In This Guide
Hockey
Whether you want to learn about the history and rules of this beloved sport, read news and blogs, buy equipment or game tickets, or simply become a better player, the Internet can meet your needs.
Expand All Guide SectionsThe Rules and History of Hockey
From the first time field hockey players in Northern Europe played on frozen lakes more than 500 years ago, to the day in 1892 that the English Governor General of Canada, Lord Stanley of Preston, began to offer a silver bowl to the best amateur team, to today, the rules of the game have been evolving, and they are not necessarily the same every place you go. How do we know this? We visited the sites below, which teach you everything you’d like to know about hockey’s history and rules.
Dulcinea's Insight
- The Canadians seem to do the best job of documenting the sport’s history, perhaps because they cherish it so much. The “.ca” you’ll see in the URL of several of the sites in this section tell you the site is from the hockey capital of the world.
- Take a look at this article on the U.S. College Hockey Online Web site about college rules; it explains how the NCAA Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules Committee is looking to change the rules in the near future.
Dulcinea's Picks
For a brief history …
TMLFever.com
provides this concise history of hockey. The site also has a timeline with pictures, which makes the learning experience a little smoother.
NHLUniforms.com
is a unique Web site that charts the history of uniforms in the NHL. Although the Web site appears a bit unprofessional in design, it is definitely worth a look. You can click on any decade from the 1910s to the 2000s, and there are sub-years within each category. There is a brief history for each decade and pictures of those vintage uniforms.
For a more detailed history …
NHL.com
is probably the best source of information on the history of the sport. There are a number of historical segments written by different authors. Section titles include “Players you should know,” “Best … players … ever,” “The Evolution of Hockey,” and more.
The Library and Archives of Canada
compiled this collection of essays, historical documents, and artifacts that teach about the origins of hockey in Canada. The site sees hockey through a Canadian lens and without question connects hockey and Canada in a sentimental way. However, it is still a good source of information for anyone looking for a historical perspective. There’s also a version of the site geared toward kids.
Hockey Hall of Fame
summarizes the history of the Hockey Hall of Fame beginning with its creation in 1943 and takes you to the present. You’ll also find a complete list of Hall of Fame founders and leaders with photos and brief bios.
Legends of Hockey.net
allows you to look up any player who has ever played the game to find biographical information, statistics, what teams he played for and for how long, and sometimes videos, pictures, and more. There are a number of different search options, making it easy to find what you want.
For rules …
NHL.com
offers the official NHL Rulebook. The sections consist of the rink, teams, equipment, penalties, officials, and playing rules. The page also contains a diagram of the rink, the goal crease, and goal frame with the official dimensions of each. There is also a face-off configuration and jersey measurements.
ESPN.com
provides a great Web site called “NHL Rules!” that explains the more basic rules of the NHL game. The site doesn’t focus on dimensions and measurements like the previous site, but it boasts a short video rulebook that contains clips from the NHL of “boarding,” “high sticking,” and other infractions. There is a glossary of general terms such as “butterfly” and “sin bin,” and a glossary of penalties.
The International Ice Hockey Federation
presents the official rule book for international hockey. Its table of contents breaks everything into easy-to-follow categories.
Phantoms Hockey,
the Web site for the AHL’s Philadelphia Phantoms, contains all the rules for AHL hockey in the “Kids Page” of the site. The rules are fairly similar to those in the NHL, making this a very good place to learn about hockey rules in general. Also on the “Kids Page,” the “Common Penalties” link includes images of a referee making the appropriate gestures to indicate the penalty.
First Base Sports
brings you a lengthy glossary of hockey terms taken from the book “Ice Hockey Made Simple: A Spectator's Guide.” Here you can learn the meanings of such terms as “Norris Division” and “head deke.”
Who knew?
The International Unicycling Federation
presents this site. First of all, yes, there is an International Unicycling Federation. Second, there is a sport called Unicycle Hockey, and these are the rules. Our favorite: teams must agree beforehand on the “specific amount of elbow-room.”
----------- Advertisement -----------
Hockey Leagues
Many sports, like football, have one primary league and almost nothing else. That is not the case with hockey; the NHL, although the most popular, is hardly alone. Look for other leagues including the AHL, the ECHL, and more on the Internet.
