Who Plays Where

A team consists of 22 players. Six players from each team take the ice at the same time. Usually one of the six is a goalie. He is allowed to stop the puck with his hands, body, or stick. His five teammates are divided into three forwards and two defence men. The forward positions are the left wing, right wing, and the centre. In defence lying in wait for the opposition, are the left and right defence.

The Rules

Shotting the puck into the opposition goal is the aim of the game. Getting it there is a task pretty much unhindered by rules and regulations, altough offside rules do dictate patterns of play. The purpose of the offside rule is to prevent attacking from goalhanging. The most important offside rule dictates that attacking players must follow the puck into the attacking zone. A player is called offside if both his skates go into the attacking zone before the puck does.

Icing: Icing is called when a player hits the puck across the opponents goal line from his own half, unless it goes into the goal. Icing is legal when a team is shorthanded.

Two Line Pass: The two line pass occurs when a player passes the puck  from his defending zone to a team mate across the red centre line.

The Powerplay

The object of a powerplay is to score a goal while the opposing team is playing shorthanded after a penalty has been awarded. Up to two players per side may be penalized, giving a team the possible five on three powerplay. From the face off they try to gain control of the puck and head for the oppositions goal. The players then pass the puck between them untill an opening is created and a player gets to take a shot on goal. A powerplay lasts the length of penalty  - 2,4, or 5 minutes - or ends when a goal is scored by either team.