Hockey is a past time filled with great memories and heart breaking games. Some people argue it was first played by Indians with sticks and rocks, while others say it was started when soldiers hit rocks around to stay warm. Although the origin of hockey is still argued today it is mostly accepted that the first real rules were recorded in 1875. These rules and terms vary widely and can get confusing to the rookie analyst, but with a little help and a few minutes of your time you will have them down in no time.

First we are going to have to cover the layout of an ice arena so if you are familiar with this you can skip this paragraph. An ice arena is shaped like an oval, but the longer sides are straight. We are going to pretend you are walking down the exact middle of the rink from one end to the other. You are going to start touching the boards at the rounded, shorter end of the rink. You take two or three steps and you are now in the opening of the net between the two posts. You went through the back of the net to get here. If you look down you will see a red line that crosses parrallel to the short, rounded side of the boards. This line is called the goal line and the puck has to cross it and go into the net to be counted as a goal. About 30 steps in front of you, you come to a thicker blue line that runs parrallel to the goal line. This line is called the blue line. Then about 10 more steps you come to a small, usually bluish purple circle, in the direct middle of the entire rink. This is the faceoff dot and is where the puck is dropped at the beginning of the game, after every period, after a goal is scored, or when the referee makes a mistake and blows his wistle to stop the play. Going through this faceoff dot is a thicker red line that is referred to as the red line. Then 10 more steps you come to another blue line. Then about 30 more steps you are at the net again on the opposite side that you started on standing on the goal line. Two or three more steps you are on the boards of the shorter, rounded side of the rink once again.

-Rules and Terms:

Offensive Zone - The side of the rink with the opposing teams goalie where a team is trying to score. The area from the blue line closer to the rounded, shorter boards behind the opposing teams net.

Defensive Zone - The side of the rink with your own goalie. This area is from the closer blue line to the rounded, shorter boards behind your net. You are trying to defend this area

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