New to hockey? Whether you’re lacing up for beer league or just watching your first game, understanding the basics can make all the difference. Hockey’s fast, fun, and full of action, but it’s got some rules that might feel tricky at first. Don’t worry—we’ll break down the essentials like icing, offside, faceoffs, and player positions in simple terms. Let’s hit the ice!

The Rink and the Goal

Hockey’s played on an ice rink with two goals—one at each end. Your job? Get the puck (a small rubber disc) into the other team’s net while keeping it out of yours. The rink’s split into three zones: your defensive zone (near your goal), the neutral zone (middle), and the offensive zone (near their goal). Simple, right?

Source: https://www.mybackyardicerink.com/hockey-rink-diagram.html

Key Rules to Know

Icing

Imagine you’re in your defensive zone and you slap the puck all the way past the other team’s goal line without anyone touching it. That’s icing—unless you’re shorthanded (down a player due to a penalty). If icing’s called, play stops, and there’s a faceoff back in your defensive zone. It’s a way to keep teams from just dumping the puck to kill time.

Offside

Offside happens when you enter the offensive zone (past the blue line) before the puck does. Both your skates have to cross that line ahead of the puck for it to count. If you’re offside, the whistle blows, and play stops with a faceoff outside the zone. It keeps players from camping out near the goal waiting for a pass.

Source: https://www.coppernblue.com/2017/9/6/16264372/nhl-has-introduced-a-new-offside-rule-edmonton-oilers-refs-delays-2-minute-penalty-faceoffs-violate

Faceoffs

Faceoffs start play—like a tip-off in basketball. The ref drops the puck between two players at one of nine faceoff dots on the rink (center ice, four in each zone). They happen after goals, penalties, icing, offside, or when the puck’s frozen (stuck against the boards or goalie). It’s your chance to win possession!

Player Positions

A hockey team has six players on the ice at once: three forwards, two defensemen, and a goalie. Here’s what they do:

• Forwards (Center, Left Wing, Right Wing): These are your goal-scorers. The center leads the attack and takes most faceoffs, while the wings flank left and right, chasing pucks and setting up plays.
• Defensemen (Left and Right): They guard your zone, block shots, and stop the other team from scoring. They also help move the puck up to the forwards.
• Goalie: The last line of defense. Stays near the net, stopping pucks with pads, gloves, or anything else they can use!

Source: https://www.hockeymonkey.com/learn/hockey-positions

Faceoff Positioning

Faceoffs are a big deal, and where you stand matters. The center lines up at the dot to battle for the puck. Wings hang back near the hash marks (lines near the circle), ready to jump in if the puck comes their way. Defensemen stay closer to the blue line or boards, watching for a breakout. Everyone’s got to stay still until the puck drops—move too soon, and you might get waved off!

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhKwoN9m_VU

Defensive Zone Faceoff Positioning

In defensive zone, there is a difference in the positioning of the players. The center lines up at the dot to battle for the puck. The wings line up on the hash marks and one of the defencemen lines up on the boards. The other defenceman lines up in front of the net. You can learn more about why in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQn6-NiK3rU

Source: https://www.icehockeysystems.com/coaching-clip/wheel-fly-d-zone-faceoff-zone-golden-knights