What Is An Assist In Hockey? Learn The Rules And Techniques Here!

Are you new to the game of hockey and wondering what an assist is? Or maybe you’re a seasoned player who wants to brush up on the rules and techniques surrounding this important aspect of the sport. Either way, we’ve got you covered.

An assist is a key component of hockey, as it recognizes players who contribute to their team’s goals without actually scoring themselves. Understanding how assists work can help you appreciate the skill and strategy that goes into every play, whether you’re watching from the sidelines or participating on the ice.

“Assists are often considered just as valuable as goals in hockey, since they require precision passing, smart positioning, and overall teamwork.”

In this post, we’ll explore everything you need to know about assists in hockey – from the basic definition and types of assists, to the rules governing them and the techniques used to execute them effectively. Whether you’re a player, coach, or dedicated fan, you’ll come away with a deeper understanding of what an assist means in hockey and why it’s such an important part of the game.

So strap on your skates and get ready to learn all about assists in hockey – you might be surprised at just how much impact these unheralded plays can have on the outcome of a game!

Definition Of An Assist In Hockey

In hockey, scoring a goal is the ultimate objective of every team player. However, it takes more than just one person to achieve that goal. The credit for scoring goals is often shared between two or three players. This is where the concept of assists comes in.

What Is An Assist In Hockey?

An assist in hockey is given to the player(s) who made the preceding passes to the scorer of a goal. It is the act of passing the puck to a teammate, giving them an opportunity to score a goal. A player can only be credited with an assist if their pass directly contributes to the goal being scored.

There are two types of assists: primary and secondary. A primary assist is awarded to the player who made the final pass to the person who scores the goal. A secondary assist goes to the player who passed the puck to the primary assister.

Why Are Assists Important In Hockey?

Assists are essential in determining a player’s contribution to the game. They reflect the teamwork and coordination required to score a goal. A player may not have put the puck into the net themselves, but their assist shows their impact on the play, making a significant contribution towards the team’s success.

Assists also serve as a tiebreaker for players when it comes to individual awards such as league MVP or leading point scorer at the end of a season. If, by chance, two or more players finish with the same number of total points over the course of a regular season, then the player with more assists will be deemed the winner.

How Do Assists Contribute To The Game?

Assists highlight the importance of teamwork in hockey. They demonstrate how unselfish plays can help to achieve a common goal. They also drive players to look for ways to create scoring opportunities, even if it means sacrificing their own chance to score a goal so that a teammate can do so instead.

Assists are crucial towards building team chemistry. When a player earns an assist, it shows they trust their teammates and want the best possible outcome for the team. It fosters a sense of camaraderie on the ice while creating a positive environment off the ice as well.

What Is The Role Of An Assister In Hockey?

The role of an assister in hockey is often underrated compared to that of a scorer. However, without assists, goals would be much harder to come by. The main objective of an assister is to get the puck into the opponent’s zone with speed and accuracy, making crisp passes and creating opportunities for their teammates to score.

An excellent assister must possess exceptional vision, ability to read and react fast, and have fantastic passing skills. They need to anticipate where their teammates will move and put the puck in places where only their teammates can reach. Assisters also play a vital role in opening up the defense by bypassing the opposition forwards with quick and precise passes.

“Great assists are what gets me going. Even more than goals sometimes.” – Wayne Gretzky

Assisting is not just about feeding your teammates the puck; it’s about teamwork and contributing to a collective goal. An assist may seem like a small contribution to the game, but it can make all the difference between winning or losing. It is a skill that requires patience, precision, awareness, and a selfless attitude towards achieving success.

How Are Assists Awarded In Hockey?

In ice hockey, an assist is a credited statistic when a player sets up a goal. The purpose of an assist is to recognize the contribution of players that helped in scoring goals.

An assist means that one or more players made a significant play contributing to the scorer’s success without actually touching the puck in the net. Instead, they played a crucial role in providing “the set-up.”

What Are The Criteria For Awarding An Assist?

The criteria for awarding an assist include whether the player passed the puck in front of the opposing team’s goaltender and was instrumental in setting up the goal. Additionally, if a teammate takes possession of the pass, controls it, moves toward the opponent’s net, and scores a goal, the passer gets an assist by definition.

Another common way to get an assist happens when a rebound occurs that leads to a goal. If someone makes the initial shot, but the goalie doesn’t control the rebound before an attacker scores on the second opportunity, then the first shooter receives an assist.

It is important to note that only two assists are awarded per goal scored. Typically, the primary assist goes to the player who created the biggest part of the chance that led to the goal, while the secondary assist goes to the other player involved in the scoring sequence.

Who Determines Which Player Gets The Assist?

In the National Hockey League (NHL), game officials maintain stats during each match. Official scorers must be independent from both teams and use strict guidelines to determine which player deserves credits for the different categories specified in the NHL rulebook.

