You’ve probably got a vague idea of what ice hockey is. Formed from glimpses of the Olympics, maybe from films when you were growing up. Slapshot for my generation. Or even the recent and rather controversial TV drama Heated rivalry.
It is, of course, a fast-paced team sport played on ice, where two teams try to score goals by shooting a rubber puck into the opponent’s net using sticks. That’s the essence, but it is far more than that. It is exciting, often exhilarating, frenetic and at times brutal.
Watching a game with former Spurs legend, Steve Perryman, who now lives locally. Steve turned to me and said: “I live this sport, you never know what is going to happen next!”
That’s what keeps you glued to the action, that’s what entertains you and gets you hooked.
Each team has six players on the ice at a time. One Net Minder, colloquially known as the Goalie. Plus 5 skaters, usually 3 forwards and 2 defensemen, referred to as D-men.
The game is divided into three periods of 20 minutes each, with the clock stopped whenever the puck goes out of play, so like rugby, you get your full value of action time.
The playing area is compact, so there is a lot of goal mouth action. Most games average a shot on goal a minute. No wonder you feel entertained after a match. The goals are small and most goalies are big, so the conversion rate from shots on target to goals is around 1 in 5.
The players are very fit and as with all sports, their fitness has to match the game they play. They need to be good at skating, have strong upper body strength and must be brave. Fighting is less prevalent nowadays, but it is very much a full contact sport.
The rubber puck can travel at speeds in excess of 100mph, so padding, gloves and visors and essential.
Adding to the excitement and feel of, at times, chaos is the constant rolling on and off of the players as the coaches try to match the opposition’s line (that’s the 5 skaters they have on the ice) and seek an advantage. Usually each team has 3 lines, with a couple of additional skaters also allowed in the match day squad.
In the UK, ice hockey is the third most popular winter sport, trailing only football and rugby.
If you’ve never seen a game, you’re in luck, we have a top team, the Swindon Wildcats, just down the road.
New season starts on 5th September
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