Fantasy Hockey is a fantasy sport where you manage a team of real hockey players and compete against other managers in a virtual ice rink. It is a lot of fun and very interactive, and it has proven to be incredibly popular globally, with over 300 million active users.
Even though Fantasy Hockey is a fairly new sport, with roots stemming from North America, it has already achieved such a large audience and is growing at such a fast pace that the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) included it in their 2021 World Championship as one of the 12 sports that will be televised.
If you’re looking to get into Fantasy Hockey or already play it and want to learn more about how it works, this article is for you. We’ll cover everything from the basics of the game to tips on improving your team size, management, and strategy.
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The Basics Of Fantasy Hockey
Fantasy Hockey is mostly played on ice rinks, which are typically located in sports halls or outdoor plexiglass cubicles. A few locations even offer in-house ice making so even more ice is available to play on!
These ice rinks are also known as fantasy hockey rinks or head-to-head fantasy hockey rinks. The purpose of the name is to reference the head-to-head matchup style of traditional hockey where two teams of five players each compete on a sheet of ice until one team scores a goal. In a fantasy hockey game, you will compete against a computer-controlled opponent with the score always tied at the start of each game.
As mentioned, the objective of each game is to score more points than your opponent. You do this by accumulating a certain number of goals while preventing your opponent from scoring as many. Your goal is to make as many valid hockey plays (shot on goal and blocked shots) as possible and to possess the puck as much as you can in order to create scoring opportunities.
Most of the action in a Fantasy Hockey game happens on the ice, which makes it a very physical sport. However, watching ice hockey is not the only way to enjoy the game; you can also participate in a live chat while you’re playing, enabling you to talk to other fans attending the game and ask any questions you might have about hockey or Fantasy Hockey.
One of the great things about Fantasy Hockey is that it’s totally interactive. While watching TV or listening to podcasts is great, it’s not the same as being there. You can throw out a pass, a hit, or a shot and see the consequences right away. When the puck is on the line, you can physically feel how close you are to accomplishing your goal.
In the next section, we will discuss some of the basic rules and regulations of head-to-head fantasy hockey.
Head-To-Head Fantasy Hockey Overview
Since Fantasy Hockey is played on an ice rink, one of the first things you need to do is pick a team name and logo for your team. The logo you pick will be the face of your team and will be featured on all of your team’s apparel and equipment, including jerseys, hats, and shoes. The name you pick will be the player’s last name followed by the team’s country code (e.g., Austraila Hockey for Scottie Montgomery).
Once you’ve picked your team name and logo, you will need to set the roster for your team. The roster is your team’s list of players that you’re allowed to choose from. Each season, you can add up to three more players to your team’s roster through the addition of new players or via trade with other managers. You can also choose to keep your team’s current roster size unchanged or reduce it by one.
Once you’ve set your roster, you will need to pick your goalie. Just like in real hockey, the goalie’s mask will be the focal point of your team. Your goalie’s equipment will include a mask, a jersey, and pants.
Choosing your goalie is a tricky decision, as you want to choose a goalie that is both effective and aesthetically pleasing. The better the fit between your chosen goalie and your team’s uniforms, the better your team’s look!
You will also need to decide how many forwards, defensemen, and goalies you want to dress in your team’s lineup for each game.
Forwards are your team’s attack-minded players, usually played by the team’s star players. They will usually take the puck to the net and try to put the puck in the opponent’s net. There’s a large number of forwards’ varieties, so you can choose from some of the most recognizable names in hockey, including Vladimir Tarasenko, Evgeny Malkin, and Alex Ovechkin. Defensively, you will have two types of players to choose from: blazers and hounds. The former excels at preventing goals and breaking up attacks, while the latter are known for their ability to score. You will choose the amount of blazers and hounds you want to dress in your team’s lineup, as well as the position your forwards and defensemen will occupy on the ice.
Once you have your lineup set, you can begin to assemble your team’s schedule. The schedule is made up of the weekdays and days of the week your team will play during the season. You must play on a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday to qualify for the playoffs during the season. Furthermore, you must play the majority of your games on the weekends, since most people like to watch or listen to sports on the weekends.
To end this section, let’s remind you that, just like in real hockey, the better your team’s performance in the regular season, the better your chances of winning the Stanley Cup at the end of the season!
Some Key Points About Head-To-Head Fantasy Hockey
Since Fantasy Hockey is played on an ice rink, you will need to make certain that the skill level of your players matches that of the players on your opponent’s roster. The IIHF regulations state that the player selection must follow the rules and regulations of major league ice hockey. To ensure that your roster is made up of only the best of the best, you can use a tool like My NHL to find the perfect balance between skill and experience on your team.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that the better your strategy, the better your results. Trying to outscore your opponent without taking advantage of the situation can result in you losing the game.
Finally, make sure to have fun! Fantasy Hockey has been around for a while now, and it continues to enjoy great popularity because people want to have fun while also being able to participate in an immersive experience that mirrors real hockey as closely as possible.