How Long Is An Ice Hockey Game?

How Long Is an Ice Hockey Game?

Okay, so you’re curious about how long an ice hockey game actually lasts? It’s a great question because it’s not as straightforward as some other sports. A hockey game isn’t just a flat 60 minutes like a soccer match. There’s a lot more to it than that! Let’s dive into all the details that make up the total time it takes to watch a full hockey game.

The Basics: Three Periods of Play

At its core, an ice hockey game is divided into three main parts, called periods. Each of these periods is 20 minutes long. So, if you just looked at the playing time, you might think a game is exactly an hour (20 minutes x 3 = 60 minutes). But, that’s where the magic and the breaks come in! It’s good to keep in mind that these are 20 minutes of pure playing time; meaning the game clock stops whenever play stops.

Intermissions: The Crucial Breaks

After each period, there’s a break called an intermission. These aren’t just quick pauses to catch your breath. They give players a chance to get off the ice, rehydrate, talk with their coaches, and prepare for the next period. Intermissions are typically 15-18 minutes long. However, some leagues or tournaments may have specific rules for this, so time can vary slightly. Here’s what that intermission break time is like in some major leagues:

• NHL: The National Hockey League uses intermissions that are 17 minutes long.
• AHL: The American Hockey League also keeps to 17-minute intermissions.
• ECHL: The ECHL (East Coast Hockey League) follows the lead with 17-minute intermissions.
• College Hockey: In college hockey the intermissions are 15 minutes long.

Why Intermissions Are Important

Why do these intermissions take 15-17 minutes? Well, it takes time for the Zamboni to resurface the ice! This is really important because an ice rink can get chopped up and uneven during play which makes it harder for the players to skate and handle the puck. The Zamboni levels the ice making it easier and safer for the players when they take the ice for the next period. And of course, these intermissions are also a big time for fans to grab some food or visit the restroom.

Game Clock Stoppages: Timeouts and More

Okay, so we have our 20 minute periods and intermission breaks in mind, but there is even more to think about when determining a hockey game length. During each period, the clock doesn’t run continuously. It actually stops quite often. Here are some key reasons why the clock might stop in an ice hockey game:

• Penalties: When a player commits a penalty, the play stops. If a player is assessed a penalty the team that has the penalty called on them has to play short handed for 2 minutes (minor penalty), 4 minutes (double minor penalty), or 5 minutes (major penalty), and the clock stops during this process. The time is then put back onto the game clock once play resumes.
• Puck Out of Play: If the puck goes out of the playing area, whether out of the rink or hitting the netting, the play stops. This is often called “icing” when the puck is shot from behind one’s own blue line all the way to the opposing team’s goal line. This usually happens when a player tries to clear the puck from the defensive zone of the team and shoots it too far down the ice.
• Offsides: When a player enters the offensive zone before the puck the play is stopped. This is called an offsides penalty.
• Goals: Whenever a goal is scored, the play is stopped so the referee can confirm the goal and put the puck back into play at the center of the rink.
• Injuries: If a player gets hurt, the game stops so they can receive medical attention.
• Timeouts: Each team gets a limited number of timeouts per game, and when these are used the game is also stopped. A typical timeout is 30 seconds in length but the time it takes to get play resumed can vary slightly.

These stoppages can add quite a bit of time to the game. While it’s hard to predict exactly how many there will be, they are a routine part of every hockey game. All these stoppages are why a game goes way beyond the 60 minutes of playing time.

So, How Long is a Game Actually?

Now that we understand the periods, intermissions, and stoppages, let’s put it all together. While the “playing time” in a hockey game is 60 minutes, the total time it takes to watch a game is much longer. Including all of the stoppages, intermissions, and the different levels of play, an average NHL game takes about 2.5 to 3 hours to complete. This time frame can also shift, depending on whether overtime is needed to declare a winner. Below is a table of average game lengths based on level of play.

Overtime: When Games Go Longer

Sometimes, after the three periods, the score is tied. In these cases, most leagues go into overtime. Overtime rules can differ, but the main idea is to play extra time until a goal is scored (sudden-death). So overtime is played until a single goal is scored to determine a winner. This can make a game’s length unpredictable, and it could last just a few minutes or up to an entire 20-minute extra period if no one scores. However, the NHL overtime rules have an alteration, as the regular season overtime is only 5 minutes long, but if a goal isn’t scored in those 5 minutes then the game goes to a shootout to determine a winner.

Overtime Rules at Different Levels

Here’s a breakdown of how overtime typically works in different leagues, just to show you the different variations:

• NHL: In the regular season, overtime is a 5-minute, 3-on-3 format. If no goal is scored, a shootout determines the winner. In the playoffs, overtime periods are 20 minutes long, and continue until someone scores a goal (sudden death). This means games can go extremely long if there is no score.
• AHL/ECHL: The American Hockey League follows the NHL rule of a 5-minute, 3-on-3 format in overtime during regular season play, followed by a shootout if no goal is scored. During the playoffs, they utilize the sudden-death format, with full 20-minute periods.
• College Hockey: College hockey typically utilizes a 5-minute, 3-on-3 overtime in the regular season, followed by a shootout if the game is still tied. In the playoffs, they follow the sudden-death format with full 20-minute periods.
• High School and Junior: Overtime usually consists of a shorter sudden death period, often 5 minutes in length. If no goal is scored, a shootout usually determines the winner.
• Youth Hockey: Overtime rules at youth levels are dependent on the individual league or tournament. It is often the case that they will follow a 5 minute sudden death format, and then a shootout if no goal is scored.

The Impact of Different League Rules

As you can see, the total length of an ice hockey game isn’t the same across all leagues and levels. This is because each league has its own rules and regulations regarding intermissions, overtime, and other aspects of the game. The NHL, for instance, is considered the highest level of play and often has longer game times due to its popularity and television broadcasts. Lower levels might have slightly shorter breaks and periods to accommodate time constraints at the rink and also the younger players.

Understanding Game Pace and Intensity

Even if two games have the same length, they can feel very different. Some games are played at a faster pace than others, with more goals and fewer stoppages. Others might be slower, more tactical, and have more whistles. If there is a lot of penalty calls or many goals, that can really impact the total game length. So, the pace of the game can have a big impact on your perception of how long the game actually takes, which is also something to keep in mind while watching hockey.

Planning Your Trip to the Rink

So, if you’re heading to watch a game live, it’s a good idea to factor in 2.5 to 3 hours of time for an NHL game. For lower levels, give yourself about 2 to 2.5 hours. It’s always best to add a bit of extra time in there, especially if you’re arriving early to find your seats, get concessions, or enjoy some pre-game activities. It will also be helpful if your team plays extra minutes in overtime, you never know how long the game will go until a goal is scored.

Understanding how long a hockey game really takes can help you to plan your day or night. From the three 20-minute periods to intermissions and the clock stoppages, there’s more to the game clock than meets the eye. Whether you’re watching from the stands or your living room, knowing what to expect will make your hockey experience much more enjoyable!