Can You Get 29/35 on This Hockey Knowledge Quiz?

By: Kale Havervold
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Get 29/35 on This Hockey Knowledge Quiz?
Image: Wiki Commons by David

About This Quiz

Hockey is one of the most popular sports on the planet and is played around the world. The sport has ties to Ancient Egypt and Greece as these cultures played games with curved sticks and balls on the ground. In the modern-day world, the game is most commonly played on ice.

Whether you are in a small town in Russia or a small town in Canada, there is a good chance you'll see some shinny being played. Hockey has many fans, and many people claim to be experts and know all there is to know about the sport. Do you think you're one of those experts?

Do you know how long an NHL-regulation ice rink is? How about which country sees hockey as its only national sport? If you know the answers to these questions, or if you simply want to learn more about the greatest game on ice, this is the quiz for you. It will look at the history of the game, its rules, and it will even take a look at the NHL, where the best in the world skate, shoot and score.

So lace up your skates, adjust your helmet, and prepare yourself to take on our challenging hockey quiz. How many can you answer correctly?

Justin Abdelkader's Stanley Cup
Wiki Commons by Michael Righi
What is the trophy given to the winner of the NHL Finals?
The Larry O'Brien Trophy
The Stanley Cup
The Super Bowl
The Memorial Cup
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Every year, one team makes it through a grueling 82-game season, wins 16 games in the playoffs and is awarded the Stanley Cup. It is named after Lord Stanley of Preston, a former Governor General of Canada.

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Wayne Gretzky 2006
Wiki Commons by Kris Krüg
Who has scored the most NHL points during their career?
Mark Messier
Sidney Crosby
Mario Lemieux
Wayne Gretzky
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Wayne Gretzky is generally considered to be the best NHL player of all time, and it is easy to see why. During his career, Gretzky scored 2,857 points, which is nearly 1,000 more than the next closest player.

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1893 hockey game at the Victoria Skating Rink in Montreal
Wiki Commons by William Notman & Son
What year was the first indoor ice hockey game played?
1901
1875
1773
1855
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The first official and organized indoor ice hockey game in the world was played on March 3, 1875, in Montreal. Two teams of nine players each played on the rink, and they used a wooden puck.

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Watkins saved a breakaway
Wiki Commons by davidgsteadman
Was it is called when a player is all alone, rushing the net to score with no defense in their way?
A breakaway
A streak
A dangle
A hop
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If a player is all alone in the attacking zone of their opponent with no defensemen in their way, they are on a breakaway. This lapse in defense often makes it easier for the player on the breakaway to score.

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Hat-trick
Wiki Commons by TheAHL
What is it called when a player scores three goals in a single game?
Triple
Hat trick
Triple play
Turkey
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If a hockey player scores three goals in a game, it is called scoring a hat trick. Fans will often throw hats onto the ice after a hat trick is scored, a tradition which dates back many decades.

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NHL 1938
Wiki Commons by Conrad Poirier
In what year did the NHL officially begin?
1899
1904
1917
1921
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While hockey had already been around for decades, the NHL officially began play in 1917. The league began with only four teams and has now grown to more than 30 teams across the USA and Canada.

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Montreal Hockey Club First Stanley Cup
Wiki Commons by Library and Archives Canada
Of the mentioned teams, which was the very first to win the Stanley Cup?
Toronto Maple Leafs
Boston Bruins
Montreal Hockey Club
Chicago Blackhawks
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The first-ever Stanley Cup was awarded in 1893 to the Montreal Hockey Club. Early on, the Stanley Cup was only awarded to amateur teams. In 1906, professional teams were allowed to win it.

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Rob Scuderi in Penalty Box
Wiki Commons by Ken Lund from Reno
How long is a minor penalty?
30 seconds
1 minute
2 minutes
4 minutes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In hockey, a minor penalty is 2 minutes long, and the offender must sit in the penalty box for that amount of time. There are a number of different types of minor penalties, including tripping, roughing and interference.

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Jabbing hockey stick
technotr/E+/Getty Images
If a player jabs his stick at an opponent, what penalty is likely to be called?
Boarding
Elbowing
Spearing
Icing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When a player jabs his stick (either the blade or the butt-end) at an opposing player, it is a spearing penalty. It is often done in the stomach or chest region and can be incredibly painful.

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Capitals-Maple Leafs
Wiki Commons by David
How many players (not counting goalies) are on the ice for each team during even-strength play?
Three
Five
Seven
Nine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

During even-strength play, there are five players and one goalie on the ice for each team. There are two defensemen, a center, a right winger and a left winger. This, of course, can change during penalties or when a goalie is pulled.

