Hockey is one of the most popular sports in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. The game is enjoyed by people of all ages and genders and is a fantastic way to spend an afternoon or evening. But, like most sports, there are some differences between how hockey is played in America and Canada versus Europe. One of the most important differences is how long hockey intermission is before overtime starts. In this article, we will discuss what is and isn’t possible during hockey intermission, as well as what you need to know if you’re playing in an American or Canadian hockey league.
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What Can Happen During Hockey Intermission?
During the time between two hockey games, known as the intermission, nothing can happen. This is because the players and officials have a short break before the second half of the game begins. As a result, spectators are usually limited to standing and sitting, and maybe walking around the arena in between periods. This is why it’s called an intermission – there is no game action during it. However, this doesn’t mean that anything goes unseen. The NHL collects a lot of data on games, and all the while, they’re watching to make sure everything is running smoothly.
In theory, you couldn’t really do anything during the intermission. You can’t leave your seat, and you don’t have your phone or pad of paper to take notes on. But, in practice, there are a few things you can do. You can go to the bathroom, you can visit the concessions stand, or you can walk around the arena a little bit. Anything besides these three options is probably not a good idea because someone might get the wrong idea and think you’re trying to take a swing at them.
Overtime In American Hockey
If you’re playing hockey in America, there is a different set of rules that apply after the two twenty-minute periods. In the NHL, games end in a tie after two twenty-minute periods. The game then goes into overtime, where the first team to score wins. But in the AHL and some minor league hockey games, there is no overtime.
The reason behind this is that when hockey first came to America, they wanted to ensure that the games were competitive. So instead of having one of the teams gain an advantage by scoring first, they decided that the first team to score three goals wins. As a result, there is no overtime in American leagues.
Time Lag In Canada
In some ways, hockey in Canada is similar to hockey in America. But, there is also a significant difference in what happens after the second period. After the second period in Canada, there is a fifteen-minute break until the third period begins. This means that the players and officials have more than enough time to take a bathroom break, eat a snack, and stretch their legs. But, during this time, nothing can happen. It’s like there is a time delay – in theory, the game should have ended after the first period, but, because there is time lag, it continues until the puck drops for the third period.
Knowing If You’re Playing In An American Hockey League Or The NHL
If you’re playing in an American Hockey League (AHL), you’ll know that you’re not in the NHL because the latter has a 24-game schedule, while the former has a 48-game schedule. This is significant because if you want to be in the NHL, you have to play in its league. But, you also need to know that if you play in the AHL, you are not guaranteed a spot in the NHL. This is because the teams in the AHL are trying to win, too.
Other Differences
Besides the fact that hockey in America is played with different rules, there are other significant differences between the two sports. The main one is that in hockey, teams usually wear specific jerseys with certain colors and numbers. These are referred to as “uniforms”, and they help the fans identify which team they’re watching. Another significant difference is that in hockey, the teams usually have a captain and a coach who are both allowed to be on the ice at the same time. The captain is responsible for leading the team during the game and is the first player to enter the opposing team’s zone. The coach is there to give advice and tell the players where to go and what to do. In soccer, by contrast, the goalie is typically the only player on the field at a time, and he’s the only one who can stop a shot. Also, hockey is scored based on how you push the puck around the ice, while soccer is scored based on where you shoot the ball. The last significant difference is that in hockey, the players wear helmets, pads, and gloves. Soccer players don’t need gloves because they don’t have any hand movements involved when kicking the ball. Another significant difference is that hockey is traditionally a winter sport, while soccer is played in the summer. This means that you have to wear lots of layers, and it can be pretty chilly on the bench or in the stands. For that reason, spectators in hockey arenas are usually more mature than fans in soccer stadiums because they know what cold feels like and they aren’t scared of getting a little wet.
What About The Penalties?
In hockey, when a player is assessed a minor penalty, they have to sit down for a few minutes. These are the most common penalties in hockey:
- Crossing the ball of the hand with the stick
- High sticking
- Slashing
- Foul language
If a player is assessed a major penalty, they have to sit down for several minutes. These are the most common penalties in hockey:
- Illegal contact with an opponent (fighting)
- Tripping
- Illegal checking from behind
- Spearing
- Face-washing
- Carrying (horseplay)
If you’re playing in the NHL, the penalties are a bit different because the league has specific rules about what exactly constitutes a penalty. But, other than that, the rules are the same. When a player is assessed a minor penalty, they have to sit down for a few minutes. When a player is assessed a major penalty, they have to sit down for several minutes. And when a player is assessed a game penalty (for fighting, for example), they have to sit down for the remainder of the game.
Watching Movies
In the NHL, movies are often shown before games. Typically one of the most popular movies is shown before each home game, and this varies from league to league. In most cases, the game starts at 7:00 p.m. So, if your favorite movie is at 4:00 p.m., you might want to consider going to see it.
How Is Hockey Played In Europe?
Hockey is also played in Europe. The most popular hockey league is called the European Hockey League (EHL). This league started in the 1970s and was originally for amateur and professional players. There are also a few other professional hockey leagues in Europe, such as the KHL and the Swiss Hockey League. This is similar to the NHL, in that there are two twenty-minute periods and a fifteen-minute break in between them. But, in Europe, the break is only seven minutes long, so the game ends almost immediately after the second period.
The main differences between hockey in America and Europe are:
- The time between periods is only seven minutes instead of fifteen in North America.
- Hockey is traditionally played with a helmet, pads, gloves, and a stick.
- The most common penalties in Europe are hitting an opponent with the elbow, knee, or head; hooking; and slashing.
If you’re going to play hockey, there are some things you need to know. First, the rink would need to be at least fifty feet long by at least forty-five feet wide. Second, there would need to be space for the stands and the parking lot behind them. Third, the ice surface would need to be at least sixty inches deep.
Playing On Ice
Even if you have a decent-sized backyard, you’re probably not going to be able to fit a hockey rink in it. For that reason, most people who play hockey in America and Canada either have access to an outdoor rink or reserve an indoor ice rink for themselves.