Girl's Guide To Olympic Hockey

After watching my twitter feed blow up today with new found hockey fans I realized there was much confusion over the fine sport of hockey and I should do something about it.  So I put together a VERY basic hockey guide for you fans out there.

I know I left a ton off and I hope I got nothing wrong.  Stick with these simple rules and ways to make the games fun and you will go far in life.

The basic things you need to about Olympic Hockey finals this weekend.

Periods

Hockey games are 60 minutes long.  The game is divided in to three Periods of 20 minutes each. There are two Intermissions of 20 minutes between the first and second period.

How Many People Play on Each Team


Each team has 25 men on the roster.  During the game each team can only have 6 men on the ice.

1 Goalie

2 Defensemen

3 Forwards

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="475"] Via[/caption]

Points

Players and teams get points for scoring

Goals - the puck goes in net and the team and the player get a point

Assists - the person or 2 people who pass the puck to the player that scores the goal get a player point for the assist.

Major Penalty - If a major penalty is called the player that it is against has to sit out of the game for 5 minutes in the penalty box.

Minor Penalty - If a minor penalty is called the player has to stay in the penalty box for 2 minutes.

Below are four of the most common penalties that are called and a brief explanation of what they are.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="509"] via[/caption]

Power Play

When a player has been given a penalty and sits out for 2 or 5 minutes the team continues with one man less.  For example 4 on 5.  The team with five players is on a Power Play and the team with 4 players is trying to kill the penalty.

Short Handed Goal

If a team with less players during a Power Play (Short Handed) scores a goal it is a Short handed goal.

Fighting

In NHL hockey there is a five minute penalty for fighting.  International hockey rules are more strict and result in being ejected from the game

Pulling the Goalie

NOT what you might be thinking!

It is actually not a penalty, but what a team might do if they are down by a goal in the final minutes of a game. A coach may "Pull the Goalie" leaving the net unattended.  They can then send another player to the ice to increase their odds of scoring a goal in a 6 on 5 situation.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="609"] via[/caption]

Rules for Overtime are different in the NHL, International Hockey, and even in Stanley Cup Playoffs.  Here are the International (Olympic Rules)

For each overtime ends as soon as a team scores a goal. So if a team scores in the first minute of overtime the game is over.

Preliminary round: 4 0n 4 overtime for 5 minutes.

Playoff rounds (qualifications round, quarterfinals, semifinals, bronze medal): 4 on 4 overtime for 10 minutes.

Gold medal game: 4 0n 4 20 minute over time.  There is another 20 minute intermission between the 3rd period and overtime.

If neither team scores a goal in overtime the game goes to a shootout.

Shootouts: A team has to choose three unique players to shoot.  If the shoot out is tied the team can send the same men to keep making shots on the goal until one team makes an unanswered goal from the other team.

For example the US vs. Russia Game went to a shootout.  After the first three rounds it was tied 1-1.  Each team sent the same player five times to score and Oshie from the US finally made a goal that Russia couldn't answer.

Choose Your Boyfriend

Look at the rosters for the people on the remaining teams and pick the one you think is the hottest.  Then each time he scores a goal or gets an assist he did it for you!  By the way Teemu Selanne from the Ducks is everyone's boyfriend because he is so sweet and kind off the ice. He is also in his 6th and final Olympics and is the oldest person to score an Olympic goal.  He is just amazing!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="320"] via[/caption]

Make Up Nicknames

Teemu is called the Finish Flash, how cool is that. See how many nicknames you can come up with for the players.

Have a Drink

Drink when ever you want it is Hockey after all!  There need not be a drinking game. A player scored a goal, drink. A Canadian said "Eh", drink.  You have no idea what happened, drink. I of course am talking about coffee because these games are EARLY like 4am early!



All loser consolations prizes or Bieber are based on the following billboard for the semi final game:

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] via[/caption]

I know it is sad and I should say the US over Finland but Teemu!  Really I watch for the players I love and national pride does not have much to do with it for me.  My loyalty goes 1. Ducks 2. Nation.

If you want to know more about which NHL teams has players in the Olympics there is a complete list here.

If you want to what players I love here is my list

Canada! Ryan Getzlaf and Correy Perry

Finland - Teemu Selanne, Sami Vatanen

USA - Cam Fowler

Sweden - Jakob Silverberg

Now go forth and sing "Oh Canada" because if the US can't win they should!

Don't Even Try To Connect These Dots.

Today I have a stream of random questions I have been asking myself over the last week or so.  They are in no way connected other than I have thought about it recently.  If you try to find a connection you will fail, although I would love to hear your theories.