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Jacques Plante
NHL
Which NHL goalie helped to introduce a goalie mask as a piece of everyday equipment for the position?
Patrick Roy
Jacques Plante
Martin Biron
Ken Dryden
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While Jacques Plante was not the first-ever goalie to wear a mask, he was the one who first wore one on a regular basis. He first wore one during practice in 1956, before ultimately using it in games in 1959.

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Hockey referee
gilaxia/E+/Getty Images
What color helmet are hockey referees required to wear?
Blue
White
Black
Orange
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Teams often wear a variety of colored uniforms, and their helmets normally match their uniform. In order to remain consistent and be able to easily be identified, all hockey referees wear a black helmet.

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Detroit Red Wings with Stanley Cup
Wiki Commons by Michael Righi
In a standard 82-game NHL season, what is the most number of games that a team has won?
56
73
55
62
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The most games ever won in an NHL season is 62, and it has been done twice — by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1995-96 season and then again by the Tampa Bay Lightning, just recently, in the 2018-19 season.

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Henri Richard
Wiki Commons
No one has won more Stanley Cups as a player than Henri Richard. How many did he win?
Eight
11
15
Five
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Many players have won multiple Stanley Cups, but no one has won as many as Henri Richard. He won a total of 11 in his playing career with the Montreal Canadiens, which is incredibly impressive since only a few teams have won more Stanley Cups than that.

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Leafs v Red Wings 1942
Wiki Commons by Conn Smythe Fonds
Which of the following teams was not a part of the "Original Six"?
Boston Bruins
Montreal Canadiens
Toronto Maple Leafs
Vancouver Canucks
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

All of the aforementioned teams were a part of the NHL's "Original Six," except for the Vancouver Canucks. They officially joined the NHL in 1970, along with the Buffalo Sabres.

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Ice hockey goalkeeper trying to catch puck in ice hockey stadium
simonkr/E+/Getty Images
What is the attacking zone?
The area beyond the opposition's blue line.
The area between the two blue lines
The area behind your own blue line
There is no zone called the attacking zone
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The attacking zone is a name given for the area beyond your opponent's blue line. It is where nearly all scoring chances develop and where most goals are scored in a hockey game.

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Montreal Canadiens vs. Capitals
Wiki Commons by Jean-David & Anne-Laure
Of all the teams to win the Stanley Cup, which team has won it the most?
Montreal Canadiens
Boston Bruins
Toronto Maple Leafs
New York Rangers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There have been many successful franchises in the history of the NHL, but none have been more successful than the Montreal Canadiens. In their rich history, they have won 24 Stanley Cups.

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Bundesarchiv Bild 102-05472, St. Moritz, Winterolympiade
Wiki Commons by Bundesarchiv, Bild 102-05472
When was the first time that ice hockey was played at the Olympics?
1920
1928
1948
1984
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The very first time that ice hockey was played as an Olympic sport was at the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. But in an interesting twist, this was at the Summer Olympics, not the winter.

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Nucks vs Knights
Wiki Commons by Matt Boulton
In an NHL game, how long are each of the three periods?
20 minutes
12 minutes
8 minutes
15 minutes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In an NHL game, each period is 20 minutes long. This is actual game time, and most periods actually come in at about 45 minutes or so of real time. Other hockey leagues and tournaments have different time lengths for periods or halves.

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Art Ross Trophy
Wiki Commons by Arnold C
To whom is the Art Ross Trophy awarded?
The player with the most goals in an NHL season
The best defenseman in an NHL season
The player with the most points in an NHL season
The best defensive forward in an NHL season
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Art Ross Trophy is given to the player who scores the most points in a single NHL season. The player who has won the award the most times is Wayne Gretzky, who won it 10 times in his career. The award was first presented after the 1947-1948 NHL season. Art Ross was a former player, general manager and head coach.

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Wayne Gretzky
Wiki Commons by Hakandahlstrom
Thousands of goals are scored in the NHL every season, but what is the all-time record for goals scored in a season by a single player?
63
71
92
86
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The most goals by a single player in an NHL season is 92, and it was scored by Wayne Gretzky in the 1981-198282 season. What is even more impressive is that he was only 21 years old when he accomplished the feat.

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Empty hockey arena with score board
ZargonDesign/E+/Getty Images
How wide are international ice hockey rinks?
98.4 feet
85.3 feet
70.7 feet
120.2 feet
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While NHL rinks are 85 feet wide, all international rinks are much wider at 98.4 feet. This provides a much different game flow and allows for much more space for players to work.

