GIRLY GIRL SPORTS
Hey girl, so you’ve decided to go to a hockey game? This is the perfect Fall and Winter activity for any girly and I know you will love it. Hockey has something for everyone - speed, athleticism, passionate fans and lots of other ways to make memories! Keep reading to learn more about the game!
The objective is simple - score more goals than the opposing team. A goal is scored when the puck crosses the goal line and goes into the net. That little black disc that you see the players chasing and hitting is called the puck.
Hockey is played on an ice rink. The ice is divided into zones. You’ll see a red line at center ice. Puck drop will occur at center ice to start the game, start a period, or after a goal is scored. Puck drop refers to when the referee drops the puck. This is also called a face off. Face offs can happen in other areas of the rink as well.
There are two blue lines on either side of center ice creating what is called the neutral zone. The other two areas are: the defensive zone – which is where your team and goalie “defends” their net and the offensive zone – which is the other side of the rink, where the opposing team has their goalie. Each period the teams will switch sides.
The game has three 20 minutes periods. Each period is separated by an intermission which is a pause in the game. Intermission is a great time to get out of your seat, use the bathroom, get a drink or food, and experience the festivities going on around the stadium with other fans.
Each team will have six players on the rink – one goalie (to defend the net), three forwards (to focus on scoring), and two defensemen (to help protect the net).
There are two main rules to be aware of:
Offside: A player cannot cross the blue line to enter the offensive zone before the puck does. If they do, the play will stop and a face off will occur.
Icing: When a player shoots the puck from their defensive zone all the way across the ice to the other team’s goal line (in the offensive zone – see above if you forgot what that is!) without anyone else touching the puck, an icing will occur. The play will stop and a face off will occur in the defensive zone.
And finally, there lots of rules in hockey. We won’t get into them all here. But if any player breaks a rule, the referee will call a penalty, and that player will need to sit in the penalty box. Each penalty has a designated time the player must sit in the penalty box for. This gives the opposing team an advantage since they will have more players on the ice. This is referred to as a power play and is the best opportunity for the opposing team to score a goal.
Well girl, now you know all the basics for understanding a hockey game! Be sure to arrive early so that you can take in the vibes and enjoy the pre-game festivities. If you need any tips on styling your game day outfit, please check out this post. You will be in an ice rink so consider wearing layers!
And don’t forget - hockey fans are passionate! If you have a question, don’t be afraid to ask a fellow fan. Otherwise, cheer loudly, support your team, and most importantly, have fun!
Enjoy the game!
