What’s the Difference Between Olympic and NHL Hockey?
There are subtle differences between NHL and Olympic hockey that will affect how the game is played at the 2010 Olympics. Olympic rules are based more on the International Hockey Federation rules than NHL. First, the rink for Olympic play is usually larger than NHL rinks. This tends to result in more of a “position” strategy since players have a greater area to cover. Skating skills are a bigger advantage, and a strong ability to pass accurately is key. However, because this year’s Olympics are in Vancouver, which uses NHL sized rinks, the size will be 15% smaller than the norm, so the extra finesse may not be noticed as much.
Other differences are the ability for the goalie to play behind goal line (though NHL goalies can play directly behind the net, “no touch” icing, overtime instead of shootouts and penalties shot by anyone on the team (not just the victim.) For many US fans, the noticeable difference is the treatment of fighting. NHL gives only a 5 minute penalty for fighting, where the Olympic rules call for a match penalty and possible ejection from the game. You’ll still see a lot of body checks, high sticking, hooking and holding, but don’t expect the gloves to come off as quickly as they do in the US.
Personally, I love Olympic and International rules hockey. It tends to be a little slower (if that’s really possible when they’re speeding around on skates) but there’s more emphasis on skill and less on thuggery. Hockey gets quite beautiful when they concentrate more on the skills and less on the theatrics of fighting.
I believe the Canadian or North American game of hockey, played on smaller rinks than European rinks, is a much superior game. Suggesting that a bigger ice-surface requires more “skill” and “finesse” like suggesting that it take more “skill” and “finesse” for Canadian football leagers than NFLers. The Canadian football field is considerably wider and a heck of a lot longer than the NFL field.
Playing on a smaller ice surface actually requires lightning quick reflexes and much better stick handling and manuevering ability to avoid being checked by opposing players. There is more use of “banks” off the boards, the power play is faster and closer to the goalie.
I’m a rather elderly Canadian who has actually played on both ice surfaces and can tell you, the Canadian sized rink provides for a superior game.
Thanks for a player’s opinion, Crazycanuk! It’s always good to hear from the readers. Anyone else?
A friend tells me that in overtime (like yesterday) the teams play 4 on 4, plus goalie, instead of 5 on 5.
Who’s right (we have a lunch riding on this!)
Your friend is correct, there are 4 skaters and the goalie. You can pull the goalie, but you probably wouldn’t want to. The exception to this is in the Stanley Cup playoffs, where the teams are full strength.
It looked a little strange, didn’t it? I think it completely changes how the teams play. It becomes a little slower, more risky. Personally, I’m not sure why they made this rule. Maybe overtime was just going too long and they wanted to avoid too many shootouts.