Are you curious about how long a hockey match can last? There are many factors that contribute to the length of a hockey match, and understanding these can help you better enjoy the game.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the different elements that determine the duration of a hockey match, from regulation time to overtime and penalty shootouts, as well as the length of periods and breaks.
We’ll also touch on the variations in rules between professional and amateur hockey matches.
Let’s jump in and find out how long a hockey match can take!
Table of Contents
Short Answer
Hockey matches typically last for three 20-minute periods.
If the game is tied at the end of regulation time, a 5-minute overtime period may be played and if the game is still tied after that, a shootout may be used to determine the winner.
Depending on the level of play, the total match time can range from 45 minutes (youth hockey) to almost three hours (professional hockey).
Overview of Hockey Matches
Hockey matches are a thrilling and intense sport that can keep spectators on the edge of their seats.
In a typical game, each team has six players on the ice at any one time, including the goalie.
The objective of the game is to shoot the puck into the opposing teams net more times than they can shoot it into yours.
Hockey matches typically last between 60 and 70 minutes, with three 20-minute periods of play and a 15-minute break between periods.
The length of each period and the duration of breaks can vary depending on the level of play and rules of the particular league or tournament.
During a hockey match, teams may substitute players at any time, although this is usually only done in the middle of a period when there is a stoppage of play.
If the score is tied at the end of regulation time, there may be an additional period of overtime or a penalty shootout to determine the winner.
Overtime periods usually consist of five minutes of sudden-death play, where the first team to score wins the match.
If no one scores during the overtime period, the match goes to a penalty shootout.
Hockey matches can often be quite physical, with players engaging in body contact and pushing in order to gain control of the puck.
This can lead to penalties, which are called by the referees.
Penalties can range from minor infractions that result in a two-minute penalty to major infractions that result in a five-minute penalty.
If a player receives too many penalties, they may be ejected from the game.
Overall, hockey matches are a thrilling and intense sport that can be enjoyed by spectators of all ages.
The length of the matches can vary depending on the level of play and the rules of the particular league or tournament, but typically last between 60 and 70 minutes.
With exciting moments of physical play, intense rallies, and penalty shootouts, hockey matches are sure to keep fans on the edge of their seats!
Regulation Time
When it comes to hockey matches, the length of the game is determined by the regulation time.
The regulation time typically lasts between 60 and 70 minutes and consists of three 20-minute periods of play, with a 15-minute break between periods.
The length of each period and the duration of breaks can vary depending on the level of play and rules of the particular league or tournament.
For example, in the National Hockey League (NHL), the regulation time consists of three 20-minute periods, while in the American Hockey League (AHL), the regulation time consists of three 20-minute periods and an additional 10-minute break in between each period.
In addition, some hockey leagues and tournaments may also feature a longer overtime period than the regulation time.
For instance, in the NHL, if the game is tied after the regulation time, teams will have a five-minute sudden death overtime period.
If the game is still tied after the overtime period, a penalty shootout will be used to determine the winner.
At the amateur level, the length of the game can also vary depending on the level of play.
For instance, youth hockey leagues may feature games with two 18-minute periods or three 12-minute periods.
Ultimately, the length of hockey matches can vary depending on the level of play and rules of the particular league or tournament.
However, the standard length of a hockey match is between 60 and 70 minutes, with three 20-minute periods of play and a 15-minute break in between.
If the game is tied after the regulation time, there may be an additional period of overtime or a penalty shootout to determine the winner.
Overtime and Penalty Shootouts
For hockey matches that end in a tie after regulation time, there may be an additional period of overtime or a penalty shootout to determine the winner.
Overtime periods typically last for 20 minutes and may be sudden death or played until one team scores a goal.
Penalty shootouts involve five players from each team taking turns to attempt to score against the opposing teams goalkeeper.
If the shootout is still tied after five rounds, teams take turns taking penalty shots until one team scores and the other does not.
The rules of each league or tournament determine the length of overtime and penalty shootouts.
In some cases, overtime periods may last for 10 minutes and penalty shootouts may involve as few as three players.
The length of each period and the duration of breaks can also vary depending on the level of play.
For example, in the NHL, the length of each period is 20 minutes, with a 17-minute intermission between periods and an additional four minutes between overtime periods.
In lower level leagues, the duration of the period and breaks may be shorter.
In some cases, a game may end in a tie even after overtime and penalty shootouts.
In these cases, the game is declared a draw and both teams receive one point in the standings.
It is important to note that the length of a hockey match can also be affected by the number of penalty minutes assessed to players during the game.
A penalty minute is a form of punishment given to a player for a rule violation.
Penalty minutes are served by the offending player, meaning that they have to remain off the ice for a certain period of time.