Some subjective judgment may apply based on the local interpretation of the official NHL rules. Therefore, there might be small differences in the number of assists a player gets, depending on whether his team is playing at home or away.

An assist in hockey involves setting up a goal by making a significant play. Both players involved receive credit, with the primary assist going to the creator of the scoring chance and the secondary assist to the other participant. Game officials decide who receives the credits based on specific criteria outlined in the NHL rulebook, subject to some interpretation based on local standards.

Types Of Assists

Primary Assists

In hockey, the primary assist is awarded to the player who made the last pass to a goal scorer before he or she actually scored. The primary assist is also known as the “first helper” because it’s usually the first player to touch the puck prior to the goal being scored.

The primary assist is often seen as the most important type of assist because it shows that the player had a direct involvement in creating the scoring opportunity for their teammate. Without the primary assist, the play leading up to the goal may not have happened at all.

“The primary assist is a measure of how much offensive support a team garners from its players other than the designated goal-scorer.” – Don Cherry

To earn a primary assist in hockey, the player must make a significant contribution to the offensive play. This could mean making a precise pass to a teammate who then goes on to score the goal, or carrying the puck into the zone and making a well-timed drop pass to set up a scoring chance.

Secondary Assists

After the primary assist, comes the secondary assist, which is also known as the “second helper.” The secondary assist goes to the player who made the pass or took the shot that directly led to the primary assist.

The secondary assist can be just as important as the primary assist, as the player still had a direct impact on the creation of the scoring opportunity. However, unlike the primary assist, the secondary assist doesn’t always require as much skill or effort. It could simply be a small, but crucial, act that helped create space for the passer to make their own move.

“You want your secondary assists keeping plays alive—the smart decisions to keep the puck moving, that’s what helps create a scoring chance.” – Kory Nagy

In most cases, both primary and secondary assists are recognized as official statistics on the scoresheet. This is important for players to track their own performance, but also for scouts and coaches who use this information to evaluate player skills and potential.

Stats And Records Related To Assists In Hockey

Hockey is a fast-paced sport that requires teamwork and quick decision-making skills. One crucial aspect of the game is assists, which are given to players who contribute to setting up a goal-scoring opportunity for their teammate. This blog post will explore what an assist is in hockey and highlight some of the most significant stats and records related to this essential element of the game.

What Is An Assist In Hockey?

An assist is an official statistic recorded by the NHL (National Hockey League) that recognizes a player’s contribution to a goal scored by their team. A player can earn an assist if they make a pass or create a scoring chance that leads directly to their teammate scoring a goal. There are two types of assists: primary and secondary.

A primary assist is given to the player who made the last pass or play that directly led to the goal. For example, if Player 1 passes the puck to Player 2, who then scores a goal, Player 1 would receive a primary assist. A secondary assist is awarded to another player who contributed to the play leading up to the goal but did not make the final pass. For instance, if Player 3 passed the puck to Player 1, who then passed it to Player 2, who scored the goal, both Player 1 and Player 3 would receive a secondary assist.

Most Assists In A Single Season

The record for the most assists in a single NHL season belongs to Wayne Gretzky, who had an incredible 163 assists during the 1985-86 season with the Edmonton Oilers. Gretzky also holds the second spot on the list, recording 135 assists during the 1986-87 campaign.

Gretzky’s ability to set up his teammates and create scoring chances made him one of the greatest players in NHL history. His 163 assists in a single season is an impressive record that stands to this day.

Most Assists In A Career

Wayne Gretzky also holds the record for the most career assists, with 1,963 over his illustrious career. He is widely considered to be the best playmaker in NHL history, and his assist total showcases his incredible vision and passing skills on the ice.

Other notable players who make the top-five list for most career assists include Ron Francis (1,249), Mark Messier (1,193), Ray Bourque (1,169), and Paul Coffey (1,135).

Assists Per Game Average

When it comes to assists per game average, Mario Lemieux sits at the top of the list, with a remarkable 0.962 assists per game throughout his career. No other player even comes close to Lemieux’s average, showing just how dominant he was as a playmaker during his time in the league.

Rounding out the top-five list for assists per game average are Wayne Gretzky (0.894), Bobby Orr (0.743), Peter Stastny (0.736), and Adam Oates (0.734).

Assist Leaders By Season

Each year, the NHL recognizes the player with the most assists during the regular season by awarding them the Art Ross Trophy. Here are the top five assist leaders for each of the past five seasons:

• 2015-16: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks (60)
• 2016-17: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers (70)
• 2017-18: Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers (68)
• 2018-19: Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning (87)
• 2019-20: Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers (67)

It’s noteworthy that two of the past five seasons have seen players reach or exceed 80 assists, highlighting the high level of skill and creativity in today’s NHL.

