How Long Is a Hockey Game? Full Breakdown of Periods, Overtime & Delays
Introduction
Hockey is one of the fastest-paced, most exciting sports in the world. Whether you’re a die-hard fan, a new viewer, or someone attending a game for the first time, a common question is: How long does a hockey game last? While the official game time may seem straightforward, the real-world duration can vary depending on the level of play, rules, intermissions, stoppages, and potential overtimes or shootouts.
In this detailed blog post, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the length of a hockey game, covering professional leagues like the NHL, college and international games, overtime scenarios, intermission time, TV broadcasts, and even how long youth games typically run.
Table of Contents
Quick Answer: How Long Is a Hockey Game?
A standard professional hockey game, such as in the NHL (National Hockey League), is officially 60 minutes long, divided into three 20-minute periods. However, with stoppages, intermissions, and possible overtime, the total duration is usually between 2 to 3 hours.
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Understanding the Structure of a Hockey Game
🔹 1. Regulation Time
- Three Periods: Hockey games consist of three periods, each lasting 20 minutes of actual play time.
- Game Clock Stops: The clock stops for penalties, goals, offsides, icings, puck out of play, and injuries.
- Total Regulation Time: 60 minutes on the clock, but can take 90 minutes or more in real time due to stoppages.
🔹 2. Intermissions
- Between the 1st and 2nd periods and 2nd and 3rd periods, there’s an intermission.
- Length: Typically 15 to 18 minutes long (17 minutes in the NHL).
- Purpose: Ice resurfacing, advertisements, player rest, and team strategy.
🔹 3. Overtime and Shootouts
Depending on the league, overtime and shootout rules vary.
🏒 NHL Regular Season
- Overtime Length: 5 minutes of sudden-death 3-on-3 play.
- If tied, the game goes to a shootout.
- Shootout: Each team gets three shots; if still tied, it goes to sudden death.
🏒 NHL Playoffs
- Overtime: 20-minute sudden-death periods until a team scores (no shootouts).
- A playoff game can extend well over 4 hours if multiple overtimes are needed.
🏒 International & Olympic Games
- Overtime rules vary; Olympic gold medal games can feature 20-minute sudden-death overtime.
How Long Is an NHL Game in Real Time?
| Game Component | Duration (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| Regulation Time | 60 minutes |
| Stoppages | 30–40 minutes |
| Intermissions (x2) | 34 minutes (17 mins x 2) |
| Possible Overtime | 5–20+ minutes |
| Shootout (if any) | 5–10 minutes |
| Total Time | 2.5 to 3+ hours |
So, when you plan to watch an NHL game—either in the arena or on TV—block off at least 2.5 to 3 hours.
How Long Is a College or Youth Hockey Game?
🏒 College Hockey (NCAA)
- Also consists of 3 x 20-minute periods
- Intermissions are 15–18 minutes
- Overtime: 5-minute sudden death, and in playoffs, 20-minute periods until someone scores
Total duration: About 2.5 to 3 hours
🏒 Youth and High School Hockey
- Periods are often shorter (e.g., 12 or 15 minutes per period)
- Shorter intermissions and fewer stoppages
- Typically wraps up in 1.5 to 2 hours
TV Broadcast vs. In-Person Game: Any Difference in Time?
✅ In-Person Game
- Usually quicker than a televised game
- No extended commercial breaks
- Still includes regular intermissions and stoppages
📺 TV Broadcast
- Can take longer due to scheduled commercial breaks
- TV timeouts are taken during stoppages in play
- Broadcasters may extend coverage before and after the game
Expect around 3 hours of total airtime for a complete game broadcast.
Delays That Can Extend the Game
❄️ Ice Resurfacing Delays
- Sometimes ice resurfacing machines malfunction or delay the return to play.
🤕 Injuries
- Severe injuries can lead to extended stoppages and medical attention on the ice.
🛠 Equipment Issues
- Broken glass, net dislodging, or malfunctioning lights can delay gameplay.
🔁 Video Reviews and Challenges
- Coaches can challenge goals or penalties, causing several minutes of review time.
Longest Hockey Games in History
Hockey has seen some marathon matches, especially during the playoffs.
🏆 Longest NHL Game Ever
- Detroit Red Wings vs. Montreal Maroons (1936)
- 116:30 of overtime (almost 6 hours total)
🏒 Recent Epic Game
- Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (2020)
- 5 overtimes, lasting 6 hours and 13 minutes
These are rare but show how intense and extended hockey games can become.
How Hockey Compares with Other Sports (Time-wise)
| Sport | Average Duration |
|---|---|
| Hockey | 2.5–3 hours |
| Soccer | 1.5–2 hours |
| Basketball | 2–2.5 hours |
| Baseball | 3–3.5 hours |
| American Football | 3–4 hours |
Hockey falls somewhere between soccer and football in terms of real-time duration.
Do All Hockey Leagues Follow the Same Format?
No. While the basic 3-period format is widely followed, each league may have its own rules for overtime, intermissions, and shootouts.
🟢 NHL (National Hockey League)
- 3 x 20-minute periods
- 17-minute intermissions
- Overtime and shootout in regular season
- Unlimited sudden-death OTs in playoffs
🔵 IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation)
- Similar periods
- Shorter overtimes in early rounds
- Gold medal games may feature longer OTs
🟡 Junior Leagues (CHL, WHL, etc.)
- Often follow NHL structure but may adjust intermission or shootout rules
How to Plan Around a Hockey Game
Whether you’re attending in person or watching at home, plan your schedule wisely.
✅ Tips:
- Arrive 30–45 minutes before puck drop (in person)
- Factor in intermissions and possible overtime
- Expect delays if it’s a rivalry or playoff game
- For youth games, consult local league guidelines for time
FAQs – Time & Duration of Hockey Games
❓ How long is each period in hockey?
- 20 minutes of actual play time.
❓ How many periods are in a hockey game?
- 3 periods.
❓ Can a hockey game end in a tie?
- In the NHL, no. There’s either overtime or a shootout.
- In some amateur leagues, yes.
❓ How long are intermissions in hockey?
- Usually 17 minutes in the NHL.
❓ What is sudden-death overtime?
- First team to score wins the game immediately.
❓ How long is a hockey shootout?
- Varies, but usually wraps up within 5–10 minutes after overtime.
Conclusion
So, how long is a hockey game? While the official clock says 60 minutes, real-world factors make a hockey game last between 2.5 to 3 hours. With intermissions, timeouts, reviews, and potential overtimes, watching a hockey game is a full experience.
Whether you’re a new fan or a veteran of the sport, knowing the structure of the game helps you enjoy it more and plan your time better. So grab your jersey, plan ahead, and get ready for an adrenaline-packed few hours of pure ice action!
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