This can add an additional few minutes to the length of the match.
Length of Periods and Breaks
The length of hockey matches can vary depending on the level of play and rules of the particular league or tournament.
Generally, a hockey match consists of three 20-minute periods of play, with a 15-minute break between periods.
In some tournaments, the length of each period may be reduced to 17 or 18 minutes due to time constraints.
At the professional level, the standard length of a match is 60 minutes, including the breaks between periods.
However, the duration of the periods and the duration of the breaks can vary depending on the league or tournament.
For example, in the NHL, the periods are each 20 minutes long, with a 17-minute break between the first and second periods, and a 15-minute break between the second and third periods.
In international tournaments, the length of the periods and the duration of the breaks may differ from the NHL.
For example, in the Olympic Games, the periods are 15 minutes long, with a 15-minute break between the first and second periods and a 10-minute break between the second and third periods.
In some leagues, such as the American Hockey League, the duration of each period can be increased to 22 minutes, while the duration of the breaks can be decreased to 10 minutes.
In addition, if the match is tied at the end of regulation time, there may be an additional period of overtime or a penalty shootout to determine the winner.
The length of the overtime period can also vary depending on the league or tournament.
For example, in the NHL, the overtime period is 20 minutes long, while in the Olympic Games, it is 10 minutes long.
Variations in Rules
When it comes to the length of hockey matches, there are some variations in rules depending on the level of play and tournament.
For instance, in professional hockey leagues, the match is usually divided into three periods of 20 minutes each, with 15 minutes of rest time in between.
However, in some amateur or recreational leagues, the length of each period may be shorter, or the amount of rest time may be increased.
Additionally, some tournaments may require an additional period of overtime or a penalty shootout to determine the winner in the case of a tie at the end of regulation time.
The duration of a hockey match can also be affected by a number of other factors, such as the number of substitutions allowed, the amount of time spent on each face-off, and the number of time-outs that can be taken.
Furthermore, some leagues may have special rules in place for certain matches, like those involving international teams or those played outdoors.
All of these factors can affect the length of a hockey match, so its important to be aware of the specific rules for the particular league or tournament you are playing in.
Professional Hockey Matches
When it comes to professional hockey matches, they typically last between 60 and 70 minutes.
This includes three 20-minute periods of play, with a 15-minute break between periods.
The length of each period and the duration of breaks can vary depending on the level of play and rules of the particular league or tournament.
In the NHL, the current standard for regular season games is three 20-minute periods with a 17-minute intermission between periods.
In Stanley Cup playoffs, however, the length of each period is increased to a full 20 minutes.
Additionally, the NHL has implemented a five-minute, three-on-three overtime period for all Stanley Cup playoff games in order to determine the winner.
In international hockey, the rules may vary slightly depending on the tournament or event.
The IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) has a standard of three 20-minute periods with a 15-minute intermission between periods.
However, some tournament rules may include an additional overtime period, or a penalty shootout to determine the winner.
At the amateur level, the length of the game may be determined by the rules of the particular league or tournament.
Generally, however, the length of each period and the duration of the intermissions are similar to those of professional hockey matches.
Amateur Hockey Matches
When it comes to amateur hockey matches, the length of the game can vary depending on the level of play and the rules of the particular league or tournament.
Generally, an amateur hockey match will last between 60 and 70 minutes, with three 20-minute periods of play and a 15-minute break between periods.
The length of each period and the duration of the break may be adjusted for different levels of play, such as youth or senior teams.
For example, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) allows for a 15-minute break between periods for youth matches and a 20-minute break for senior matches.
In addition, if the match is tied at the end of regulation time, there may be an additional period of overtime or a penalty shootout to determine the winner.
The duration of overtime and the shootout can vary depending on the rules of the league or tournament.
For example, the IIHF allows for a five-minute overtime period, followed by a three-round shootout, if needed.
Overall, the length of a hockey match can vary depending on the level of play and the rules of the particular league or tournament.
However, the typical length of an amateur hockey match is between 60 and 70 minutes, with three 20-minute periods of play and a 15-minute break between periods.
Additionally, if the match is tied at the end of regulation time, there may be an additional period of overtime or a penalty shootout to determine the winner.
Final Thoughts
Hockey matches are an exciting and competitive sport that can range in length depending on the level of play.
Professional hockey matches typically last between 60 and 70 minutes, with three 20-minute periods of play and a 15-minute break in between.
Amateur hockey matches may have slightly different rules and regulations, affecting the length of the game.
Knowing the rules and regulations of the particular league or tournament can help you understand how long a hockey match will last.
Now that you know the basics of hockey match length, why not grab some friends and hit the ice for some friendly competition?