Also Penny is making the rounds and has a guest post over at You Gotta Have Hart.  Go say hi!

How in the world could Ezra be A?

OK so true confession I really like Pretty LIttle Liars.  It is totally my guilty pleasure show.  I actually could write 20 blog posts about how I do not get many things that happen on this show.  For example, where are girls parents all the time?  Maybe it was just because my mom loved be but she always knew where I was and who I was with.

Anyway, my doubts of Ezra being A do not stem from a "I love Ezra!" stance.  In fact I find him repulsive.  As a teacher I can not even wrap my head around a teacher falling in love with a student.  Perhaps it is because I teach teenage boys who sometimes wear deodorant, but I have never been able to buy into the premise that Ezra and Aria are actually a couple.  She must really be 25 or something.



The thing that I really have a hard time with is the fact that he could presumably be an English teacher and a murderer.  I am also an English teacher, well I was for a year, and there is no way in the world i would have had time to plan, teach and grade work from my classes and lead a double life as a killer.  When I was teaching English I barely had time to shower and yet here he is showered, looking hot, teaching English rather well, and killing people.  If you are going to have a person with a double life pick a profession that actually has a chance of some down time other than summers and Christmas.

Come on PLL you need to get your story lines together, or not cause I still watch.

How is it that McDonald's sponsors the Olympics?

Hello? This is insane to me! It is like Supersize Me never came out.  Really though, McDonald's is the furthest thing from healthy eating for athletes.  Also they serve hair in their coffee.  You can look at this post for a reference if you want.



 

On a somewhat related note I am so excited for the Olympics next week I can not even stand it!

What would happen if you took off Zac Brown's Hat?

One of my favorite bands is Zac Brown Band.  They are such talented musicians and they have a ton of fun when you see them in concert.  One thing that I noticed about Zac Brown the two times I saw him live was that no matter the temperature homie is wearing a beanie.



If you google ZB without a beanie I believe you will understand why he wears one on the regular.

___________________________________________

One thing that I do not wonder about is Bailey at Becoming Bailey.  Bailey is a lovely blogger over in Kentucky and always lifts my spirits when I read her blog.  Read more about her and why you should be reading her blog!



What is your favorite line from a movie?

My favorite line from a movie: "I don't want to be just one thing. I can't be. I want to be brave and I want to be selfless. Intelligent and honest and kind." I saw this teaser clip of the movie Divergent and loved the quote (and the scene that it's from!) I already know I'm going to love the movie because I loved reading the books.

What is your favorite book?

Picking my favorite book is so hard, because it changes constantly as my obsessions change. Right now I love the Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth.



Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging the day before my 20th birthday. I had a "quarter-life crisis" when I realized my time in college was nearly ending and I could barely remember it. Blogging has been my way of sharing my experiences with the world.

You are given a free day and $100 what would you do?

If I had a free day and $100, I would go to the bookstore and buy lots and lots of books. Then I'd stop at Burger King on my way home and buy a large Frozen Coke. I'd go home and spend the rest of the day reading.

Where are you from and what is your favorite thing to do there?

I'm from Owensboro, Kentucky. There's not a lot to do here... except eat. Our barbecue is world-famous, especially our mutton and burgoo. We also have the most fast-food restaurants per square mile in the US.

If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go and why?

I love traveling and experiencing new things. There's so many countries that I would love to visit someday, but I especially want to visit Germany and Ireland because they are my ancestors' homelands.



Who was your childhood celebrity crush? 

My childhood celebrity crush was Aaron Carter. I saw him in concert and my 9 year old self was dying of happiness. I would always imagine that he would come sweep me off my feet and we'd live happily ever after. Hahaha wow I was such a dork.

Make sure you follow Bailey on Bloglovin, Twitter, and Facebook

Why You Should Love Hockey

I want to welcome everyone who is here today because of a little giveaway on Sarah's blog!  I know some of you are only here to get that entry on the giveaway, but I really hope you stick around and read a few posts.  Some of my favorites are Miley Trying to Ruin My LIfe, Things This Blogger Has Yet To Say, and You Are Doing OK Dog Mom.

[caption id="attachment_432" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Here is a picture of me at my favorite place, a hockey game![/caption]

When I sat down to write today I thought it would be the perfect day to write about sports.  I can hang with the guys and talk shop about almost any sport, but I don't really care about all the sports.  When it comes to sports I only have one true love… Hockey.  Since my love of hockey began a few years ago I have found that people are either really into hockey or could care less.  For those of you who could care less I get it, I mean that was me too.

