Frequently asked questions about this blog and the “I’m New to NHL hockey” rules to know…
What is ice Hockey?
The basic premise of ice hockey is simple: two teams of skaters use sticks to shoot a rubber puck into the opposing team's net to score goals, with the team scoring the most goals winning the game. Played on an ice rink, it's a fast-paced, full-contact sport where six players use speed, skill, and physical plays (like checking) to control the puck and outscore their opponents over three periods.
Why Does this Blog Exist?
When I first got into hockey analytics, the first piece of advice I received was “If you want to get paid to do hockey analytics, you have to start by doing it for free.” Here, I am! I hope you enjoy my hot takes and opinions on my favorite team and around the NHL.I would like to continue to develop my analytical skills to analyze players and their contributions to their teams. Hockey is for everyone!
Why the Seattle Kraken?
I grew up in Arizona, when the then Phoenix Coyotes were a laughing stock of the league. When my family moved to the midwest around my high school years. I lost contact and access to the sport that I have such a deeply rooted passion for. In another life maybe I have access to the sport and make it to the NHL myself, but now I’m here. I never really liked gold and an expansion team is the perfect team for someone who didn’t grow up in a city or state with a team.
Where Do the Seattle Kraken Play Home Games?
Climate Pledge Arena, The only self sustainable arena on planet Earth and easily the nicest Arena in the National Hockey League. If you haven’t been yourself, you just wouldn’t understand. The plants in the concourse naturally cool the arena by around 20 degrees and help improve air quality inside the stadium. The food is right on par for the rest of the league, but the Mac and cheese with pulled pork on top is definitely the big door prize.
Sports Background and How I got into hockey?
Growing up I played competitive soccer for a decade at least, during that time I won a state championship in Arizona playing Youth Soccer. When my family moved to Oklahoma: Soccer turned into Tackle Football. I was a kicker and safety and even set a record as the best kicker in the history of my high school. Football was kind to me, as my junior and senior year, We made deep runs in the playoffs. My senior class won more football games than any class in school history.
What is Offsides?
In hockey, offside occurs when an attacking player enters the offensive zone (past the blue line) before the puck completely crosses that same blue line, meaning the puck must cross first for the play to be legal; the player's skates, not stick, determine their position, and if they're in the zone with both skates before the puck, the play is whistled dead for an offside. The rule prevents players from cherry-picking near the opponent's net, ensuring a strategic flow where the puck leads the attack.
What is Icing?
Icing in hockey is a rule that stops play when a player shoots the puck from their side of the center red line, and it travels untouched across the opposing team's goal line, resulting in a face-off back in the offending team's defensive zone; it's a tactic to prevent stalling, but variations like Hybrid Icing (NHL) involve a race to the face-off dot to balance fairness and player safety by reducing high-speed collisions. No icing on a PK.
How it works (NHL Hybrid Icing)
The setup: A player shoots the puck from their defensive half of the ice (behind the center red line) down the length of the rink.
The race: Players from both teams race towards the puck as it approaches the goal line.
The call: The linesman (no orange stripes) determines who would reach the puck first.
Icing: If a defending player (other than the goalie) would get to the puck first (judged at the faceoff dots), play stops, and it's an icing call.
No Icing: If an attacking player would get to the puck first, play continues, and the puck is live.
What Will This Blog Cover?
The primary team of coverage will be the Seattle Kraken, but the other thirty-one NHL teams will be covered and discussed as frequently as possible, starting with the playoff eligibile. As of this moment I am the creator, lead writer, graphic designer, lead editor, head analyst, primary marketing and communications lead, athlete, college student, and photographer associated with this page.