In a previous article, we discussed how many periods there are in a hockey game. Now, we turn our attention to the different positions in hockey. Without further ado, here is an explanation of all hockey positions.

Hockey Positions Explained: Goalie

Thankfully, this position is fairly easy to explain. The goalie is responsible for preventing the other team from scoring. They make saves in order to do so and do their best to stop the other team’s attacks. Goalies receive unique training and have a special set of skills that allow them to perform their role. As one might expect, a goalie is incredibly important to the success of a hockey team.

However, this is not all that a goalie does on the ice. A goalie also has to cover the puck to prevent the opposing team from getting rebounds. Doing so is essential to stopping the opposing team from scoring. Players often score goals from rebounds.

Obviously, the position of goalie is primarily a defensive position. However, this doesn’t mean that the goalie cannot contribute to his team’s offense in any way. A goalie can pass the puck to the team’s attacking players and begin a surprise counter-attack to catch the other team off-guard. This is a more common tactic these days and can prove quite effective.

Defensemen

Naturally, the goalie cannot protect the team’s goal all by himself. That is where defensemen come in. Defensemen safeguard their team’s goal from the other team and work hard to stifle the opposing team’s attacks. Having capable defensemen is crucial for a hockey team, especially one that relies on its defense.

One part of a defensemen’s role is to win the puck back for their team. This helps stop the opposing team’s attacks. It can also kickstart their own team’s attacks. Defensemen play on the right and left sides of the ice behind the forwards. They are essential for the hockey team.

Naturally, defensemen defend from the opposition’s attacks. If the opposing team has the puck, defensemen are responsible for controlling the game and limiting scoring opportunities. Defensemen clear rebounds from their team’s crease, as well. It is also critical for defensemen to work together.

Working together is essential so that the defensemen can defend as one unit. Defensemen also have to cooperate with their other teammates in order to execute the game plan. Additionally, defensemen may even help out with the attack, as well. They pass the puck to the team’s attacking players. Defensemen have a variety of responsibilities.

Wingers aka Forwards

Naturally, the team can’t win a hockey game with only defense. They have to score goals. That is one of the primary responsibilities of the wingers. Wingers are also known as forwards in the game of hockey.

In hockey, wingers can play on either the right or left side of the ice. Wingers provide support to the team’s center and as previously mentioned, score goals. Because of their importance to the team’s offense, wingers usually have fewer defensive responsibilities compared to other positions on the team. This frees them up to focus more on offense.

It is also crucial that wingers are fast skaters. Wingers have to cover long distances, capitalize on scoring opportunities, and create scoring opportunities by attacking the opposing team’s defense. All of this is easier to due if the winger is fast. That is why speed is important for this position.

Wingers bring the puck out of their team’s defensive zone and help start attacks. They also intercept he opposing team’s passes and often begin breakaways to take advantage of the turnover. Wingers block opposing passes and shots, as well, even if they have fewer defensive responsibilities.

Hockey Positions: Center

The center is the final traditional position in hockey. A team’s center is the central attacker and he is often the top scorer on the team, since scoring goals is his primary role. However, he does more than this. The center occupies the opposing team’s attention to allow the forwards to score goals.

Additionally, the center closely works with the team’s forwards. The forwards pass the puck to the center from the side. This allows the center to score goals. The center also does his best to ensure the puck remains as far away from his team’s goal as possible. It is no exaggeration to refer to the center as one of the most crucial positions in hockey.

More specifically, the center also has to win faceoffs and complete passes to keep attacks going. The center gets rebounds in the opposing team’s goal area, as well. When the team wins the puck back, the center leads the breakout and is responsible for pushing the pace to catch the other team off-guard. If the puck is lost, the center switches swiftly from offense to defense.

Hockey Positions: Enforcer

One of the hockey positions that should be mentioned is enforcer. Anyone who is familiar with hockey knows the concept of the enforcer position. The enforcer position is not a traditional position in hockey. However, many teams still have a player who fulfills this role.

In hockey, an enforcer responds to tough play and does his best to intimidate the opponent. An enforcer aggressively responds to any violent or dirty play from the opposing team. That is one of their primary responsibilities and they are willing to accept penalties for their responses.

However, that is not the only responsibility of the enforcer. An enforcer also has to provide protection to his teammates, particularly from the opposing team’s enforcer. An enforcer may protect any of his teammates. Despite this, an enforcer has to provide a special level of protection to his team’s star players or the goalie.

Doing so helps the team win the game. In recent years, the role of the enforcer has become less prominent in hockey, especially at the highest level. However, it is still important to mention this position, since it is crucial to the history of hockey. Some teams still have enforcers. There is even a book about hockey enforcers.

That concludes our explanation of all hockey positions.