People often cite hockey as a brutal sport, and it is definitely a sport that demands much physically out of its players. Playing of the sport will need 22 functioning players, and those players will rotate in 6 at a time. The game is divided into 3 twenty minute periods, and overtime is comprised of twenty minute periods until a goal is made by either side. At the end of the last period, there must not be a tied score, according to the NHL, which is what this system prevents.
Hockey is a much different game from the one it began as, back in Europe where the referee was an audience member rather than on the field. Today’s referees come in a pair on the ice, as they skate alongside the players, and frequently engage in conferences between each other and the league officials who observe from the sidelines. Another difference that grew out of the additional regulations in the league is the penalty box. During the game, if a player is found to be breaking any moves that are not part of the league-accepted play, the player will be forced to sit out the rest of the period, and sometimes the rest of the game.
If players are ‘called out’ too many times it can result in penalty shots, which can give points to the rival team. Originally hockey had a full 30 players, and while that number has decreased drastically, the level of violence between players has not. The fights between the players on the ice today is amazing to watch, as even the referees can get caught sometimes in the brawls that happen between rival and fellow players. This usually happens while the referee is busy trying to break them up, since some of the brawls can bet bloody to the point of fist fights. To give a good idea about how intensive the hockey players can be in their brawls, consider that many such fights have resulted in breaking the rink side protective glass.
Hockey in today’s world simply leads to many injuries, much of which are cuts and bruises from fighting on the ice. Something as simple as an unfair taunt from a rival player, or a call that a player didn’t agree with, could spark the fight. Sometimes, as a measure to bring down the intensity and anger of a fight, players are sent to the locker room to calm down. Because of the high-energy of hockey, anyone can get angry in a short amount of time. In fact it can be very difficult not to get angry, but when it comes to the referee fighting, well, that’s a whole separate ballgame.