Dulcinea's Insight
- League Web sites are great resources for finding scores, standings, schedules, and official team pages. Team pages have team-specific news, game previews, roster information, stadium and ticketing info, and more. These pages are chock full of information so give them a thorough surf to discover all the treats hidden within.
- For information on game tracking, look at our findingDulcinea Sports Guide.
- For college hockey, you can also go directly to the individual college leagues like the ECACHL or Atlantic Hockey, or simply type the league name into a search engine.
- If you are looking for a league to play in, head over to the “How can I improve my hockey game?” section of this guide.
Dulcinea's Picks
For league sites …
NHL.com
is the place to find official information from the National Hockey League. News, scores, standings, schedules, stats, and player details are available via the bold links across the top of the page. For free video highlights of weekly games, check out the "Video" link. For additional news and commentary there are NHL blogs and a “Features” area containing division notes, columns, photos, and journals.
U.S. College Hockey Online
(USCHO) is the best place to find information on NCAA college hockey (the NCAA Web site leaves much to be desired in its hockey coverage). USCHO has easy access to any of the men’s and women’s Division I, II, or III league Web sites. The site also provides extensive information on statistics, standings, and news, with a fan forum and links to other blogs.
The American Hockey League
is a North American professional hockey league that serves as a developmental league for NHL players. The site links to individual team Web sites, features an AHL Player of the Week, offers fan polls, and much more.
The East Coast Hockey League
is a professional league based out of New Jersey with teams across the United States and Canada. Find tickets, scores, stats, schedules, teams, rosters and more in the smallish links across the top of the page.
The Central Hockey League
is a four-division, midlevel professional hockey league with 15 teams in small-market cities across the central, southern, and western United States.
The Southern Professional Hockey League,
based in the southeast United States, is a seven-team league founded in 2004 from teams comprising the now-defunct Atlantic Coast Hockey League, World Hockey Association 2, and two expansion teams.
To watch hockey online …
NHL.com
has free video highlights for each game, along with weekly league highlight reels.
ChannelChooser
lets visitors watch free streaming sports video from a long list of specialized sports TV channels like ESPN and NHL Video.
College Sports TV
provides a game tracking service, with live statistics and scores, for over 13,000 college sports games every year.
----------- Advertisement -----------
News, Rumors, and Analysis of Hockey
Anyone looking for hockey news and analysis will find the Web's resources to be a monumental improvement upon what the local newspaper has to offer. The top hockey sites provide up-to-the-minute coverage of headline news, scores, standings, and stats, with multimedia features like photos and videos, plus blogs, columns, and opinion pieces to provide perspective.
Dulcinea's Insight
- When it comes to up-to-the-minute and comprehensive news coverage, bigger is usually better. The Hockey sections on sites like ESPN.com, CBS SportsLine, and SportsIllustrated.com are usually your best bet for breaking hockey news.
- NHL.com has news and well-written features. However, don’t look for the league’s official site to be very critical of itself or its people. If you are looking for controversial news or coverage of negative stories, you’re better off elsewhere.
- Almost all professional hockey teams have at least one quality blog that follows their daily exploits. If you'd like to find such a blog, try using a blog search engine like Technorati. Run a search for a term such as "Detroit Red Wings blog" (or the equivalent with the team of your choice).
- Most hockey blogs have a running list of links to other recommended blogs in the margins of their page. These lists are called "blogrolls," and they're a great way to discover new sites.
- We normally don’t recommend Wikipedia because of its well-documented problems with credibility and accuracy. However, the site can be an excellent way to locate team blogs and discussion forums. In the "External Links" section at the bottom of your team's Wikipedia entry you'll find a list of the most popular news and community sites.
Dulcinea's Picks
For hockey news …
SportingNews.com
’s hockey section can be a helpful source for anyone looking for the latest in hockey news. The site is easy to navigate with a list of headlines. There are also blogs and a “Your Turn” section where members can speak their minds. Check out the “Fan Roster” for a list of teams that members chose as their favorites, and contact fellow fans who follow your favorite team.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
(CBC/Radio-Canada) is a Canadian-based news network. The network’s hockey page provides extensive coverage of Canada’s national sport. In addition to the daily headlines, there are features and blogs. Read the news feed to keep up with all the latest hockey developments.
