Bruce Dias 
If you’re new to hockey, you may wonder how many periods are played in a game. There are typically three periods in a regulation game in the NHL and other professional and international leagues.
Each period is 20 minutes long, with a 15-minute intermission between the second and third periods. During the breaks, the ice is resurfaced to ensure a smooth playing surface for the remainder of the game.
Some non-professional leagues, such as youth or recreational leagues, games may be played with two or even four periods. However, the three-period structure is standard in most levels of organized hockey.
how many periods in hockey
Like most sports, ice hockey has rules that dictate how the game is played. One of the more common questions asked by those new to the sport is, “How many periods in hockey?” In this section, we will discuss ice hockey rules, answer that question, and more.
Periods
In ice hockey, there are typically three periods of play, each lasting 20 minutes. There is also a 15-minute intermission between the second and third periods. However, some leagues and competitions may have different rules regarding the length of periods and breaks.
Penalties
One unique aspect of ice hockey is the penalty system. When a player commits an infraction, they are sent to the penalty box for a designated time. The length of the penalty varies depending on the severity of the crime. Minor penalties are usually two minutes, while major penalties are five minutes. When a player is serving a penalty, their team is short-handed, giving the opposing team a power play.
Offsides and Icing
Two other important rules in ice hockey are offsides and icing. Offsides occur when an offensive player enters the offensive zone before the puck does. This results in the play being whistled dead, giving possession to the other team. Icing occurs when a player shoots the puck from behind the side of the red line and crosses the opposing team’s goal line. In this case, the opposing team gets possession of the puck.
Overtime and Shootouts
If the score is tied at the end of three periods, overtime may be played. Typically, overtime periods are five minutes long and played with four skaters and a goalie from each team. If no one scores during overtime, the game can end in a tie or proceed to a shootout. In a shootout, each team selects three players to take penalty shots, and the team with the most goals at the end of the shootout wins the game.
Now that you understand ice hockey rules, you can confidently watch a game and answer the question, “How many periods in hockey?” easily.
When understanding the structure of a hockey game, one of the most basic things to know is how many periods are played. A classic hockey game has three periods, each lasting 20 minutes of playtime.
This means the total play time in a regular hockey game is 60 minutes. However, there is also a 15-minute intermission after the second period, bringing the full time of a classic game to 75 minutes.
It is worth noting that there are some variations to the standard structure. For instance, some professional leagues play 4 periods of 15 minutes each, while others play 3 periods of 12 minutes each. These variations are typically seen in more niche leagues or special exhibition games and are different for most hockey games.
Generally, the three-period structure is used at all levels of hockey, from youth leagues to college games to professional matches. It provides a balanced and structured gameplay experience, with teams having ample opportunities to make strategic decisions and adjust their game plan as needed throughout each period.
Finally, it’s important to note that if a game is tied at the end of regulation play, overtime periods may be played until a winner is determined. However, these overtime periods are not considered part of the standard game structure and are used only to determine a winner in the event of a tie.
In conclusion, a classic hockey game consists of three periods, each lasting 20 minutes, with a 15-minute intermission after the second period. While there are some variations in gameplay structure, this is the most commonly used format across all levels of hockey competition.
Many people are familiar with the typical three-period format when it comes to hockey. However, some hockey games may have more than three periods for various reasons.
The most common reason for having more than three periods is during exhibition or preseason games. These games often have additional periods to allow coaches to evaluate their team and give players more playing time.
International hockey games may also have different periods to conform to international rules. For example, some international games may have a fifteen-minute sudden-death overtime period followed by a shootout to determine the winner.
Furthermore, in some lower-level amateur leagues, games may have four or more periods due to ice time constraints or other scheduling issues. This allows more fun to be played in a shorter time.
In conclusion, while three-period hockey games are the norm, there are situations in which more periods may be used. These additional periods can offer a unique twist on the traditional format, whether for exhibition games, international play, or scheduling purposes.
