Hover hockey is a sport that was made famous in the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs. The first-ever game to feature hover mechanics was played on April 18, 2019, and it concluded with the New York Islanders defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-2.
Although the concept of playing hockey in the air is not new – it was first experimented with in 1896 – hover hockey is a fairly recent development. While there are a few traditional hockey organizations, like the NHL, that have allowed for the use of “skates” (rollers) in the sport, it was not until recently that teams started incorporating hover technology on a large scale.
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How Do They Play?
Hover hockey is played on a large ice surface, generally an outdoor rink, with the object being to score goals while in the air. Teams are allowed to have up to six players on the ice at any given time, though only five are allowed to be in the “hockey area” – the area bounded by the “netting” that forms the boundary of the ice surface. The goalie must stay within the confines of the ice surface at all times.
Each team is required to have one “forward” and one “defender” who spend most of the game patrolling the ice in search of goals and trying to prevent the other team from scoring. The third and fourth lines, referred to as the “reserve” and “scratch” lines, are usually made up of players who try to help out their more experienced teammates by checking the puck carrier and intercepting passes or shooting on the crease. Finally, there is one goal judge who oversees the action on the ice and has the power to overrule any potential disagreements regarding whether a goal has in fact been scored.
It may seem like a lot of rules, but that is intentional. As with any emerging sport, there is a lot of room for interpretation and disagreement among the participants as to how the rules should be applied on a given night. That is part of what makes it so interesting to watch – every game is played by its own set of rules and the outcome often depends on which team is better at applying them.
How Is It Different From Regular Hockey?
Hover hockey essentially creates the same conditions as regular hockey – except that it is played in the air – but with some significant differences. First off, it is played on a larger surface. While the size of regular rinks can vary, the average size is about 300 sq. meters. Outdoor rinks can range from 500 to 700 sq. meters.
Traditional hockey is also played at a faster speed. There are generally two or three breaks per game with the players taking a five-minute stretch between each one. In professional hockey, that is often referred to as a “two-minute shift.” In contrast, a game of hover hockey can last anywhere from 10 to 15 minutes, with the action constantly flaring up and down the ice surface.
Finally, the size of the ice surface is also different. A regulation outdoor rink is 10-feet wide, while a regulation hockey rink is only 8-feet wide. That extra 2 feet really makes a difference when you are playing on it.
While there are numerous differences between traditional and hover hockey, the most significant one has to be the existence of the rink itself. In the case of traditional hockey, the rink has to be built on the ice, which means that it is either built directly on the surface or built on a base that is then placed on the surface. In the case of hover hockey, the ice surface does not necessarily have to be built on, as it can be played on an indoor or outdoor rink. That is one of the major advantages of this particular sport – the ability to play wherever you want. If you have an indoor rink, you can play traditional hockey during the winter and switch to hover hockey in the summer.
What Are The Key Players In The League?
The sport of hover hockey is relatively new, having first been played during the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs. However, that does not mean that there are not already a lot of famous former players who have excelled in this sport before 2019. The following is a short list of some of the top players who have ever competed in the NHL (note that this list is not necessarily in chronological order):
- Brad Richards
- Mike Richards
- Joe Thornton
- Mario Lemieux
- Evgeni Malkin
- Jarome Iginla
- Paul Stastny
- Drew Doughty
- Ryan Suter
- John Shumaker
- Peter Forsberg
- Sidney Crosby
- Jonathan Toews
- Martin St. Louis
- Nicklas Lidstrom
- Marc Savard
- Dave Bolland
- Zdeno Chara
- Chris Pronger
- Ryan Whitney
- Scott Niedermayer
- Nicklas Lidstrom
- Sean Avery
- Chris Chelios
- Scott Neightyer
- Daniel Carcillo
- Brian Campbell
- Ray Ferraro
- Brian Boucher
- Scott Niedermayer
As you can see, the above list includes numerous Hall of Fame-level players who all had experience in the sport before 2019. The fact that this list includes so many former players who have gone on to have successful NHL careers is a testament to the talent that this sport has produced.
While this particular list includes only some of the top players ever in the sport, it is a good place to start if you are looking for NHL players who have experience in playing hockey in the air.
The Evolution Of Hockey
The above discussion has focused on the differences between traditional and hover hockey. However, it is also important to remember that the evolution of hockey is a continuous process and has changed dramatically over the years.
As mentioned above, it was not until recently that teams started experimenting with the use of “skates” in place of solid hockey pucks. The very first skated puck was introduced in the NHL in the 1970s and has since then become commonplace. It did not take long for teams to notice the advantages that skated pucks offer – particularly in terms of maneuverability. It is well known that the puck can be controlled more easily by changing its orientation, enabling players to more accurately direct it towards the opponent’s goal.
Also introduced in the 1970s was the use of visors for hockey players. The trend of wearing helmets in sports started in motorcycle racing and subsequently made its way into hockey. However, it was not until the 1990s that the equipment started looking more streamlined and aerodynamic, with the design of current helmets actually starting with the introduction of the plastic cage in the 1972 World Championships in Stockholm.
One of the biggest changes to hockey has come on the ice surface itself. In the early days of the sport, teams would play on natural ice that was either handmade or poured into the ice surface in a large pool. Since then, synthetic ice has taken over. The material is more durable and allows for more opportunities for practice, especially on bad weather days when there is no other option but to practice on the ice. Another major change that has occurred due to improved technology is injury prevention and mitigation. Early on, players would wear thick padding on their skates and body armor, but over time, this has evolved into protection that is actually integrated into the equipment. For instance, the sticks used in the game now have protective metal ends that fit inside the boot and are connected to the shaft by a metal tube. In addition, the helmets now have a chin strap, an adjustable strap, and a forehead protector to minimize the impact of head trauma in hockey.
As the above discussion has indicated, hockey is a sport that has seen a lot of change over the years, but also one that has remained fairly stable. The fact that it has been around for more than a century is a testament to its longevity, with the game still attracting fans across the globe.