Hockey Fights
is a comprehensive guide and tribute to the wonderful pastime of hockey fighting. It has a fight log with punch-by-punch recaps of every squabble and a voting system to determine winners. See the “Multimedia” section for some great fight videos.
Hockey’s Future
is a great Web site for news and information about future prospects and draft picks in the sport. You’ll find the latest developments with the NHL draft and an “HF Boards” section with lots of hockey forum topics and an FAQ. The site boasts 50–100 writers.
For columns …
ESPN.com
’s John Buccigross writes weekly hockey columns during the NHL season. He also anchors for SportsCenter, and since 1998 he has anchored NHL 2Night. His columns are often accompanied by a “mailbag” full of visitors’ letters.
ESPN.com
’s Scott Burnside is a columnist and blogger. He writes on a variety of developments and issues within the hockey community. To access his most recent columns, go to the ESPN.com hockey page, scroll to “Contributors” in the middle, and click on Scott Burnside.
USA Today
’s Ted Montgomery is the author of four hockey books and only writes columns devoted to hockey. Scroll down the page to find an archive of his columns dating back to March 2003.
For blogs …
Taco Juice
has an extensive directory of hockey blogs. It's organized to help visitors find team blogs, player blogs, and general hockey blogs.
HockeyBuzz.com
prides itself on uncovering the latest rumors in hockey. The site was created by the anonymously named “Eklund,” who came to popularity for his coverage of the 2004–2005 lockout. The rumors are rated from E1 to E5, E5 being the most reliable. In addition to Eklund, the site features a number of different writers, podcasts, and links to bloggers specific to certain teams. The pop-up ads can be distracting, however.
The Hat on Hockey,
a blog written by Eric Duhatschek of Toronto’s The Globe, is a great source for up-to-date news on the National Hockey League such as new logos, trades, and more. The blog entries tend to be brief.
Off Wing Opinion
is a frequently updated blog packed with links to other sports blogs, hockey pieces, and some of its most frequently read blog entries. Scroll down the page and use the search box on the left side to find all hockey-related entries.
Hockey Statistics
Next time you're in a friendly argument about who has the all-time highest points-per-game ratio in the NHL or how many goals Sidney Crosby scored on a particular day, use the following detailed statistics databases to resolve the squabble.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Although they're the most comprehensive online records available, these statistics databases don't guarantee that all stats listed are accurate. So be aware that some figures may be incorrect. If you need serious, professional statistics information, you might consider going to The Elias Sports Bureau or STATS, two of the premier professional statistics services.
- For current season statistics of active players and teams, your best bet is to visit NHL.com or the relevant league Web site. To learn more about those sites, see the section of this guide entitled “Where can I find information on hockey leagues?”
Dulcinea's Picks
For current stats …
HockeyReference.com
is the latest creation from Sports-Reference.com, a collection of sites that do an outstanding job of presenting comprehensive statistics for individual sports. The hockey site has not yet launched but claims to be coming by the end of the summer.
The USA Today
Web site provides the yearly salaries for players and teams. The information is laid out very well, as you can search by player name, team, position, or season.
For recent stats …
DatabaseHockey
is a quality reference site despite its poor graphics and design. This site has comprehensive player, team, and league stats, along with awards lists. The major downside of the site is that the statistics haven't been updated since the NHL lockout that swallowed the 2004–2005 season.
The Internet Hockey Database
has NHL player, team, and league stats dating back to the inaugural 1917–1918 season. However, like DatabaseHockey, the site hasn't been updated since the strike.
For all-time stats …
Stats Hockey
features all-time numbers and rankings for assists, goals, goals per game, points, points per game, games, penalty minutes, shutouts, and wins. There is also information on players who have won trophies, and general hockey information including Canadian- and American-born players, famous lines, hockey humor, and more.