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Hockey player sitting in penalty box
Jupiterimages/PHOTOS.com/Getty Images Plus
If a player is given a major penalty, how long will they be penalized?
10 minutes
Kicked out for the rest of the game
3 minutes
5 minutes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In ice hockey, a major penalty is worth 5 minutes in the penalty box. While fighting might be the most common major penalty, there are other examples such as boarding and cross-checking. Some minor penalties can also be upgraded to major penalty status if they are serious enough.

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Ice hockey player making a saucer pass
Dmytro Aksonov/E+/Getty Images
What is a saucer pass?
A pass that is lifted off the ice
A very hard pass
Throwing the puck to another player with the hands
Another name for a backhand pass
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A saucer pass is when a player passes the puck to another by lifting it into the air, making it harder to stop. The reason it is called a saucer pass is that it resembles a flying saucer as the puck sails through the air.

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Canada Women 2010 Winter Olympics
Wiki Commons by s.yume
How many times has Canadian women's national ice hockey team won a gold medal at the Olympics?
One
Two
Three
Four
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Canadian women's national ice hockey team is one of the most dominant in the sport and has consistently won many of the major tournaments they have entered. The team has won four gold medals and two silver medals in six trips to the Olympics.

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Close-up of an Ice Hockey puck hitting the back of the net
cmannphoto/E+/Getty Images
What is the record for most points scored in an NHL game by a single player?
Six
Eight
Ten
Twelve
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The most points ever scored in a single NHL hockey game is 10. In 1976, as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Darryl Sittler scored six goals and got four assists in a single game.

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Close-up of an Ice Hockey puck hitting the back of the net
cmannphoto/E+/Getty Images
In hockey, what is a "five-hole"?
The space between a goalies leg pads
The holes between the goal netting
Another name for when a player scores five points in a game
The space between the stick and puck during stickhandling
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The five-hole is the space in between a goalie's leg pads. It is a common place for goals to be scored as the pads the goalies wear don't cover the five-hole, so they must use their stick to block pucks shot in that area.

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Tripping ice hockey player
technotr/E+/Getty Images
If a player is tripped by an opponent on a breakaway, what happens next?
Nothing
The offending player is kicked off
A goal is automatically awarded
A penalty shot is often given
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If a player is tripped or taken down during a breakaway, a penalty shot is often awarded. This gives the player who got tripped a chance to take a free hot on the goalie without any defensemen present.

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Face off during ice hockey game
technotr/E+/Getty Images
How is it decided which team begins with possession of the puck in a hockey game?
The home team starts with the puck
The underdog starts with the puck
The away team starts with it
There is a puck drop
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

To begin a hockey game, both teams will go up to center ice and participate in a face-off. The ref will drop the puck between the two centers, and each will try to pass the puck back to their team.

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Nationwide Arena
Wiki Commons by Uccee44
What is the length of the ice in an NHL rink?
85 feet
135 feet
200 feet
500 feet
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While some junior and international ice rinks vary when it comes to size, the official length of the ice rink in the NHL is 200 feet. This allows a lot of room for players to skate and show off their speed and skills.

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Face Off in the National Hockey League
Wiki Commons by slgckgc
Face-offs can happen all over the ice in a hockey game, but how many designated spots are there for face-offs?
Four
Six
Nine
Twelve
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While the start of each period begins with a face-off at center ice, there are nine different places where face-offs can happen on a standard NHL rink. There are four on each side of the the rink and the one at center ice.

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Flyers Captains at Center Ice
Wiki Commons by Eric Kilby
What letter does the leader of a particular team wear on their jersey?
C
A
L
P
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The leader of a hockey team will have a jersey with a "C" on the chest. This means they are the captain and considered the leader of the team. Most teams also have a few alternate captains. These players have an "A" on their jersey.

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Latvian ice hockey team 2008
Wiki Commons by RicLaf
Of the following countries, which has ice hockey as its sole national sport?
Canada
Russia
Latvia
Austria
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Despite the fact that hockey is very popular in Canada, it is not the country's only national sport. Of the countries listed, hockey is the sole national sport for Latvia. This small nation has been playing hockey since the 1930s.

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Referees and players
Wiki Commons by Eric Kilby
Which referee system is currently used in the NHL?
One-official system
Two-official system
Three-official system
Four-official system
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Most of the high-level hockey leagues on the planet, including the NHL, use the four-official system. This means that every game will have two referees and two linesmen on the ice at all times.

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Hockey players fighting
Wiki Commons by ERI_4042
What is a match penalty?
When two people are given offsetting penalties
Getting kicked out for intentionally injuring or trying to injure another player
Another name for a minor penalty
A player's second penalty in a given game
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A player is assessed a match penalty when they deliberately try to hurt another player or succeed in hurting another player. They are kicked out of the game and will often have to pay a fine and could also face suspension.

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You Got:
/35
Wiki Commons by David