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What is the puck made of?
The puck is made of vulcanized rubber, three inches in diameter and one inch
thick. It is not only solid to remove the "bounce," but it is frozen before
entering play to make it even more bounce resistant. It weighs about six
ounces.
How fast does the puck travel?
Some slap-shooters propel the puck between 90-100 mph. Speeds up to 120mph have
been recorded by some of the hardest shooters. Compounding the problems for
goaltenders, frequently the puck will curve in flight, much like a baseball.
What is the hardest shot to stop?
Generally, the most difficult shot is low, a few inches off the ice, to the
stick side. Some goaltenders overplay to the stick side, presenting a more
inviting target on the glove side.
What if a puck is stopped, or stops on the goal line?
There is no goal. The puck must completely clear the goal line between the
posts to be counted as a goal.
What if an offensive player is in the crease, the red outlined area in front of
the nets?
If he is there under his own power, there is no goal. A goal may be awarded if
he was forced into the crease or held there by a defending player. An offensive
player may carry the puck into the crease and score.
Why is it called a hat trick when a hockey player scores three goals in a game?
A hat trick originally meant three goals in a row, with no intervening goals by
either team. Hockey borrowed the term from Cricket. In 1858, a cricket player
in England took three wickets with consecutive balls, an incredible trick. As a
reward, his club gave the bowler a new hat, hence the term "hat trick." Also, a
"natural hat trick" is the term now used for scoring three back-to-back goals
without anyone else scoring a goal in between.
How large an area does the goalie protect?
The nets are six feet wide, four feet high - a target of 24 square feet.
You frequently see the goalie come far out in front of the nets. Doesn't this
leave a very inviting target?
Most often, when the goaltender comes out in front, it is to reduce the
shooting area, cut down the angle of the shooter, or force the shooter to
unleash his shot too wide or too soon. Of course, after coming out of the nets,
the goalie is usually backing up slowly, trying to get the shooter to commit
himself first.
Which is more difficult for a goalie to stop: a slap shot or a wrist shot?
There are many factors involved. Generally, the wrist shot takes the goalie
more by surprise. The slap shot, while it is harder and faster, can frequently
be timed better by the netminder.
Who gets credit for an assist?
The last player, or players (not more than two) who touch the puck prior to the
scoring of a goal. As an example, player A passes to B who passes to C who
passes to D who scores the goal. Players C and B are credited with assists.
However, if C controls the puck and passes to D who scores, only C would get
credit for an assist.
How thick is the ice?
The best ice for pro hockey is usually held at 16° F for the proper hardness
and approximately ¾" thick. The thicker the sheet of ice becomes, the softer
and slower it is. Commercial ice shows perform on warmer, slower, softer ice.
How are the markings applied to the ice?
The ice is built up to ½" thick by spraying water over the concrete floor,
which has the freezing pipes imbedded. White paint is applied to the entire
surface (the ice doesn't look white just because it's ice - it's mostly
translucent), and the blue lines, red line, goal lines and other markings are
painted on. Additional water is then built up over the markings, until the ice
reaches its prescribed thickness.
What are hockey sticks made of?
Generally, they are made of northern white ash or rock elm. The handle is one
piece and the laminated blade is affixed to it. Sticks may not exceed 53 inches
in length. Modern-day sticks are now also made with fiberglass, plastic and
graphite as well.
Are all sticks alike?
Far from it. Just as baseball players have their individual personalized bats,
so too do hockey players have their "patterned" sticks. Flexibility, lie (angle
of the blade), weight, etc., vary from player to player.
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