Hockey History and Rules

History of Hockey On March 3, 1875 the first organized indoor game was played at Montreal's Victoria Skating Rink between two sides of nine- player teamsfirst organized indoor gameVictoria Skating Rink By 1893, there were almost a hundred teams in Montreal alone, and leagues throughout Canada. The Stanley Cup, was first awarded in 1893 to the Montreal HC, champions of the AHAC.Stanley Cup1893Montreal HC

History of the NHL In 1910, the National Hockey Association(NHA) was formed in Montreal.National Hockey Association After re-organizing as the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1917, the league expanded into the United States in 1924.National Hockey League The National Hockey League originated in 1917 with 5 teams, and through a sequence of team expansions, reductions and relocations currently consists of 30 teams, 24 of which are based in the United States and 6 in Canada

Equipment A hockey stick, ice skates, pucks, and goals are the main equipment evolved in hockey. Hockey players wear a helmet, shoulder pads, elbow pads, mouth guard, protective gloves, heavily padded shorts (also known as hockey pants), athletic cup/jock strap, shin pads, and a neck protector. Goaltenders will usually add a goalie stick, neck guard, chest protector, blocker, catch glove, and leg pads.

Rules Three Main Rules Offsides: When any member of the attacking team precedes the puck over the defending team's blue line. Two-Line Pass: When a player passes the puck from his defending zone to a teammate beyond the red center line. Iceing: When a player shoots the puck across the center red line and past the opposing red goal line. Icing is not called if the player's team is killing a penalty, a teammate of the player shooting the puck touches it before a player from the opposing team, the defending goalie touches the puck first or if the puck travels through the crease on it's way to the red line.

The Hockey Rink Centerline: Marks center ice Blue Lines: Marks the defensive/offensive zones for both teams Red Lines: Marks the goal zone. Goal Crease: Area only the goalie can be in Face-off Circles: Where teams position themselves for a puck drop Face-off Dots: Where the referee drops the puck

Penalties 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. 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.

Penalties Cont. 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 when 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.

Penalties Cont. HOLDING Called when 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. 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.

Penalties Cont. 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 off-sides or icing. The referee will also use this signal to "wave off" a goal.