The Violent Sport
When you play, each team has 5 skaters on the ice at a time. There is one center, two wingers, and two defensive men on the ice. A center is the man who takes the face off. The two wingers support the center on the face off, and the center tries to pull it back through his legs to the defensive men to start the game. After every goal they go back to the middle of the ice for a new face off.
If you get a penalty you have to serve 2 minutes in the penalty box (could be more depending on what you did). When your team gets a penalty, you have one less player on the ice skating for you team… if you have two men in the penalty box then two less players on the ice for your team, etc. When people from the opposing team have penalties, your team is on a “power play” which mean that your team has an advantage and is most likely to stay on offense.
There are three red lines and two blue lines. The blue lines are what consists of being “off-sides”. This happens when the puck crosses over the blue line after you, or one of your teammates do. If the puck goes out of the blue line, you and your whole team have to cross the blue line as well, before the puck can cross the same blue line again.
It can get very confusing but once you understand it, like many other sports, it’s quite enjoyable. Now that I am beginning to understand, I actually like watching it. Every time someone gets hit into the boards or a new face off occurs, my toes squeeze together and I can’t help but cheer! It is one of those sports where you can’t sit still! I recommend everyone going to at least one hockey game in your life.
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