THE OFFICIAL HOME OF
THE CUTTING EDGES-
VANCOUVER'S LGBTQ+
HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
Are you new to hockey?
Welcome to The Cutting Edges Hockey Team, where all skills are celebrated, and beginners are embraced with open arms!
Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting your hockey journey, we believe in the power of diversity and camaraderie to create a strong team. Our supportive community fosters growth and development for players of all levels, and we know that beginners infuse our team with fresh enthusiasm. As you join us, know that you'll be part of a hockey family where everyone helps each other improve, and our experienced players are always eager to offer guidance.
We would like to thank the Toronto Gay Hockey Association for this content.
THE EQUIPMENT
1. Helmet: A helmet with a face cage or visor is essential for protecting your head and face from impacts.
2. Shoulder Pads: These protect your shoulders, upper chest, and upper arms from collisions and impacts.
3. Elbow Pads: Elbow pads provide cushioning and protection for your elbows during falls or collisions.
4. Gloves: Hockey gloves protect your hands and wrists while allowing for good grip on the stick.
5. Jersey: A team jersey is typically worn to identify players and their teams
6. Hockey Pants: Also known as breezers or hockey shorts, these provide padding and protection for your hips, thighs, and tailbone.
7. Shin Guards: Shin guards protect your shins and knees from impacts, slashes, and pucks.
8. Skates: Ice hockey skates are specially designed for maneuvering on ice. They have a rigid boot and a blade for gliding.
9. Hockey Socks: These cover the shin guards and help keep them in place.
10. Hockey Stick: The stick is used to pass, shoot, and control the puck. It's available in various lengths and flexibilities.
11. Mouthguard: A mouthguard protects your teeth and mouth from injury during play.
12. Protective Cup: This is essential for male players to protect the groin area.
Optional equipment may include:
1. Neck Guard: Also known as a neck guard or bib, this protects the neck from cuts and slashes.
2. Garter Belt: Used to hold up hockey socks.
3. Warm-Up Gear: Items like track suits or warm-up jerseys may be worn during practice or warm-up sessions.
4. Water Bottle and Carrier: Staying hydrated during play is important, so many players have a water bottle and carrier on hand.
5. Equipment Bag: A sturdy bag to carry and store all your gear is essential for transport to and from games and practices
Remember that safety is paramount in ice hockey, so ensuring that all equipment fits properly and is in good condition is crucial for injury prevention.
Hockey Canada Equipment Tips
How to get dressed
THE
GAME
Hockey is a high-speed game played on ice with the object being to shoot a small rubber puck into the opposing team's net, scoring a goal for your team.
Players and Positions
Full ice hockey games are played with six players from each team on the ice. Each team has one goaltender, two defensemen and three forwards. The players are allowed to change with their teammates on the bench during play or stoppages of play following a whistle.
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Centerman: is the player that takes the faceoffs. Centers are a key position as they often have more defensive responsibilities than the wings but are also expected to produce offensively by scoring goals or setting up their teammates.
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Winger: flank the center on faceoffs. While they have defensive assignments in their own zone, these two forwards often have a slightly more offensive mindset than centers. Despite their titles, the wingers are not always confined to one side of the ice.
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Defensemen: usually are set up behind the forwards. The defensemen’s main objective is preventing the opposition from scoring and assisting the forwards in getting the puck out of the defensive zone. They can also contribute on the offensive side but usually don't play as deep in the offensive zone.
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Goaltender: main objective is to prevent the opponent from scoring.
Three Zones of Play
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The defensive zone is the area between the goal which your team is defending and the first blue line. This is the zone that your team tries to prevent the opponent from scoring in.
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The neutral zone is the area between the two blue lines.
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The offensive zone is the area between the second blue line and the opposing team's net. This is the zone in which your team is trying to score.
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During the second period, teams will switch the sides of the ice that they are defending. Therefore, the zone that was initially their defensive zone becomes their offensive zone and vice versa. The teams return to their initial nets and zones for the third period.
THE
RULES
Here is an overview of the most common rules and infractions seen in hockey. For a more in-depth look, check out the Official Rule Book of Hockey Canada at the bottom of this page.
Face-Offs:
This is the method by which the puck is put into play. During a face-off, one player from each team lines up to face each other at one of the rink's nine face-off spots. The referee or linesman drops the puck between the players, who then battle for possession.
Offsides:
This occurs when a player enters the offensive zone before the puck. It results in a stoppage of play and neutral zone faceoff.
Icing:
When a defending player sends the puck, untouched, from behind the center red line across the opposing team's goal line in the offensive zone. This results in a stoppage of play and a faceoff in the offending team's defensive zone.
Hand Pass:
Players in hockey are not allowed to play the puck with their hand outside of their defensive zone. When a player moves the puck to a teammate with his hand, the official blows the whistle, and there is a faceoff at the position where the puck was passed from. At no time can players close their hand on the puck.
High Stick:
When the puck is played out of mid-air by a player whose stick is above shoulder height and a teammate is the next to touch the puck, a high stick infraction is called, resulting in a face-off in that team's defensive zone.
Minor Penalties:
Players can be assessed penalties for improper conduct on the ice. The most common penalties are minor penalties, in which players must sit in the penalty box for two minutes, or until the other team scores, while their team plays shorthanded.
Here are the most common minor penalties:
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Tripping: Player uses a stick, arm, or leg to take an opponent's feet out from under them.
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High-Sticking: Striking an opponent with the stick above shoulder level.
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Slashing: The act of swinging a player's stick at an opponent, whether contact is made or not.
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Holding: Player holds an opponent by using his hands, arms, or legs.
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Interference: Player interferes with or impedes the progress of an opponent who is not in possession of the puck.
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Elbowing: Involves the use of an extended elbow to perform an illegal body check.
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Cross-Checking: A check made with the stick while both hands are on the stick and arms extending to deliver the hit.
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Hooking: Using the stick in a manner that enables a player to restrain an opponent, typically through a pulling motion.
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Boarding: Checking an opponent in such a manner that causes the opponent to be thrown violently into the boards.
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Roughing: Involves the use of unnecessary roughness during play or between whistles.
Major Penalties:
Major penalties are assessed for many of the same infractions that apply to minor penalties except they involve a greater degree of deliberate violence that can result in injury. The player who is serving the five-minute major must stay in the penalty box for the full five minute penalty time, regardless if a goal is scored on the "shorthanded" team.
Hockey Canada Rules
