For those of you who are completely unfamiliar, a hockey faceoff (or ‘hockey faceoff’ as it is sometimes called) is when 2 players fight (or wrestle) for possession of a puck that is in the air. In the most basic form, the 2 players try and knock each other’s stick aside so that each can scoop up the puck and shoot it towards their opponents’ net.
As you might imagine, this can quickly become quite a physical activity, which is why most hockey rinks have a referee – usually a neutral, highly skilled official – who is on hand to break up the fights and to officiate each game. You’ll also often see linesmen (more on them in a bit) come into play during these ‘traditional’ hockey faceoffs, where 2 players are typically lined up across (what is known as) the ‘neutral zone. The idea behind the role of the linesmen is to prevent the occasional player from going too far, or from being inadvertently injured by a checking player or even another teammate.
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The Puck Starts In The Air
The reason the puck begins in the air is because the general rule is that you cannot score a goal with it on the ground. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule, but in general the only way to score a goal with the puck is if it is in the air, so that is where all the action typically takes place. This is why neutral zone faceoffs are known colloquially as ‘puckfights’ or ‘duelings’ and, occasionally, even ‘battles’ or ‘mixed matches.
The Referee Is The Decider
The key to a successful hockey faceoff is having a clear and concise set of rules. The most basic of which is that the referee has to decide who is going to win each and every faceoff. Simply put, they can’t just play it by ear and decide that, for example, Joe Blow is going to win because he was previously on the best of terms with the other player, or that one of the players is just ‘happening’ to have the puck at that moment.
Since there is always more than one referee at a hockey game, they have to make quick (but consistent) decisions on where the puck is located and who has the best possession. They also have to watch out for any kind of dangerous or illegal play, such as tripping, checking from behind, etc. It is the referees’ responsibility to make sure that each and every match is played according to the rules and that the good order and discipline of the game is maintained at all times.
The Teams Are Dressed Differently
One of the most striking things about a traditional hockey match (aside from the occasional fights, which are kind of obligatory) is how the teams are typically dressed. Specifically, one team will always be wearing white and the other will be wearing burgundy. (As a general rule, the home team wears white and the visitors wear burgundy.)
While this might not seem like much, consider that the white is associated with ‘good’ and ‘honesty’ and the burgundy with ‘bad’ and ‘dishonesty’ in some part of the world. This is why you’ll often see referees instructing the teams to change jerseys before a game begins, especially if there was contention (i.e. a fight) during warmups. The teams must also change outfits after the game ends, simply because the other team won.
There Are 2 Stakes
The fact that there are two separate teams battling it out for possession of a puck puts two important elements into play: the competitiveness of the match and the fact that there is more than one player (or pair) involved. In the case of a draw, or for a team that does not possess the puck at the end of a match, there is always the ‘extra’ game that follows directly afterwards, where the teams will change ends and try again.
The idea here is to increase the intensity of the match and to give the losing team a second chance at victory. Sometimes this is referred to as a ‘best of three’, where each team gets 3 attempts at a single goal.
The Referee’s Job Is A Herculean Task
In addition to all of the above, the referees’ job is also made difficult by several factors. For starters, they have to keep an eye on the game while simultaneously conducting a conversation with the 2 players that are doing their best to injure one another. (Yes, it really is that serious.)
Also, depending on where the puck is located, it can be difficult to determine who has the best position. This is why sometimes the referees will put flags on the ice to help guide them in their decision-making. In some instances, they will ask for volunteers from the crowd to help them out.
Another potential pitfall for a referee is being distracted by a play that requires their attention elsewhere. This is why they are highly trained to look both ways before they cross the ‘street’ – i.e. the yellow line that separates the ice from the stands – before directing their gaze back to the playing surface. It is also why they wear those strange, peep-hole shaped glasses that enable them to keep their eyes focused while still being able to see the play develop.
At this point, you are probably wondering how exactly a hockey faceoff works, and the answer is a lot like chess, only instead of moving a chess piece around a board to gain a tactical advantage, you are playing against another human being in a battle of wills for a puck that sometimes goes in both directions (depending on who hits it first).
The Team That Wins The Puck Battle Usually Scores
To give you a better understanding of the above, let’s take a quick look at how the game typically plays out. One of the 2 teams will usually score first, or at least will contribute to the goal tally, while the other team will then fight back with a vengeance to try and even the score. This is typically why you’ll see teams that are outshot at the beginning of the game try and outscore their opponents as the match goes on (i.e. the ‘hot hand’ phenomenon). In other words, the first team to score gives themselves a significant advantage, because the subsequent fights will be, at best, a formality. (And sometimes they can even be a little bit of a mess, which is why the referees are present to break up the fights and to prevent injuries.)
What If There Is No Referee?
If there is no referee present at the game, all bets are off. This is because the referee is typically the individual who makes the decision on who is going to win each and every faceoff. In their absence, the linesmen take over this responsibility and will work to even things out, or at least to rule in favor of the team that is wearing white. (In the case of a draw, this is typically where fans come in; if there is no clear victor after a match of even strength, the onus is on the onlookers to make a decision on who is going to get the white jersey that day.)
Essentially, a referee isn’t necessary for a hockey match, but they are highly beneficial to the order and discipline of the sport. This is why non-hockey referees sometimes have a hard time adjusting to the intensity of the gameplay and the fact that some of the players are almost professional wrestlers in terms of their strength and determination. While it is usually a good idea to have a referee at all hockey games, having them randomly decide ‘heads’ or ‘tails’ as to who is winning each match, or to simply allow the game to ‘ferret out’ a winner by default, can sometimes cause significant disorder and chaos.