Ice hockey rules, for watching
Start with how a match works. Then the rules you see every few minutes, then the ones that change results.
Checked 14 October 2026
Settling an argument? Search all 35 rules
- How does a game of ice hockey work?
- How big is an ice hockey rink?
- How many players are on an ice hockey team?
- What equipment must ice hockey players wear?
- How long is an ice hockey game?
- When does a goal count in ice hockey?
- What happens if an ice hockey game is tied?
- How does a face-off work in ice hockey?
- What is offside in ice hockey?
- What is icing in ice hockey?
- Can you use your hand in ice hockey?
- What happens when the puck goes over the glass?
- What is a delayed penalty in ice hockey?
- How long is a minor penalty in ice hockey?
- What is a game misconduct in ice hockey?
- What happens when both teams get penalties at the same time?
- When is a penalty shot given in ice hockey?
- What special rules apply to goalkeepers in ice hockey?
- What is a legal body check in ice hockey?
- Is a check to the head legal in ice hockey?
- What is high-sticking in ice hockey?
- What is interference in ice hockey?
- Is fighting allowed in international ice hockey?
- When is a goal disallowed for goalie interference?
- What is a delay-of-game penalty in ice hockey?
- What is a too-many-men penalty in ice hockey?
- What do the referees and linespersons do in ice hockey?
- How does video review work in ice hockey?
- What happens when an ice hockey player is injured?
- How is women's ice hockey different?
- How is an NHL rink different from an Olympic one?
- How does overtime work in the NHL?
- Is fighting allowed in the NHL?
- Are NHL penalties the same as international ones?
- How does video review work in the NHL?
Where these rules come from
| Tag | Document |
|---|---|
| IIHF with rule number, for example IIHF 83.1; IIHF Appendix | International Ice Hockey Federation, Official Rulebook 2026/27, version 1.0 (June 2026) |
| NHL with rule number, for example NHL 84.4 | National Hockey League, Official Rules 2026-2027 |
| R | "Why the rule exists", or a point reasoned from the rule, not stated in it |
| C | Common usage or general knowledge, not a rule |
| Not saved | A document that exists and is not in research/ |
Checked on 14 October 2026.