The next time the world’s best NHL players lace up their skates to compete in Olympic ice hockey, they may find the stakes higher than ever. The rink might be the same size as usual but the pace will feel a little more frenetic. That’s because, like the rest of the Olympic experience, ice hockey at the Olympics is always evolving.
Until recently, the Games have used a smaller international-sized ice surface but for 2010 and 2022, organizers will use a standard NHL-sized rink, which provides better sightlines for fans and TV viewers around the world. The change will also ensure that the teams are on equal footing when it comes to physical play.
Fighting is not allowed in Olympic ice hockey and players who willingly participate in a fight are penalized for the offense and could be ejected from the game. A team may not have more than 11 players dressed for a game, and the roster must be submitted at least 24 hours before the start of the contest. Each player must wear a helmet and face mask. Only one manager/coach is permitted on the bench at any time.
The Olympic ice hockey tournament has produced some of the sport’s most famous moments and continues to be a staple in the calendars of devoted hockey fans. From the Miracle on Ice to Finland’s gold medal in 1998, and from Dominik Hasek’s imperious goaltending to Canada’s re-ignition of their golden run in 2002 and beyond, the sport’s unique rhythms have made the Olympic stage an ideal setting for some of the greatest hockey stories of all time.