Ice Hockey Betting

You probably played ordinary hockey in your school days, but how much do you know about Ice Hockey? Well, let us clue you in. Ice Hockey isn’t just some niche interest – on the other hand, it’s quite a big deal. Though it’s the official national winter sport of Canada, it’s not just played there. In fact, the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Switzerland all massively enjoy the game. In Russia, the major ice hockey competition is the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). You can check here with NetBet for all the best Ice Hockey odds all over the world – enjoy Ice Hockey betting here!

All About Ice Hockey

The origins of ice hockey are disputed. Some sources indicate that the French and Irish both played the game in the 1700s, while others claim the game as we know it only came about in the 1800s in Canada. Nowadays, the game is played on a specialised rink with a frozen floor. The surface of the rink is made of ice, though it’s specialised ice that differs to the stuff you’d find on the ground outdoors. The rink is sprayed repeatedly to build up numerous thin layers, typically a tiny fraction of an inch thick. This is done extremely carefully – too thick and the rink can get uneven and partially soften in places, whereas too thin and the players run the risk of cutting through the ice with the blades on their skates. Once the rink is all in place it can be painted with logos and boundary lines.

Possibly the most recognisable aspect of ice hockey is the puck. Here’s a slightly disgusting fact for you – in times gone by, hockey pucks were fashioned from frozen animal dung. What an idea! Nowadays, pucks are made from vulcanised rubber. Due to the damage often inflicted on the pucks during the course of a game, professional ice hockey games typically use up to 50 pucks in a single match. A traditional part of professional hockey games is the dropping of the first puck onto the rink – this is often done by a local celebrity. In 2006 Queen Elizabeth II became the first reigning monarch to take part in this tradition. As a final aside, hockey pucks are frozen prior to games – this stops them from bouncing on the smooth surface the game is played on.

The Stanley Cup is the oldest professional sports trophy and is awarded every year to the winner of the National Hockey League (NHL). Every member of a team participating in the NHL that wins the Stanley Cup is allowed a personal day with the Cup, and there is a tradition that whoever holds the trophy will fill the top, bowl-like portion of the cup with with food (delicacies enjoyed by previous winners include cereal, chicken wings, meatballs, and ice cream). Yuck!

Ice Hockey can be a somewhat brutal game at times, and isn’t without its risks. During a match between the Buffalo Sabres and the St. Louis Blues, Clint Malarchuk was hit in the neck by the blade of another player’s skates, cutting his throat open. He only survived due to the actions of one of his team’s trainers, Jim Pizzutelli, a former army medic, who pinched Malarchuk’s jugular vein closed to staunch the bleeding. That’s not even the most bizarre accident that’s happened during a game of ice hockey, though – many years before this, a goalkeeper by the name of Abie Goldberry was actually set on fire after an oncoming puck struck a pack of matches he was carrying in his pocket.

What are the rules of the game?

The goal of ice hockey is to get the puck into the goal zone (a narrow section at either end of the rink). The rink is split into three sections, designated as the neutral zone in the centre and the attacking and defending zones at either side (which side these are on changes depending on which team currently has possession of the puck). Teams swap positions whenever there is a break. There are also five circular zones on the rink known as face off zones, which only one player from each team can enter at a time.

Protective gear and heavy padding are mandatory for ice hockey. This is not least because physical contact is a long-standing aspect of the game – if two players are both trying to take control of the puck, grappling is allowed. However, there are limits – fisticuffs and intent to cause injury are both strictly disallowed. While players can direct the puck using their skates, kicking the puck into the goal is against the rules; holding the hockey stick above your shoulders is also not allowed.

The game goes on for 60 minutes, split into three phases separated by breaks of 15 minutes each. As hockey is a fairly intense sport, players tend to be substituted frequently (this is known as a line change). Because of the amount of players involved, ice hockey odds can differ wildly. Due to the fact that players are substituted so often, and that the clock stops whenever the puck leaves the ice, games of ice hockey tend to last for around two and a half hours.

There are three forms of penalties – major, minor, and misconduct. The list of fouls players can commit is highly extensive and usually involve using the hockey stick to impede or obstruct opposing players. Physical force can be used to win back the puck from another player but any form of obstructive foul (such as unfairly tripping or hooking them) will usually result in the player being ordered to leave the ice.

Get the best possible Ice Hockey odds with NetBet!

If you’re looking for the best possible ice hockey odds, NetBet is the place for you. Come and enjoy some Ice Hockey betting – with numerous games every day, you’ll rarely be short of something to place a bet on! Take a look and marvel at how much fun you can have indulging in ice hockey betting. Follow along and check back often to be up to date on all the latest odds available on our site. You’ll love ice hockey betting at NetBet.