the ice, between the face-off circles in the attack zone.

Sniper: A player who is a pure goal scorer who is always able to find open space to get his shot off.

Stack the Pads: A save where the goaltender drops to one side and makes the save with her leg pads stacked on top of one another.

Standing on his Head: Phrase used when a goaltender is making outstanding saves.  Often used when a goalie is carrying her team and giving them a chance to win a game they shouldn't win.

Sweater: Another word for a hockey jersey. Refers to the old school hockey jerseys that were thick and heavy, making them similar to a sweater.

Tic-Tac-Toe: Three tape-to-tape passes that lead to a goal. Tic-tac-toe goals are usually scored on odd-man rushes or power plays because opponents don't have enough defenders to break up passes.

Toe Drag: Dragging the puck along the ice with the end (toe) of the stick blade on the ice as opposed to the bottom edge.

Top Shelf: Placing a shot in the top quarter of the net.

Traffic: A lot of players gathered in one area, usually in front of the net.

Wholesale Change: When every player on a team goes to the bench for a line change at the same time.

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