I think the only reason you do not like it is because you just have not been told why you should like it.  That is where I come in.  I am going to channel my inner Venus and give you a simple beginners lesson in hockey and hope that it at least inspires you to watch a game or two.

My team is the Anaheim Ducks.  Yes as in the Mighty Ducks from the awesome Disney trilogy of movies.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="700"] I need to go watch these movies again. Look at Emilio, so young, so fresh.[/caption]

Although the real team is no longer the Mighty Ducks, thank God, and they never do the "Flying V" they are amazing!  They won the Cup in 2007 and  will again this year, they have the best record in the league right now.

1. Fast and action packed play

Hockey is an extremely fast paced game.  The total playing time is 60 minutes. Which is divided up into 3 periods.  Between each period there is a 20 minute intermission.  The twenty minutes is just the right amount of time for a HIIT workout, Pilates DVD, cleaning spree, or dinner eating.  Then it is back into the fray for more action than your little heart can handle.

If the game is tied at the end of regulation the teams play a 5 minute sudden death overtime.  If a team scores the game is over.  If no one scores they go to a shoot out.  Whichever team makes the most shots wins.  This is so intense and worth watching.

2. The games are  easy to follow

So there are a lot of rules in hockey, which we can get into later. But you only need to know the basics here.

5 men per team on the ice at a time

1 goalie in the net per team

Power play - When your team has more men on the ice than other team on the ice (because the other team got a penalty)

Goal - what happens when the puck goes in the net.

Stanley Cup - The winning team of the year are the Stanley Cup Champions

Of course there is more to it, but if you get this you get most of it.  If you want to know more look at the photo below.



3. It is a crazy hard sport to play.

In case you do not believe me can you please think back to the last time you went ice skating.  How many times did you fall down just trying to go around the rink once? If you are like me you never actually got off your butt the whole time.  These guys are so athletic and crazy good at their sport.  Really it is something to admire.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="628"] I would have fallen over five seconds before this photo was taken if I was on the ice.[/caption]

4. THE MEN ARE HOT!

I wrote a whole post about it here.

You can play "my new boyfriend" and pick the player you think is hottest and then whenever he gets a goal or a point the game is that much more exciting.

5. Carrie Underwood married a professional hockey player.



In case anyone else wants to be Carrie Underwood this is another way she has you beat.  She married Mike Fisher now on the Nashville Predators. How great is this couple, country music, hockey, Jesus lovin', beautiful: it is my dream come true, but Carrie stole it.

6. You can reenact this scene from Friends



7. Tickets prices are not super crazy

I have never actually sat close enough for #6 to happen to me because those seats are pretty pricey!  Even if you sit at the top you can see the action.  I haven't spent more than $30 on tickets and I have a great time every time I go.

8. There has to be a team near you

If you can not choose a team to like the Anaheim Ducks are so stinking good.  If you decide to like them then you will look like you joined the bandwagon because they are going to win the Stanley Cup this year, but just tell any haters Erica told you it was cool.

It is also an international sport.  You can travel to Canada, watch some hockey and eat some donuts.  What more could a girl want?

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="600"] You can pretty much be Robin Sparkles![/caption]

9. Reasons to wear your cute winter clothes and UGGs

Another plus is the jersey you wear to a game is pretty big so if you gained five holiday pounds no one is the wiser.



10. Fighting is encouraged



Yes Hockey has fighting, and yes, they guys just punch each other.  If you have never seen a full-blown hockey fight you need to, it is dazzling.  I usually watch in awe as they are able to punch each other in the face while on ice skates without falling on their faces.  It is a think of beauty.  In case you are wanting to date a hockey player I thick it is best to stay away from the one known as the "fighter" on the team.  For example Patrick Maroon and Matt Beleskey are the fighters on the Ducks.  While I think they are great at hockey and energizing their team I would run the other way if I saw them on the street.


I hope I have convinced you to at least check out a Hockey game in the future.  Watching from your TV is fun and all but you have to go to a game to really catch the hockey bug.

If you are in Southern California maybe I will see you at Honda center soon!



Oh and below is the information on the giveaway I mentioned hosted by Venus Trapped In Mars!

Princess Burlap   :::   Not Entirely Perfect   :::   Young and Entertaining   :::   Endlessly Beloved
Sweet Magnolia   :::   Living in Another Language   :::   Pink Sunshine   :::   Venus Trapped in Mars
My Cup of Sparkle   :::   Southern Finesse   :::   Kate the Almost Great   :::   A Caffeinated Brunette
Sarah Christine Style   :::   So Much Sunshine

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