Many fans may be under the impression that hockey pucks are only changed during NHL games when one of the disks is shot into the stands. However, there are other occasions when a referee may decide to switch pucks.
In an NHL game, there are dozens of frozen pucks available, each hockey game is different and one game may require 5 pucks while another may need 25. There’s no exact amount of pucks per game, pucks are replaced when shot out of play, damaged, or when referees introduce a new frozen puck. Additionally, players may keep milestone pucks.
Why Do Referees Switch Out Pucks During a Game?
During a hockey game, a referee will have to grab a new puck when the one in use ends up in the stands. In addition, the pucks are typically changed when they have been in use for several minutes and begin to warm up. A referee will also change a puck if it has a nick or chip in it or some other type of imperfection due to excessive use.
What Causes an NHL Puck to no Longer Be Used?
Once hockey puck begins to thaw out it is replaced and if the puck has any nicks, chips and/or abrasions in it then a referee will change it for a new puck.
Where Do They Keep the Extra Pucks During the Game?
A bucket or freezer of a few dozen frozen pucks is kept in the penalty box and scorekeeper’s area during a game. A referee will simply skate over during a timeout and ask an off-ice official for a new puck where he or she feels it’s time for a change. The pucks are kept at a temperature from 14 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 to -6 Celsius) before being used.
How Many Pucks Do They Have on Standby?
Most NHL rinks have approximately two to three dozen frozen pucks on standby in the penalty box area at all times. These pucks are typically replaced at the start of each period with a new batch of frozen disks which have been stored in a freezer to help solidify them.
What Happens When a Puck is Lost Over the Glass?
When a puck ends up over the glass during a hockey game it’s usually kept by the fan who catches or finds it and is no longer used even if the fan tosses it back onto the ice.
The NHL introduced mandatory netting around the end zones and corners of the rinks at the beginning of the 2002/03 season for the safety of the fans. Since then, the number of pucks that end up in the stands have been greatly reduced.
In 2005/06 the league also introduced a new rule which penalizes a player who shoots the puck over the glass and out of play when in their defensive zone. These delay-of-game-penalties have also resulted in fewer pucks ending up in the stands.
You can watch Mitch Marner shoot the puck over the glass during the playoffs to receive a minor delay of game penalty below.
Do Pucks Thaw Out and Can No Longer Can Be Used?
Hockey pucks are made of vulcanized rubber and are frozen before they’re used to make them glide across the ice faster and smoother and make them easier to control.
Once they begin to warm up and thaw out they become more difficult to control as they begin to stick, roll and bounce more on the ice. Therefore, referees usually ask for a new frozen puck every two or three minutes during a break in the action as well as at all TV commercial timeouts.
How Many Pucks are Used During an NHL Warmup?
Most NHL teams take 50 pucks on the ice with them during a warmup prior to a game. However, many of these are given to fans as souvenirs after the warmup and a few of them may also end up over the glass surrounding the rink.
How Many Pucks are Used During an NHL Practice?
The number of pucks used by an NHL team during a practice session will vary. It all depends on what drills the coaching staff will put their players through. In some instances, the players may practice without any pucks at all if they’re just working on skating drills.
However, with approximately 20 players taking part in most practice sessions, a team will take about 50 pucks onto the ice with them, much like they do for an NHL warmup.
If there are no pucks on the ice its likely a bag skate, these can be tiring… A bag skate typically happens after losing a game or after a break to get back in shape. Essentially your coach just lines you up and you skate back and fourth the ice without pucks. They are not fun!
Final Thoughts
Since the sport of hockey features a puck rather than a ball and is played on ice, it’s important that each puck be in the best shape possible for the integrity of the game. This means the pucks need to be frozen and in perfect shape.
This is also why the NHL has hundreds of pucks on hand for each game and let’s not forget that fans keep the pucks as souvenirs if they end up in the stands. It took many years of research and trial and error to perfect the size and weight of a hockey puck unlike sticks and protective gear it’s one piece of equipment which is unlikely to undergo any changes in the near future.
Don’t forget to read our related hockey puck articles:
- Can You Lay on the Puck in Hockey?
- Can You Grab the Puck in Hockey?
- How Much Does a Hockey Puck Weigh?
- How Much Does a Hockey Puck Cost?
- What Are Hockey Pucks Made Of?
Jamie is the founder of Hockey Response and he is the chief writer/ lead editor. Jamie has been playing hockey for over 20 years. He was the defenseman of the year in NL and has played Jr A level hockey. Jamie has coached several kids hockey camps and he was the assistant coach of the Western Kings.