Hello New Person Here Needs Help

[fiestyfemale22]

Alright people, sorry to be a complete pain in the rear end and all that.

Im new to the whole ice hockey thing, in fact what I know about the game wouldnt even fit on a postage stamp right now.

Im going to a few games with some friends soon but unfortunately none of us really understand the game, i.e. the rules and stuff. I cant watch football or anything that involves rules because basically if I dont understand the rules I just get bored and do something else. Personally I think thats where blokes go wrong, if a bird doesnt want to watch the game, its probably not because she doesnt like it, its because she doesnt get it!

Could some one please please please explain the game to me, I mean in laymans terms so that I at least dont look like a complete fool when I go to my first game.

The game itself looks pretty cool but I really really dont understand it at the moment because I have never played. So if I cant play i'd like to at least support it.

Ok I must sound like im on my knees here begging, well you'd be right. I would greatly appreciate any help that anyone can give me. Feel free to add me to msn or email me sometime I dont mind.

Thankyou ;D

[woody]

Here is the game in a nutshell...

Rules:

- Hockey is like football with body contact

- There are 5 skaters and 1 goalie per side

- Scoring is the same as football where a goal is worth 1 point

- Players must use their sticks to shoot the puck into the goal, though a shot may be deflected in off a part of the body, say a skate

- Unlike football players are allowed and encouraged to bump into an opposing player in possession of the puck. Called a bodycheck, this can be done in the general play area or along the wall (also known as the boards) and that's why we love this sport!

- There are 3 "halves" (3 periods) each lasting 20 minutes though the clock stops as play does

Penalties

- Any infractions result in the offender(s) having to sit in the penalty box for at least 2 minutes

- Typical fouls are using the stick or arms to impair a player's progress; tripping, hooking, slashing, high sticking, holding, interference. There are also penalties for intent to injure; roughing, elbowing, kneeing, fighting, hitting from behind, etc.

- If a team incurrs a penalty then they must play with only 4 skaters thus giving the other team a man advantage for the 2 minutes or until they score.

-The team with the man advantage may choose to play a selection of players capable of scoring and this unit would be called the PowerPlay unit.

-The team who is penalised may choose to use players who are defensive specials called a Penalty Killing unit.

Strategy:

- Teams align their 5 skaters as 3 forwards and two defenders. You can see the general alignment at the initial face-off at centre ice.

- Each team can have up to 18 or so skaters on the bench. Unlike football, players are replaced every minute or so. This is because game is played at continuous fast pace and the players play all over the ice, unlike football where some players remain upfield for the duration of the match, resting when the ball is not near them.

- When attacking, a team can either pass the puck amongst themselves, skate & carry it or shoot it forward and hope for a recovery close to the opposition's net.

Play

- The main influence on play is the Offside rule. Note the ice surface is divided into 3 zones; From the net to the blueline is either the offensive or defensive zone and the area between the two bluelines is the Neutral zone.

- A team attacking must put the puck across the offensive zone blue line before they send any players into the zone. If not the whistle is blown for an offside infraction and a faceoff occurs outside the zone by the blue line.

- If the puck leaves the zone then all the attacking players must also leave the zone before the puck can be brought in again

Faceoffs

Any stop in play results in a faceoff, usually at the nearest "dot" to where the play stopped.

I think that's it.

Oh, you'll need a top that says "I'm a Puck Bunny" in order to be a true fan...

Ta