“I enjoy making plays for my linemates, creating something out of nothing. There’s no better feeling than setting up a teammate and seeing them score.” -Connor McDavid

Assists are an essential component of hockey and recognize the importance of teamwork and creativity on the ice. Records like Wayne Gretzky’s total career assists and the Art Ross Trophy provide a way to measure and recognize the league’s most skilled playmakers. As fans continue to watch some of the game’s biggest stars rack up assists each season, it’s clear that this statistic will remain a crucial aspect of the sport for years to come.

How To Improve Your Ability To Get Assists

Developing Better Passing Skills

Being able to pass the puck accurately and quickly is a critical skill that all great playmakers possess. Good passes create opportunities for scoring chances, breakaways, and other crucial moments in the game.

To improve your passing skills, one key tip is to practice off-ice passing drills. This can include wall passes or finding a partner to work with outside of practice. It’s important to keep your eyes up and scan the ice while practicing, as this will help you anticipate where your teammate may be moving on the ice.

Another useful technique to improve your passing ability is studying the mechanics behind proper passing techniques. A well-executed pass will come off your stick flat and crisp, and involves using your arms and upper body to generate strength and speed behind the puck. Practice this motion both on and off the ice, until it becomes second nature.

Reading The Game And Anticipating Plays

All great assist-makers have one thing in common: they are constantly reading the game and anticipating plays before they happen. This means keeping an eye on teammates’ positions on the ice, as well as those of opponents, so that you can make quick decisions when the opportunity presents itself.

To improve your ability to read the game, it’s essential to watch as much hockey as possible. Whether you’re watching professional games or simply evaluating film from practices, the more exposure you get to different situations on the ice, the better equipped you’ll be to spot opportunities and patterns in real-time gameplay.

In addition to observing others’ styles of play, it’s also important to develop your own style and approach. Try experimenting with new approaches during games and pay close attention to what works and what doesn’t. Over time, you’ll refine your skills and begin to trust yourself more on the ice.

“If you’re methodical and you try to play heads-up hockey, then things are going to start coming a little bit easier for you,” -Wayne Gretzky

Remember that assists are not solely determined by physical prowess or technical skill; often times it’s how well you understand the game and anticipate what might happen next that can lead to successful plays. By honing your ability to read the game and think several moves ahead on the ice, you improve your chances of making impactful passes and ultimately achieving greater success as a player.

Famous Players Known For Their Assists

Wayne Gretzky

When it comes to hockey, Wayne Gretzky is a household name. He is also known as “The Great One” for his incredible skills on the ice. His statistics in terms of points and goals are well-known but so are his assists. Throughout his career, he managed to accumulate 1,963 assists, making him the all-time leader in this category. In fact, The Great One has over 700 more assists than any other player in NHL history.

Gretzky’s style was unique because he was able to see plays develop before they happened. He was an excellent passer who could thread the puck through tight spaces with ease. According to Gretzky himself, “Assists mean just as much to me as goals.” This sentiment shows how much he valued being a team player and helping his teammates succeed.

Mario Lemieux

Mario Lemieux is another legendary player who is famous for his assists. During his tenure with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Lemieux was one of the best passers in the league. He finished his career with 1,033 assists which ranked him 13th all-time.

One of the reasons why Lemieux was such a great assist man was that he had good vision and awareness on the ice. He could anticipate where his teammates would be and make passes without even looking at them. Lemieux once said, “I didn’t like to carry (the puck) too much. I liked to give it to guys that were open because I knew if I gave it to them, I’d get it back in better shape.”

Mark Messier

Mark Messier played 25 seasons in the NHL, during which he recorded 1,193 assists, making him the third-highest all-time assist leader. He is known for his leadership skills on and off the ice.

Messier was an excellent playmaker who could create opportunities for his teammates. His ability to make plays happen out of nothing made him one of the best players in NHL history. Messier once said, “To me, there’s no greater skill than teamwork. It takes everybody working together: five guys at a time overcoming adversity with the ultimate goal of reaching your potential as a team.”

Joe Thornton

Joe Thornton is a current player who has been known for his passing ability throughout his career. As of 2021, he ranks seventh all-time in assists with 1,089 and counting.

Thornton’s vision on the ice is exceptional. He can read defenses well and find his teammates in dangerous areas quickly. In fact, according to his teammate Brent Burns, “(Thornton) sees things like nobody else I’ve ever seen.” This kind of ability to make passes that others don’t even see makes Thornton an extraordinary asset to any team he plays for.

In conclusion, assists are a significant part of hockey and critical to winning. These legendary players had great vision, awareness, and unselfishness that allowed them to accumulate so many assists. Their success shows how important it is to be a team player and work together towards the ultimate goal.

Frequently Asked Questions