Hockey is one of the most popular and exciting sports to play in both Canada and the United States. It is a game that can largely be described as “keep away”, where the objective is to shoot and maneuver your puck (or ball, in the case of some variants) into the opposing team’s net to score by any means necessary. It is an out-and-out sprint to the net that can, and often does, result in some very physical play. If this sounds like your kind of game, then read on!
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The Traditional Hockey Scorecard
Traditionally, the score for a hockey game has consisted of two numbers to represent each team:
- goals for
- goals against
These numbers give the score a simple and clean overview of the game’s result. There are, however, several drawbacks to this simplistic method of keeping score. First of all, there is no way to keep track of statistics or accumulated scores in between periods, which can make it hard to analyze the game’s flow and determine the reason(s) behind a certain outcome. This is mainly due to the fact that during the intermission there is no set time limit for the players to go over the in-game statistics – they just do it amid the chaos of the break.
The Modernist Takeaway
These days, with the rise of technology and the online world, there are several scorekeeping apps available for both iOS and Android devices. These apps make it easy to keep track of all in-game statistics, as well as provide a space for fans to brag about their favorite team and players. There are also several “scoreboard” websites that store all game scores so that fans can quickly find the statistics they want to know about any player or team.
Along with tracking stats, these websites make it easy to keep track of all-time leaders in a variety of categories, such as goals, assists, penalty minutes, etc. – providing a glimpse into the history of the sport and the individuals who have contributed the most to its development.
These websites and apps remove the uncertainty of whether or not a stat will be updated between periods and allow fans to access the information whenever they want. They also provide a safe space for fans to discuss the game and their team without being worried about offending other users with vulgar language or derogatory comments – removing the anxiety that can come with chatting with strangers online.
The Goal-Scoring System
One of the best things about hockey is how it keeps score. A goal is worth three points, an assist is worth two points and an extra point can be scored for being the first on the net to touch the puck after it has been tipped in by a teammate. This is called a “power play goal” and it adds an extra element of excitement and strategy to the game.
This scoring system was first used in the NHL in 1942 and it has remained essentially the same ever since. Other leagues such as the WHL and the KHL have also implemented a similar system, which makes it very easy for North American fans to follow – even if they haven’t followed hockey closely in many years.
The point system in hockey has several advantages. First, it adds an extra element of strategy to the game. Second, it creates an opportunity for fans to compare stats across different teams and players. Third, it makes it easier for everyone to keep track of what is going on, since players and coaches can easily see how many points each team accumulates in-game. Finally, the system encourages skill, since it is often easier for a skilled player to put the puck in the net than it is for an unskilled player to shoot and hit the back of the net.
One disadvantage of this system is that it can get very complicated very quickly, considering the amount of detail that has to be tracked. This is why most hockey fans simply use the traditional method of keeping score – it is more difficult to keep track of everything when the game’s flow is not continuous.
Game Length
Hockey is often compared to other sports in its duration. The average hockey game lasts for about three hours, which is a bit longer than games in other sports. This is mainly because there is an hour break between the two periods. During this time, fans are free to get food and drink, catch some rest or just stay glued to their seats – ensuring that everything stays fresh for the game’s resumption.
There is a growing group of hockey fans, however, who want to shorten the game and increase its intensity. The idea behind these fans is to take some of the downtime between periods and turn it into extra game time. One way to do this is to shorten the intermission by five minutes and then add a third period. This way, the game can end at 12:05 pm or 12:10 pm and it will still be considered a “full” hockey game. The advantage of this format is that it gives fans a longer time to follow the game and get more involved in the action – especially since there is now an extra five minutes at the end of each period to generate more goals and excitement.
This shorter game time has several advantages. First, it makes the game more accessible to casual fans. Second, it allows the more skilled players to shine, since it is often more difficult to score goals in a short game. Finally, the time limits make it easier for the coaches to get players in and out of the game, as well as adjust the lineup, without risking injury or boredom (collapsed lungs from overeating are also a concern).
Fancy Statistics
One of the great things about hockey is how it keeps track of all the statistical information about the game. Not only does this provide a great deal of data for analytical fans, but it also makes it easy for fans to track the career stats of individual players. These stats are updated after every game and it is easy to get an accurate “fancy” stat for every player – making sure that no detail is missed.
One of the first apps to offer “fancy statistics” was the NHL 50th Anniversary App, which was released in 2017 and is currently available for iOS. This app allows fans to keep track of all the statistical information for every player in the league, including regular season and playoff stats. It also provides each player with a detailed profile that includes their height, weight, birthday, career highlights and more.
The popularity of hockey is likely thanks to its combination of skill and physicality. With the right equipment and a little bit of practice, anyone can join in and have some fun – especially if they are a fan of the sport. With a little bit of research, however, hockey fans can keep track of all the important stats for every team and player.