The Goalies Archive
does a great job compiling all-time information on every NHL goalie. The site also has that information available for the AHL, IHL, and WHA. It’s easy to search by clicking on the team and then the name of the goalie you want alphabetically. There is also a short bio on each goalie. However, the site does not have any general goalie comparisons, and there is no explanation for what the statistical categories mean for those who aren’t familiar with sports statistics.
Fantasy Hockey
Fantasy hockey sites are plentiful on the Web. We’ve found the best of the best to help fantasy veterans and newbies alike manage a team or league and get the insider information and statistical analysis that will help you dominate.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Success in fantasy hockey can be attributed to one of two things: clairvoyant premonitions about player performances, or high-quality information and analysis. Most fantasy players rely on the latter. For valuable updates and commentary on trades and injuries, check out the news Web sites listed in the "Where can I find the latest news, rumors, and commentary?" section of this guide, or use the fantasy-specific information resources listed below.
- When signing up for fantasy hockey you have a number of options. On the premier fantasy sites you can choose to create leagues from scratch and limit entry to friends of your choice, join pay leagues for advanced features and functionality, join public leagues, and compete for cash prizes.
Dulcinea's Picks
NHL.com
offers a wide range of fantasy hockey games. The site’s standard version of NHL fantasy hockey actually presents highlights of your player’s performance in that game. There is also a Bench Boss game that allows you to manage a team under salary cap constraints. Senior League Hockey asks you to lead a team of “has-beens, never-wases and never-will-be's to Senior League glory!” Simleague lets you coach players from throughout history. Finally, there’s Playoff Fantasy Hockey Challenge, where you are responsible for arranging postseason players.
Yahoo!
has one of the oldest free fantasy sports services around. Yahoo! continues to be a fantasy leader because its service is easy to use and gives players freedom to customize the structure of their league.
ESPN.com
offers a slightly larger variety of fantasy games than Yahoo!, which is where its service excels. Visit the “Tools” area for news, injury updates, and team ratings.
Sports Grumblings
contains loads of information you need to know about the fantasy hockey season. The site makes it easy to find player updates, forum topics, columns, the latest articles, and a section called “You Gotta See This!” (Scroll down the left side of the page to find it.)
Playing Hockey
If you are more likely to fall on your behind when taking a slap shot than get the puck in the vicinity of the goal, you could probably benefit from what online coaching sites offer. If you are Bobby Orr reincarnate, then there are sites out there that will help you, too. The sites we’ve included here offer players a wealth of advice and tips, and even teach coaches and parents how to structure practices, run drills, manage games, and interact with kids. And if you are looking for a venue to show off your hockey expertise, we’ve got that here, too.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Most sites use some combination of text-based tutorials, diagrams, animations, and videos to outline plays, formations, and drills.
- Many of the sites that give you tips on the game also try to sell you their product. However, some of them, including HockeyShot.com, provide such a wealth of free information that it’s worth looking past the product promotions. So don’t be instantly frightened away from a coaching site if you see that they are selling something, but definitely be skeptical.
- Many of the amateur hockey league organizations have tips for players on their sites as well. USA Hockey’s section on “Education and Training,” described below, is one of the best.
Dulcinea's Picks
For playing tips …
USA Hockey
's “Education and Training” section has a small “Skill Progressions Handbook” plus age-specific books of drills and videos of those drills. There is even a PowerPoint presentation for parents.
LifeTime Hockey
is an ideal Web site for anyone looking to either learn to play the sport or continue to play it. There is a section devoted to “Getting Started,” with a skills handbook and rules of the game. The site also focuses on staying active as a hockey player after your younger years.
HockeyShot
can be used as a tool to improve your hockey game no matter your level. You can click on the links on the left-hand side of the page for shooting and skating tips, with visual multimedia to help you along the way. The company also sells a number of products and training exercises that you might find useful.
NHL.com
brings you a different practice drill each week. The site teaches techniques for stickhandling, skating, face-offs, goaltending, and training.
LifeTips.com
provides ideas for improving your hockey game. The great thing about this site is that users can rate every tip in terms of quality, and post comments on the tips so you can see if someone else clearly disagrees. There are a number of categories besides general hockey, such as coaching hockey, training, and finding equipment.
