How Long Does A Hockey Game?

How Long Does a Hockey Game Really Last?

Alright, let’s talk about hockey! You’re probably wondering, “How long does a hockey game actually take?” It’s a great question because it’s not always as simple as a set number of minutes. There’s the actual game time, plus all the little breaks and intermissions. So, let’s break it all down and see how long you’ll be cheering for your team!

The Standard Game Length

The official game length for most professional and major junior hockey leagues is 60 minutes. This playing time is divided into three 20-minute periods. Think of it like watching a movie in three parts. After each period, there’s a break where the players get to rest and the ice gets a little grooming.

Breaking Down the Periods

Each of the three periods is a straight 20 minutes of game time. If the puck goes out of play, a player commits a penalty, or anything else that stops the flow, the clock stops. So, while the period is still supposed to last 20 minutes on the game clock, the actual amount of time you spend watching is longer because of these interruptions. Here’s a little summary:

• Period 1: 20 minutes of play.
• Period 2: 20 minutes of play.
• Period 3: 20 minutes of play.

The All-Important Intermissions

Between each period, there is an intermission. These intermissions aren’t just for the players to rest, but it also lets the ice crew resurface the ice for a better playing surface. This process keeps the ice smooth and ready for more exciting plays. So, how long do these intermissions last?

• Intermission 1: Typically 15-18 minutes.
• Intermission 2: Usually 15-18 minutes.

These times can vary slightly, but you can generally expect about 15 to 18 minutes between each period. If the game goes into overtime or a shootout, you’ll have to add a little extra time at the end.

What Happens When the Game Gets Tied? Overtime and Shootouts

Sometimes, the game ends in a tie after the three regular periods. So, what happens then? That’s where overtime comes into play. The type of overtime depends on the league or tournament. Let’s look at two common scenarios:

Regular Season Overtime

In the NHL regular season, a five-minute sudden-death overtime is used. This means the first team to score wins the game. These overtimes usually are played with three-on-three hockey, which makes for some wide open play, which is really exciting for the fans.

• Length: 5 minutes
• Format: Sudden death (first goal wins)
• Player Count: Three skaters per team plus a goalie.

Playoff Overtime

The playoffs are a whole different ball game! In the NHL playoffs, overtime is 20 minutes, like regular periods, and is a full five-on-five gameplay. They do not have shootouts in the NHL playoffs, and they continue to play these 20-minute periods until a goal is scored and the game ends.

• Length: 20 minutes
• Format: Sudden death (first goal wins)
• Player Count: Five skaters per team plus a goalie.

In other leagues, the playoff overtime rules might vary. Some leagues may use ten minute periods rather than twenty minutes until a goal is scored.

The Shootout

If a game is still tied after the overtime period in the NHL, a shootout takes place during the regular season. Each team sends three players to take a penalty shot. If the game is still tied after the first three attempts, it becomes sudden death. The first team to score the go-ahead goal wins.

• Number of Rounds: 3 initial rounds; then sudden death.
• Goal: Win the game.

Timeouts: A Quick Break

Each team can call for one timeout during the game. These timeouts can be really important at critical times in the game. If you see a coach calling a timeout, you can expect a quick one-minute break in the action.

• Typical Length: 1 minute.

Other Factors That Influence Game Length

It is not just the periods and intermissions that affect the length of a game, a variety of things can influence how long you watch a hockey game, including:

Penalties

When a player breaks a rule, they get a penalty. Sometimes, the player has to leave the ice for 2 minutes, 5 minutes, or even for the rest of the game, depending on the penalty type. All of the game clock is stopped when a penalty is called, and does not restart until the penalized player is in the penalty box, and the referee signals the resumption of the game. So, penalties, especially multiple penalties at one time can add time to the game length.

Injuries

If a player gets hurt during the game, the game can be stopped to allow medical staff to attend to the player. Sometimes, if the injury is serious enough, this can take a while and make the game longer.

Video Reviews

In professional games, when there is doubt as to whether a goal was scored or a penalty was committed, officials can use video to help them make the right call. The video review process, while usually helpful, also adds some extra time to the total game time.

Television Commercials

If you’re watching a game on TV, you’ll notice there are more commercial breaks than if you were there in person. TV networks tend to add more commercial breaks than the regular intermissions in person, which lengthens the viewing experience.

So, How Long Does It Really Take?

Let’s put it all together. A typical hockey game has a total playing time of 60 minutes. Adding the intermissions, the game time stretches by almost an hour. Here’s an idea of what you can expect:

• Standard Game: 60 minutes of playing time.
• Intermissions: About 30-36 minutes total.
• Total Game Length: Roughly 2 hours and 15 minutes to 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Remember that this is an average. Some games may end in less time if they don’t have many penalties or reviews. Other games can take over three hours with an overtime or lengthy reviews, which is less common, but it does occur.

Hockey Game Length Across Different Levels

The length of a hockey game can change depending on what level of play you are watching. Here’s a general overview:

National Hockey League (NHL)

This is the highest level of hockey. The NHL has a standard game length of three 20-minute periods and intermissions between each period as mentioned above.

American Hockey League (AHL)

The AHL is the primary development league for the NHL. The rules are very similar to the NHL, with the same standard of three 20-minute periods and intermissions, but there are some small differences.

Major Junior Hockey (OHL, WHL, QMJHL)

Major junior hockey in Canada consists of three different leagues. They all follow the same game format with three 20-minute periods and similar intermission timing.

College Hockey (NCAA)

College hockey in the United States follows a similar format to professional hockey with three 20-minute periods, but may have slightly shorter intermissions.

Youth Hockey

Youth hockey games are often shorter than professional games. The period length and the number of periods may vary, depending on age group and league. There could be two or three periods that are between 10 and 15 minutes long.

• Younger Age Groups (e.g., U8, U10): Shorter periods (often 10-12 minutes) and shorter intermissions. Games can be between 45 minutes to an hour.
• Older Age Groups (e.g., U16, U18): Longer periods (15-20 minutes), more similar to adult hockey, but also can be shorter.

A Summary of Game Length

So, to summarize, a hockey game isn’t just about the 60 minutes on the clock. The total time can range between 2 hours 15 minutes and 3 hours, depending on the amount of stoppages, overtime, and the level of hockey you’re watching. No matter the length, it’s an exciting sport to watch.

How to Plan Your Time

Now that you know how long a hockey game can take, you can plan your time better. Remember to account for extra time if you are going to the game in person. You will have to factor in travel time and time to get to your seat, while also factoring the possibility of traffic, or long lines to get inside. If you are watching on TV, get your snacks and drinks ready to go! When your favorite team is playing, you will probably want to set aside at least 3 hours so that you don’t miss anything!