How Long Is A Hockey Game?

How Long is a Hockey Game? Breaking Down the Clock

So, you’re wondering how long a hockey game actually lasts? It’s a great question, and the answer isn’t always as simple as saying “60 minutes.” While the clock shows 60 minutes of playing time in most professional games, the total time you’ll spend at the arena or watching on TV is usually much longer. Let’s dive into all the details that make up the length of a hockey game.

The Standard Playing Time

The core of a hockey game is divided into three periods. Each period is 20 minutes long. So, if you just added up the periods, you’d get 60 minutes of play. That’s the standard for professional leagues like the NHL (National Hockey League), as well as many college and international games. Think of it like three mini-games all bundled together into one exciting match.

The Intermissions Between Periods

Hockey players work super hard, and they need a break! After each 20-minute period, there’s an intermission. These breaks are usually 15 to 18 minutes long. During this time, the players get to rest, rehydrate, and listen to their coaches. It’s also when the zamboni comes out to resurface the ice and give it a smooth fresh new layer. For fans, intermissions are a chance to stretch, get snacks, or visit the restroom. The time between periods is a crucial part of the overall game experience and total time.

Why the Game Clock Isn’t the Whole Story

Here’s where things get a little more complicated. The 60 minutes of playing time is almost never continuous. There are many stoppages during a hockey game that can extend the overall time a lot. These pauses in play are usually for penalties, icing, offsides, or goals. Let’s explore those interruptions.

Penalties

When a player breaks a rule, they are given a penalty. A common penalty is a minor penalty which keeps a player in the penalty box for 2 minutes. When a team is penalized, the other team goes on a power play. This is a crucial time in the game, and the time stops while officials decide on the type of penalty, and while the penalized player goes to the box. Depending on the situation, play can stop for a few seconds up to several minutes to determine the appropriate call. This time gets added to the overall length of the game. Some penalties are more serious such as major penalties which are longer, and that can lead to even longer pauses in the game.

Icing

Icing is another rule that will stop the clock. If a player shoots the puck from behind their own side of the center red line all the way down the ice past the opposite goal line without it touching another player, it is considered icing. Play then stops, and the puck is taken back to the other end of the ice for a faceoff. The stoppage for icing might be brief, but it happens many times per game, and it adds up to more time.

Offsides

Offsides happens when a player on the attacking team enters the offensive zone before the puck does. This results in the play stopping for the referee to make the call and a faceoff taking place outside of the zone. While not a very long interruption, it still impacts the overall game clock. Like icing, offsides can happen many times throughout a game.

Goals and Celebrations

When a team scores a goal, the play stops. It is time for the referees to confirm that the goal was valid. There is also time for some fun celebrations by the players and even fans. These small breaks in the game time add to the total game length.

Overtime and Shootouts

Sometimes, at the end of those three periods, both teams have the same number of points, meaning they have tied the game. In that case, they need to play overtime, which is extra time after the main game time. The overtime rules are a little different depending on the league.

Overtime in the NHL

In the NHL regular season, teams play a five-minute overtime period. The game is played with only three players from each team on the ice. If the game is still tied after that overtime, there is a shootout. The shootout involves players from each team taking shots, one by one, at the opposing goal. The team that scores the most during the shootout is the winner. In the NHL playoffs, overtime periods are twenty minutes long like the regular periods, and they continue until someone scores the winning goal. This can make the game much longer than the normal period, sometimes even going into multiple overtime periods. These overtime periods have no time limit.

Other Leagues’ Overtime

Other leagues might have different rules for overtime. Some might play a full five-minute overtime period and then end in a tie if no one scores. Others might have a longer overtime period, like in the NHL playoffs. It’s always a good idea to check the specific rules for the league that you are interested in.

Factors That Extend the Game

Aside from the regular stoppages, there are other elements that can make a hockey game last even longer.

Injuries

If a player gets hurt during the game, the play will stop immediately. The length of the stoppage can vary depending on the type of injury. Sometimes, a player is up and back in the game very quickly, but sometimes they need more time to be helped off the ice and get medical treatment. This pause can take time which makes the game longer.

Video Reviews

Sometimes, referees want to look at the play in video, especially on goals and penalties. When video reviews are used, they can add a few extra minutes onto the overall game time, while the referees are in talks with each other.

TV Timeouts

Games that are broadcast on TV or the internet will often have TV timeouts. These are usually during breaks in the game, or during the play when the puck is stuck or is an in play stoppage. These breaks give the TV stations time to show commercials. This added time can make the game longer.

Comparing Game Lengths Across Different Levels

The length of a hockey game can also depend on the level of play. While the NHL is the biggest and most well known, there are many other kinds of hockey leagues.

Professional Hockey

As mentioned, professional leagues like the NHL have standard 20-minute periods, 15-18 minute intermissions, and overtime/shootout rules as mentioned above. A normal professional hockey game from the start to the end will usually be around 2.5 to 3 hours. When you factor in all the potential delays, injuries, reviews, overtime, and more the game could go much longer.

College Hockey

College hockey games also usually follow the same format as pro hockey, with three 20-minute periods. However, overtime rules might be different, and the breaks between periods may also differ in length. Still, college games usually last around the same time as NHL games.

Junior Hockey

In junior hockey, the periods and breaks can sometimes be shorter. For example, there might only be 15-minute intermissions instead of 17-18 minutes. This can slightly shorten the total game time, but the variations are not often very large. Still, it is enough to notice and affect the end time of the hockey game.

Youth Hockey

For younger players, the game periods are often much shorter. For instance, you might see periods that are 10 to 15 minutes long. The younger kids are, the more their game length varies. There are different rules as well when young kids are just learning to play. Some youth leagues may use a running clock so the game doesn’t last too long, while some others might follow the same format that all other leagues do with the stopping clock on a whistle. Also the number of breaks might be more or less than the standard 2 intermissions.

Adult Recreational Hockey

Adult recreational leagues can also vary a lot. Some may follow similar rules to professional hockey, with three 20-minute periods, but many use shorter game periods, running clocks and only 2 periods rather than 3 periods. A recreational game might range from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on those variations.

Estimating Total Game Time: A Summary

So, let’s put it all together. While the official playing time of a hockey game is 60 minutes, the total time you’ll spend at the arena or watching on TV will almost always be longer. Here’s a general idea for different level hockey games:

• Professional (NHL): 2.5 to 3 hours on average, but potentially longer with overtime.
• College: Similar to professional, around 2.5 to 3 hours.
• Junior: Slightly shorter, possibly 2 to 2.5 hours.
• Youth: Varies widely, can be anywhere from 1 hour to 2 hours.
• Adult Recreational: Varies widely, from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours.

Remember, all these estimates are approximate because of the stoppages, delays and other possible overtime. It’s always a good idea to check the specific start time of your game, and plan to be there or watch for a good few hours!