How Long Are The Hockey Games: Game Length

How Long Are Hockey Games?

Ever wondered how long you’ll be glued to your seat watching a hockey game? It’s a fair question! Hockey games aren’t always a quick affair, and the length can vary slightly. Let’s dive into the details of how long a hockey game typically lasts, what makes up that time, and some of the reasons it might run a little longer.

The Basic Structure of a Hockey Game

At its core, a hockey game is divided into three main parts called periods. Each period is officially 20 minutes long. Between these periods, there are intermissions, which give the players a break and allow the ice to be cleaned. So, if you just add up the three periods, you would think a game lasts an hour. But that’s not quite the whole story. Let’s look at each piece more carefully.

The 20-Minute Periods

Each of the three periods in a standard hockey game is supposed to run for 20 minutes of actual playing time. This means that the clock is running when the players are moving the puck around, skating, and trying to score. However, if the play is stopped for any reason, like a penalty, a puck going out of play, or a player injury, the clock also stops. This is why the overall time of a game is often much more than just 60 minutes.

The Intermissions Between Periods

Between the first and second periods, and the second and third periods, you’ll find an intermission. These are not just simple breaks, they are a time for players to rest, coaches to strategize, and the Zamboni to do its magic and resurface the ice. An intermission typically lasts around 15 to 18 minutes, but that can be impacted by certain league rules or TV broadcasting schedules. These break are essential, ensuring the players are fresh and the ice is in great shape for the next part of the game.

Clock Stoppages: Why Games Take Longer Than 60 Minutes

A big part of understanding how long a hockey game takes is figuring out why the clock stops frequently. It is common for a game to last 2 to 2.5 hours, even though there is just 60 minutes of playing time.

Penalties and Power Plays

When a player breaks a rule, they get a penalty and must sit in the penalty box for a set amount of time. Common penalties include tripping, hooking, and high-sticking. Depending on the penalty, a team might have to play with one less player for 2 minutes or even 5 minutes. While a penalty itself doesn’t make the game clock stop, penalties often result in a power play. During a power play, one team has a man advantage, and this leads to more intense play, which often leads to a whistle for an offside or icing call, and then the clock stops. These power plays are exciting, but they also add time to the overall game length. The frequency of penalties can also impact a game’s duration; a game with lots of penalties is likely to run longer than one with very few.

Puck Out of Play and Icing

When the puck is shot or deflected out of the playing area, this is referred as a ‘puck out of play’. Play stops, and the face-off occurs in the neutral zone or defensive zone depending on how the puck went out of play. Similarly, when a player shoots the puck from behind their own center red line all the way down the length of the ice past the opponent’s goal line (with no other player touching it), that’s called “icing.” Both of these situations stop the clock and cause a faceoff, lengthening the time it takes for a game to complete.

Injuries and Equipment Issues

Player safety is always the number one priority, so if a player gets hurt during the game, the clock is immediately stopped. The medical staff comes onto the ice to attend to the player, and this process can take some time. Sometimes equipment issues will also cause stoppage time, such as a skate coming unlaced or a piece of gear breaking. These situations are necessary for safety but they contribute to the overall length of the game. The seriousness of the injury and the time to repair equipment will determine how long the clock is stopped.

Timeouts

Each team is allowed one timeout during a regular game. A timeout is typically 30 seconds long. These breaks allow a team to regroup, discuss strategy, and catch their breath, but they, of course, also add to the length of the game.

Goal Reviews

In professional hockey leagues, goals can be reviewed to ensure the correct call was made. If there is uncertainty as to whether the puck went into the net, or if there was a penalty prior to a goal, officials may review the play on video. These reviews can take a few minutes and cause the clock to be stopped, and add to the total game time.

Overtime and Shootouts

Sometimes, after three periods, the score is still tied. When this happens, the game goes into overtime. The rules for overtime can vary depending on the league or level of play.

Regular Season Overtime

In the NHL, during the regular season, the overtime period is a 5-minute period played with just three players from each team on the ice (plus a goalie). It is played at sudden death, meaning the first team to score wins the game. If neither team scores during the overtime period, then the game goes to a shootout.

Playoff Overtime

In the playoffs, the overtime rules are different. Teams play a full 20-minute period at full strength (five skaters plus a goalie), and they continue playing sudden-death overtime until someone scores. These overtime periods can be really exciting, but they also make it hard to predict exactly how long a playoff game will last. In extreme cases, some playoff games have extended to 2, 3 or even more overtime periods.

Shootouts

If a game remains tied after the overtime period during the regular season, a shootout takes place. During a shootout, players from each team take turns skating in alone on the opposing goalie and attempt to score. The winner of the shootout gets the win. The shootout also takes a few minutes to complete but is still a necessary component in regular season play to determine a winner without playing an extremely long game.

How Game Length Varies Between Leagues and Levels

The length of a hockey game can also vary based on the specific league or the level of play. Here’s a look at some common differences:

National Hockey League (NHL)

The NHL, the top professional league, uses the standard rules and regulations discussed earlier. Three 20-minute periods with intermissions, and a five-minute 3-on-3 overtime in the regular season. As previously mentioned, playoff overtime will continue until a goal is scored, which can lengthen games considerably.

American Hockey League (AHL)

The AHL is a minor professional league that acts as a development league for the NHL. AHL games also use the standard three 20-minute periods, intermissions, and the same overtime structure as the NHL, but sometimes might have small rule adjustments. The time to play a game will be very similar to an NHL game.

Junior Hockey

In junior leagues, which often feature players between 16 and 20 years old, the rules and time length are generally the same as the NHL and AHL. However, a little bit more leeway might be given to stoppages as players are still developing. Junior leagues in Canada use a similar format of three 20-minute periods, intermissions, a 5-minute sudden-death overtime in the regular season, and a shootout if needed.

College Hockey

College hockey in the US uses a different approach to overtime than the NHL and AHL. College hockey has a 5-minute overtime during the regular season, but they play it at full strength (5 players plus a goalie). Also, if the game is still tied after a single 5-minute overtime, the game will officially end in a tie. The NCAA does not use a shootout in regular season play. In post-season tournament play, overtime will continue for multiple 20-minute periods until a goal is scored.

Youth Hockey

When you get down to youth hockey, the rules and time lengths can be considerably different. The age of the players, the type of league, and the length of season can all be factors in determining how long the game and the periods are. Common youth hockey period lengths can range anywhere from 10 minutes to 15 minutes for younger ages, while older players may play 20-minute periods. Many youth leagues will play straight time (no stoppages) for penalties or infractions to keep the game moving.

Factors That Influence Game Length

Besides all the structural elements, some other factors can influence how long a hockey game might take:

• Number of penalties: A game with a high number of penalties usually lasts longer, as a penalty stop the clock and often results in power plays.
• The style of play: Teams that play a very aggressive, physical style may incur more penalties and stoppages.
• Number of stoppages: A game with a lot of whistles for icings, offsides, or out-of-play pucks will make the game last longer than a game with fewer stoppages.
• Broadcasting breaks: Television broadcasts sometimes include additional commercial breaks, which can add to the overall game time.

Understanding these elements will help you have a much better idea how long a game will take and let you plan your evening accordingly.

So, while a hockey game is set to have 60 minutes of playing time, the various breaks, penalties, and potential for overtime can extend the game length considerably. On average, fans can expect to spend 2 to 2.5 hours watching a single game, but the exact length is variable. By being aware of the structure, stoppages, and overtime rules, you’ll be fully prepared to settle in and enjoy all the action of a hockey game!