A standard hockey game lasts 60 minutes, divided into three 20-minute periods.
Ever wondered exactly how long is a hockey game? It’s a question many first-time viewers, and even some seasoned fans, find themselves pondering. The fast-paced action might make it seem like time flies differently on the ice.
Games aren’t just 60 minutes on the clock, though. There are intermissions between periods, plus potential overtime if there’s a tie. So, the total time at the rink is usually considerably longer than the official playtime.
How Long Is a Hockey Game?
Ever wondered how long a hockey game really lasts? It’s not as simple as saying “it’s an hour long!” There’s actually a lot more to it than that. Think of a hockey game like a school day, it has different parts, and sometimes it takes longer than usual. Let’s break down all the different times that make up a hockey game and find out how long you’re really watching.
The Basics: Periods and Intermissions
At the very heart of a hockey game are periods and intermissions. Imagine a stage play with acts and breaks – hockey has something similar.
What’s a Period in Hockey?
A hockey game is divided into three main parts called periods. Each period is officially 20 minutes long. That means if the clock started at 0:00, it should reach 20:00, three times in one match. So, three periods of 20 minutes each totals 60 minutes of actual playing time. But, here’s where things get tricky. This 60 minutes is not the total time of a game, it’s just the time the clock is running during play.
What’s an Intermission?
Between periods, there are intermissions. Think of intermissions as mini-breaks, like recess at school. These breaks allow players to rest, regroup, and the ice to get smoothed out so it’s nice and ready for more action. In most professional hockey leagues, like the NHL, the intermissions are usually 17 minutes long. So, you get a 17-minute break between the first and second periods, and another 17-minute break between the second and third periods. This gives the players time to relax and the staff to get the rink ready for the next period.
The Clock Stops… A Lot!
Here’s a very important point. The clock in a hockey game does not run constantly. It stops every time the play stops. Just like in basketball or American football, the clock will stop for penalties, goals, icing, offsides, and injuries. This means the actual time a hockey game takes to complete is much longer than the 60 minutes of playing time. A typical NHL game that has 60 minutes of playing time can easily take more than two and half hour, even close to three hour to finish.
Factors That Influence Game Length
Now that we know about periods and intermissions, let’s look at other things that change how long a hockey game takes. These things can make a game longer or, in some cases, have no major affect on the game length.
Penalties
When a player breaks a rule, they get a penalty. Depending on the severity of the infraction, the penalty results in the penalized team playing with one player less (a “power play”) for a certain period of time. Common penalties include tripping, hooking, and high-sticking. There are minor penalties that last for two minutes, and major penalties that can be as long as five minutes. In some cases, there are even misconduct penalties that last for 10 minutes. When a penalty happens, the clock stops. All this stoppage means penalties increase the overall length of a game. This can cause some games to be much longer than others.
- Minor Penalty: Usually 2 minutes.
- Major Penalty: Usually 5 minutes.
- Misconduct Penalty: Usually 10 minutes.
Goals
Every time someone scores a goal, the clock stops. This is to allow players to celebrate and the referee to record the score. The time stoppage itself is very short, just enough time to record the goal and continue. But in a match that has many goals, this small pause each time can add to the overall game duration.
Icing and Offsides
These are two common situations in hockey that cause play to stop. Icing happens when a player shoots the puck from their own side of the center line down to behind the other team’s goal line without the puck being touched by anyone else. Offsides happens when a player from the attacking team enters the attacking zone before the puck. Both these result in a stop to play. While each stop may be only for a short time, they do add up during a match to increase the time of the game.
Injuries
If a player gets hurt, play stops immediately. This gives medical staff the time to help the injured player. Depending on how serious the injury is, the stop in play could be short or much longer. Sometimes, if it’s a bad injury, the clock can be stopped for several minutes while they see to the player’s needs.
This table summarizes all the stoppages that can extend game time:
| Reason for Stop | Impact on Game Length |
|---|---|
| Penalties | Increases game time, as the clock stops for penalties. |
| Goals | Slight increase, as play is stopped briefly. |
| Icing | Slight increase, as the clock stops for the faceoff. |
| Offsides | Slight increase, as the clock stops for the faceoff. |
| Injuries | Can significantly increase game time, depending on the severity. |
Overtime and Shootouts
What happens if the score is tied after three periods? Well, it depends on the game. In regular-season play, most leagues go to overtime. Overtime is a sudden-death period. It means the first team that scores wins the game. If no one scores in the overtime, the game often goes to a shootout. Shootouts are kind of like a penalty shot competition between the teams, until one team wins. Playoff games are different – they can have multiple overtimes until a team scores to win the game. This is how some playoff games can go on for a very very long time.
Overtime Rules
The rules for overtime are not always the same from one league to another. For example, in the NHL the overtime period is five minutes long, and they use a 3-on-3 format. Some other leagues may have a 4-on-4 overtime and could have a different length of time. So, depending on the rules, overtime can add a little or a lot of time to the game.
Shootout
If overtime doesn’t result in a winner, the shootout begins. Each team gets a chance to take shots, one at a time, trying to score against the other team’s goalie. The shootout goes until one team has scored more goals than the other and is therefore declared the winner. A shootout adds to the overall game time because each round of penalty shots takes a bit of time.
Different Levels, Different Times
The length of a hockey game can also change depending on the level of play. Professional games typically follow the standard format, but junior and youth games are often different.
Professional Hockey (e.g., NHL)
Professional leagues like the National Hockey League (NHL) have the standard three 20-minute periods, 17-minute intermissions, and five-minute overtime (during regular-season play). These games can often last 2.5 to 3 hours.
College and Junior Hockey
College and junior hockey games often also use the three 20-minute period format, but the length of intermissions can be shorter and the overtime rules may vary from league to league. These games can last about 2 to 2.5 hours.
Youth Hockey
Youth hockey games are usually shorter than professional games. The period times are often shorter, maybe just 10 to 15 minutes each, and there can be less intermissions. These games can last just 1 to 1.5 hours total.
Here’s a quick comparison table of estimated game times by level of play:
| Level of Play | Approximate Game Time |
|---|---|
| Professional (e.g., NHL) | 2.5 – 3 hours |
| College/Junior | 2 – 2.5 hours |
| Youth Hockey | 1 – 1.5 hours |
Why Does it Take So Long?
With all the various stops and intermissions, a hockey game easily takes much longer than just 60 minutes of play. While the stoppages might be a little annoying to a fan, they serve important purposes for the players and the game. The breaks help players to catch their breath, make adjustments, and keep the quality of play high. It allows staff to attend to injuries and ensures the playing surface is in optimal condition. So, next time you watch a hockey game, you’ll know all the factors behind the game’s length and why it’s usually a longer experience.
So, the next time you plan to watch a hockey game, remember that while the playing time might be 60 minutes, the overall game time is much longer. Be prepared for a great couple of hours of action, exciting moments, and maybe a bit of tension if your team is playing close! Now, enjoy the game.
How long is a hockey game?
Final Thoughts
Therefore, a standard hockey game consists of three 20-minute periods, totaling 60 minutes of playing time. However, stoppages in play for penalties or puck out of bounds can lengthen the actual duration. Intermissions between periods add further to the overall time.
The total game length typically goes beyond the 60 minutes on the clock. So, ‘how long is a hockey game’ depends on these factors. Be prepared to spend roughly two to two and a half hours at the arena for a game.