PlayBetterHockey.com
has hockey drills, playing secrets, tips, hockey skills, strength training, and more. The site also boasts that it is one of the few sites that provide tips for goalies as well as other positions.
The Stretching Institute
offers helpful advice for hockey players or those looking to start playing hockey (whether field hockey, ice hockey, or in-line hockey). The site discusses the anatomy involved when playing the sport and what the best stretches are to improve performance and prevent injury. Pictures of the stretches make them easy to follow.
Exploratorium,
part of the Science Learning Network, provides this unique and interesting Web site called “The Science of Hockey.” Chemists, physicists, players, and coaches come together to help you understand the science behind many aspects of the game. The ice, skating, gear, goaltending, shooting, checking, and fitness are all presented in a new light.
To find rinks or leagues …
American Hockey Center
is a superb help if you are looking for a hockey rink in your area. The site provides a directory to the names, addresses, and phone numbers of hockey rinks in every state, more than 1,500 rinks in total. Local rinks typically offer leagues and/or lessons.
The Open Directory Project
has a list of adult ice hockey leagues and clubs worldwide. Use the Search field to search by name or scroll down through the list.
Hockey North America,
with more than 10,000 adult players, is one of the pioneers of recreational hockey. It has classes for beginners and competitive tournaments for all skill levels and ages. The league does not allow checking or fighting, which could be either a blessing or a disappointment depending on your thirst for blood. Take a look at the interactive map on the top of the page to find activities in your area.
Buying Hockey Equipment, Apparel, and Memorabilia
If you’re going to play hockey, you’ll need gear. But finding the right equipment in the right fit and at the right price is not always easy. From the stick that feels just right in your hands to the autograph commemorating that memorable season or moment, the sites recommended here help you find what you need from a source you can trust.
Dulcinea's Insight
- The online versions of your favorite stores often stock a significantly larger variety of goods than their physical counterparts. Since many offer options for free shipping, shopping for sports equipment on the Web can save you both time and money.
- Many of the sites listed below sell similar equipment and apparel, and the differences among them are negligible. We provided many options so you can have a thorough selection.
- To buy official team apparel, consider checking out the "shop" areas on the appropriate team or league Web sites.
- For information on larger department stores that sell equipment and apparel for multiple sports, and for guidelines on buying online memorabilia, look to our general sports guide.
- Because authenticity is so fundamental to the value of any item, it's imperative to know that what you're buying is the real deal. The sites listed below are all reliable but if you’re still nervous then stick with NHL.com; you can’t get more authentic than buying directly from the league itself.
Dulcinea's Picks
For equipment …
HockeyGiant
is a chain store focusing on hockey products. You’ll find everything you need to play the sport including skates, protective gear, sticks, goalie equipment, jerseys, apparel, and more. If you’d prefer a physical store, there are two locations in California and two in Minnesota.
TotalHockey
also supplies any of your hockey equipment needs. The site allows you to search by equipment category or by brand, or check out the “Specials” and “Clearance Items” on the right side of the page.
EPuck.com
claims that they offer “everything but the ice.” The site is well organized, making it easy to find what you are looking for.
Discount Hockey
might be the best bet if you are looking for a good deal on hockey equipment. Items are broken into categories on the left side of the page and free shipping is offered on orders over $150.
HockeyWorld.com
was formed in 2006 when two hockey retailers merged: Perani’s Hockey World and 1800FACEOFF.com. As a result, the site has a large selection of equipment for ice hockey, roller hockey, and street hockey.
For memorabilia …
Frozen Pond
specializes in autographed hockey memorabilia. The site asserts that they offer “the Internet's largest collection of signed collectibles from over 300 past and present NHL stars, including over 100 Hall of Famers.” The Web site is easy to navigate and offers products ranging from hockey cards to bobble heads.
Hall Of Fame Hockey Autographs
provides a wide range of signed sports memorabilia with free shipping to the contiguous United States. The site is well designed, letting you browse by kind of item, team, player, Hall of Famers, and more. There’s also a list of the most commonly searched players.
NHL.com
has an “Auction Network” where you can bid on pieces of hockey history, including equipment, cards, jerseys, photos, pucks, and more. You’ll find sites with better prices, but none more trustworthy.
© 2012 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
