Howlong Does A Hockey Game Last?

How Long Does a Hockey Game Last?

Have you ever watched a hockey game and wondered, “When is this going to end?” It can seem like it goes on forever! Well, you’re not alone. Many people, even big hockey fans, sometimes get confused about exactly how long a hockey game actually takes. The good news is, there’s a set time, but there are also some things that can make it longer. Let’s dive into all the details of how long a hockey game lasts, from the clock to the extra time.

The Basics: Regulation Time

The official length of a hockey game is 60 minutes, but this 60 minutes is split into three separate parts called periods. Each period is 20 minutes long, with short breaks in between. This is how the time breaks down:

• First Period: 20 minutes
• Intermission (break): Around 15-18 minutes
• Second Period: 20 minutes
• Intermission (break): Around 15-18 minutes
• Third Period: 20 minutes

So, if you do some quick math, you get 20 minutes + 20 minutes + 20 minutes = 60 minutes. That’s the standard game time in professional leagues like the NHL, as well as in most junior and college leagues. However, it’s very important to remember that this 60 minutes is not continuous play. The clock stops quite often, and we’ll get to that next.

Why the Clock Keeps Stopping

Here’s where it gets a little tricky: the game clock in hockey doesn’t run continuously like a clock in a football or soccer game. It often stops for different reasons. This is why a hockey game rarely finishes in just 60 minutes of real time. Here are some common situations that cause the clock to stop:

• Penalties: When a player breaks a rule and gets a penalty, the clock stops while the officials figure out the penalty and send the player to the penalty box.
• Goals: When a team scores a goal, the clock stops to celebrate the goal and reset the game.
• Pucks out of play: If the puck goes into the crowd or outside the playing area, the clock stops.
• Icing: If a player shoots the puck from behind their own goal line and it goes all the way to the other team’s goal line without being touched by another player, this is called icing, and the play stops.
• Offsides: If a player enters the attacking zone before the puck, that player is offside, and the play stops.
• Injuries: If a player gets hurt, the clock will stop so the player can get help.
• Timeouts: Each team gets one timeout in the game. When they use it, the clock stops.

All of these stoppages add more time to the game. In reality, a 60-minute hockey game can easily take two and a half to three hours to complete, and sometimes even longer. So, while the play time is 60 minutes, the actual time spent watching can be much longer.

Understanding Intermissions

As we already discussed, there are two intermissions in a typical hockey game. These breaks are between each period. During this time, the players head to their locker rooms to rest, strategize, and maybe grab a drink of water or something to eat. Here’s what you should know about these breaks:

• Length: Intermissions are usually around 15-18 minutes long. This gives players a good rest and allows the ice to be resurfaced by the Zamboni.
• Resurfacing: The ice can get chopped up during the game, and the Zamboni smooths it out. This helps the players move more easily, and it also helps the puck slide better.
• TV Time: These intermissions often include commercials on television broadcasts.

These intermissions are part of the overall time of a hockey game, adding to the total time you spend watching. So, if you were wondering why a game feels so long, the intermissions are a big part of that.

What Happens if There’s a Tie?

What happens when the score is tied after the third period? This depends on what kind of game it is.

Regular Season Overtime

During the regular season, if the game is tied after three periods, the game goes into an overtime (OT) period. This overtime period is different from the regular periods. Here is how it works in the NHL, for example:

• Overtime Length: A single 5-minute sudden-death overtime period.
• Sudden Death: The first team to score during overtime wins the game. If neither team scores during the 5 minute overtime period then the game goes to a shootout.
• Skaters: During regular season overtime, teams play with three skaters and a goalie. This open ice allows for more exciting opportunities to score.

If neither team scores in this 5-minute overtime, the game will then go to a shootout where each team has an opportunity to take shots on the other teams goalie. If the game is still tied after the first round of the shootout, the shootout continues until a winner has been decided. So, while the overtime period is only 5 minutes, the shoot out can go on for quite a while making the game longer.

Playoff Overtime

Playoff games are much more intense. If a playoff game is tied at the end of the third period, the overtime rules are quite different from the regular season. Here’s what happens:

• Overtime Length: They play a full 20-minute period.
• Sudden Death: It’s still a sudden-death format. The first team to score in any overtime period wins the game.
• Keep Playing: If neither team scores in the first overtime period, they play another full 20-minute overtime period, and another, until someone scores. This means a playoff game can last hours, with many overtime periods.

Playoff overtime can go on for a really long time, and some games even go into multiple overtime periods before there is a winner. These overtime periods are thrilling and can add lots of time to a game’s total length.

Other Factors That Can Affect Game Length

Besides the regular stoppages and overtime, other things can also affect how long a hockey game takes:

• Video Reviews: Referees often use video review to make sure they get the right call. They look at the play on the video screen to see what happened exactly. These reviews can take time.
• Longer Stoppages: Sometimes there can be longer stoppages for things like cleaning up debris from the ice or if there’s an issue with the glass or boards.
• Big Fights: While not super common, fights can also stop the game for a bit as players are sent to the penalty box.

These small things all contribute to the game taking a bit longer. It’s not just the 60 minutes of play; there are all these other little parts that add up.

Hockey Game Length in Different Leagues

While the rules about regulation time are fairly consistent, there can be some slight differences depending on the level of hockey being played. Let’s take a quick look at how game length might vary:

National Hockey League (NHL)

The NHL is where you’ll find the most consistent and strict adherence to the 20-minute period rules. As we have already discussed, the NHL game is 60 minutes total, with 15-18 minute intermissions and the rules we have already discussed for overtime play.

International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF)

International games, such as the ones at the Olympics or World Championships, generally follow the same format as the NHL, with 20-minute periods and intermissions of around 15-18 minutes. Overtime rules are similar, but could vary slightly depending on the particular tournament.

College Hockey (NCAA)

College hockey games follow a very similar format to the NHL, with three 20-minute periods and intermissions. College hockey regular season overtime will have one five minute sudden death overtime where they skate 3 on 3, and then after that it will go to a shootout. In college hockey, there is a longer break between the 2nd and 3rd period for the players to be in the locker room before the third period begins.

Junior Hockey

Junior leagues often have the same setup as the NHL, with 20 minute periods. Some junior leagues might use slightly shorter periods or intermissions but in most cases junior level play follows the standard professional rules.

Youth Hockey

Games for very young players often have shorter periods, so games don’t last as long. They might play 10 to 15-minute periods, which can greatly shorten the game time. This is to keep things fun and keep the younger players from getting too tired.

As you can see, the 20-minute period rule is pretty standard for most competitive hockey, but depending on the level, the lengths may be different.

A Quick Look: Average Game Times

Let’s recap, the actual play time in a hockey game is always 60 minutes, but the total time from start to finish is usually longer. Here is a table of the average time to keep it clearer:

So, now you can see that a hockey game is much more than just 60 minutes of actual playing time, and depending on the type of game it can last much longer.

Understanding how long a hockey game lasts isn’t just about knowing the numbers. It’s about appreciating the ebb and flow of the game, the strategies, the breaks, and the nail-biting moments of overtime. Every stoppage, every play, adds to the unique experience of hockey. Next time you watch a game, you’ll be well equipped to understand why it might run a little longer than you expected and hopefully you can have an easier time planning for the game.