One of the most difficult things to understand for new hockey fans is just exactly how and why the players make substitutions so frequently and sometimes at seemingly random intervals. In most sports players either wait on the bench or on the sidelines until a stoppage in play allows for a substitution. In hockey, this […]
Why Goalies Leave Their Net? Empty Hockey Net Explained
Have you ever been watching a hockey game when all of a sudden the goalie just decides to up and leave? Where’s he going!? Who’s going to play goalie!? First off, calm down… he has his reasons and we’re here to fill you in on what exactly is happening. Often when a team is trailing […]
Why Does Hockey Have Three Periods?
Waiting for halftime during the hockey game? Well… you may be stuck waiting awhile, as hockey doesn’t use the traditional quarter/half format that other popular sports like football and basketball use. So… why? Interestingly enough, professional hockey used to be played into two 30 minute halves prior to the 1910-11 season. The concept of three […]
When is it Time to Replace your Hockey Skates?
In the market for some new skates? Not sure when exactly you should replace your old skates? Look no further, we’ve got some telltale signs that should alert you when it’s time to replace your skates. The fact is, there’s no definitive time to replace your old skates, but there are several indicators that can […]
What Is a Power Play in Ice Hockey?
Ever heard the phrase power-play in hockey and wondered what exactly does that mean? and how does it happen? Let’s lay it out in plain English. A power play is when one team has more players on the ice than the other team. This happens when a penalty is called and a player is sent […]
Why Do Goalies Scrape Ice from their Crease?
Ever seen goalies move around their crease line at the start of a game or period and scraping and scratching away the surface of the ice. Goalies scrape the ice around them with their skates and stick to prepare the crease before the start of play. They do this for a few reasons, to stop […]
When To Sharpen Your Ice Hockey Skates? Every 15 hours
Sharpening your blade removes knicks and makes the edge of your blade even so that you can stop and dig into the ice at speed and with fewer falls. Are you a hockey player wondering how often you should sharpen your skates to improve your game? As a good rule of thumb, you should sharpen […]
What Does OTL Mean In Hockey? NHL Facts
Ever hear the phrase OTL and wondered what it really means? Here’s the simple answer. OTL stands for OverTime Loss – which means a team looses the game after going over regulation time and into extra known as a ‘sudden death’ overtime period of 5 minutes. (20 minutes during playoffs). What is Overtime? In hockey, […]
Why do Hockey Players Spit So Much?
Ever wondered why hockey players are always spitting, on the bench, on the ice, between shifts, literally everywhere. Wherever you look they seem to be spitting! The truth is, when you do high-intensity exercise in cold air, saliva and mucus build up making you want to spit more to clear your airways – that’s the […]
What do Hockey Players Sniff on the Bench? Smelling Salts
Ever wondered, “what exactly are those players sniffing on the bench? Are they doing drugs or what? It’s got to be legal… right? (It sure is). Those players are sniffing ammonia laced smelling salts. The theory is that they give increased alertness, energy levels, extra strength, speed, open nasal passages, elevated heart rate, increased brain […]