The Beginning

This is the start — this is where hockey players are born. If you want to be one of them, you came to the right place.

Your journey starts now.

Let’s first discuss the basics. What is hockey?

Hockey is a fast-paced game played on ice. The objective is to put the puck in the back of the opponent’s net while maneuvering around five opposing players and a goalie.

Now, the question everybody is wondering: “What’s the price?” Hockey isn’t exactly cheap, so be ready to spend a small fortune. For youth players, expect around $450 USD to $1,000 USD. For adults, it can vary from $1,500 USD to $2,000 USD.

You’re probably wondering about the time commitment. Spoiler alert: “goodbye weekends!” Hockey is extremely time-consuming, so don’t be shocked if you’re tying your skates at 7 in the morning, rethinking your life choices. With all the games, practices, and learning how to skate, time seems to pass like it isn’t even there.

If you want to be a hockey player, be ready to take some hits. Hockey is well known for allowing players to throw their bodies around if performed correctly. According to USA Hockey, full-body checking is prohibited until 14U. For 12U, there is some leniency, with limited body contact allowed. Lastly, 10U and under allows no contact.

Now, the rules may seem complicated, but once you understand the art of hockey, it’s pretty straightforward.

Hockey is played with five players on the ice at a time for each team, not including the goalie. If a player breaks a rule, an official can call a penalty. The player who committed the penalty must sit in the penalty box for two minutes. However, if an injury occurs due to the penalty, the player may be called for four minutes. This gives the other team an advantage, creating a temporary 4v5 situation.

Offsides occurs when a player crosses the blue line into the opposing team’s territory before the player with the puck does. A player who does not have the puck can have one skate across the blue line while waiting for their teammate with the puck.

Icing is when a player shoots the puck down to the opposing team’s end before crossing center ice. If the puck is touched by any player on either team after crossing the center line, the icing is nullified.