Ice hockey / Roller hockey rules

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📚 Original educational summaries — the official source prevails.PublishedUpdated on June 24, 2026

Zen Ref

The assistant that explains the rules simply.

Each goal is worth 1 point; there are no different goal values. The score is simply the number of goals each team has scored. The team with the most goals at the end of the game wins. In overtime or a shootout, the decisive goal determines the winner.

Answers based on ScoreZen summaries. The official source prevails.

Summary

Ice hockey is a fast team sport played on an ice rink between two teams. Wearing skates and carrying sticks, players try to shoot a rubber puck into the opponent's goal. It is a contact sport known for its speed and intensity. Inline roller hockey is its version on wheels: same stick, but a lighter plastic puck, 4 skaters and 1 goalkeeper, on a rink without ice.

Objective

Score more goals than the opposing team by shooting the puck into the net defended by the goaltender. The team with the most goals at the end of regulation wins.

Key rules

  • Each team usually has 6 players on the ice, including 1 goaltender (5 skaters + 1 goalie).
  • A goal counts when the puck fully crosses the goal line inside the net.
  • Offside: an attacker may not cross the opponent's blue line before the puck (skate position is what counts).
  • Icing: shooting the puck from your own half across the opponent's goal line untouched is penalised with a face-off in your own zone.
  • Player substitutions are made 'on the fly', without stopping play.
  • A foul leads to a penalty: the offending player is temporarily removed and the team plays short-handed.

Scoring

Each goal is worth 1 point; there are no different goal values. The score is simply the number of goals each team has scored. The team with the most goals at the end of the game wins. In overtime or a shootout, the decisive goal determines the winner.

Format & duration

A game has 3 periods of 20 minutes of effective time, with two intermissions (often 15 minutes) to resurface the ice. If tied, a sudden-death overtime and then a shootout may decide the winner. The duration and overtime format vary by federation and match type (group stage or knockout). In inline roller hockey, a game has 2 periods of 20 minutes under World Skate rules (in France, under the FFRS, senior players play 2 × 25 minutes in a single match), with sudden-death overtime and then a shootout depending on the competition.

Winning conditions

The team with the most goals at the end of regulation wins. If the score is level, the winner is decided by sudden-death overtime and, if needed, a shootout (depending on the format).

Full rules

Unlock official mode, key events, referee signals, glossary, history and official sources with ScoreZen Essentiel.

Frequently asked questions

How does scoring work in ice hockey / roller hockey?

Each goal is worth 1 point; there are no different goal values. The score is simply the number of goals each team has scored. The team with the most goals at the end of the game wins. In overtime or a shootout, the decisive goal determines the winner.

How long does a ice hockey / roller hockey match last?

A game has 3 periods of 20 minutes of effective time, with two intermissions (often 15 minutes) to resurface the ice. If tied, a sudden-death overtime and then a shootout may decide the winner. The duration and overtime format vary by federation and match type (group stage or knockout). In inline roller hockey, a game has 2 periods of 20 minutes under World Skate rules (in France, under the FFRS, senior players play 2 × 25 minutes in a single match), with sudden-death overtime and then a shootout depending on the competition.

How do you win a match in ice hockey / roller hockey?

The team with the most goals at the end of regulation wins. If the score is level, the winner is decided by sudden-death overtime and, if needed, a shootout (depending on the format).

What are the main fouls and sanctions in ice hockey / roller hockey?

Minor penalty (2 min): hooking, tripping, holding, illegal body check, interference. Major penalty (5 min): serious foul; served in full even if a goal is conceded. Misconduct penalty (10 min): individual sanction without reducing the team's strength on the ice. Match penalty: the player is ejected for the remainder of the game. Fighting: depending on the federation, major and/or game misconduct penalty (IIHF punishes more strictly than the NHL). Penalty shot awarded when a foul denies a player a clear scoring chance.

How do I set up ScoreZen to keep score in ice hockey / roller hockey?

Set up ice hockey in goal-based scoring mode (points = goals, +1 per goal). Use the 'Official' preset with 3 periods for a regulation game, or 'Casual' for a free score. Optionally enable a goal target for short friendly games. For roller hockey, choose the 'Roller' preset (2 periods of 20 minutes).

Can I run a ice hockey / roller hockey tournament or league with ScoreZen?

ScoreZen works well for tracking a friendly game, a tournament or a hockey championship by recording goals per period and the final score. For official competitions, the finer rules (penalties, overtime) remain managed by the referees.