Ice hockey is considered a complex sport with a number of player positions and roles. While each player holds a specific position on the ice, they also adopt a particular role that contributes to the team’s success. It’s a common misconception to say positions and roles are the same, but they are not.
Here are the highlights of this article:
- The 6 Ice hockey Positions
- 12 Hockey Player Roles
- Goalie Styles
- Behind the Scenes of a Hockey Team
I will explain each ice hockey position in detail and also list out all the hockey roles a player can have on a hockey team.
Ice Hockey Positions Explained
The positions played are goaltender, left defenceman, right defenceman, left winger, center, and right winger. This makes for five skaters (three forwards and two defenders) and a goalie. We’ll look into different types of roles further in the article.
1. Center
The center is a forward who plays in between his linemates, the two wingers. The center is responsible for taking faceoffs as well as setting up teammates for scoring chancing and scoring themselves. They need to have good overall skills, skating ability and vision and are typically excellent passers and possess fine stickhandling skills in the tight areas of the ice.
Defensively, a center has a lot responsibility and ice to cover as they need to back check the slot area in front of the net to the blue line and to each faceoff dot. The center is usually the best defensive forward on the line and is considered a jack of all trades on the ice.
2. Left Winger
A left winger lines up on the left side of the centre and generally plays most of the game patrolling the left side of the ice. However some coaching strategies and tactics allow the two wingers to interchange with each other and criss-cross the ice to the opposite side when necessary.
The job of the winger is to dig the puck out from the side boards, corners and behind the net and feed it to teammates in the slot. They also need to possess a hard and accurate shot, be strong on the puck and be good puck carriers.
Defensively, the winger is responsible for covering the opposing team’s right defenceman, intercepting passes and blocking shots etc. When a teammate picks up the puck in the defensive zone the winger must then be prepared to receive a breakout pass when transitioning from defence to offence.
3. Right Winger
The right winger’s job is similar to the left winger’s but on the right side of the ice. This means he lines up to the right of the centre and when in the defensive zone the job is to cover the opponent’s left defenceman.
4. Left Defenceman
The main job of the left defenceman is to prevent the opposition from scoring from his side of the ice and in front of the net. This means he needs to be adept at body checking, stick checking, blocking shots, intercepting passes and patrolling the left side of the ice in all three of the zones.
The defender also must be an excellent backwards skater and be able to clear the defending zone quickly by delivering an accurate breakout pass to a teammate or carrying the puck out of the defending zone.
Offensively, the defenceman needs to keep the puck in at the blue line, feed open teammates and have a hard, accurate shot from the point position. The left defenceman more or less plays behind his own left winger.
5. Right Defenceman
The right defenceman has the same defensive and offensive responsibilities as his partner on the left side of the ice, but will cover the right side of the ice and typically play behind the right winger. The job also includes clearing pucks and players away from the crease area.
6. Goalie/Goaltender
The goaltender is the team’s last line of defence and his main job is to stop the puck from entering the net by any way possible. A goalie also needs to direct traffic for the defencemen and let them know whether they have time or not to make a specific play.
The goaltender can also help the team by acting as a third defencemen. To do this, they need to be a good stickhandler, interceptor of passes and have the vision to feed their teammates with accurate breakout passes.
Ice Hockey Roles Explained
Although each team has specific positional players, their roles on the team may differ. For example, each left winger or defender may have a slightly different role to play within the confines of the team even though they play the same position.
The role each player assumes will typically depend on the specific set of skills they possess. One centre’s duties may be as a power-play specialist while another centre may be an excellent penalty killer or checking specialist. Roles and positions are tied together as the better you can play your position, the more likely you are to excel at your role.
Some of the most common roles on a hockey team include:
1. Power Forward
A power forward is typically a strong-skating player who crashes to the net with and without the puck. These are typically big physical wingers who possess plenty of strength and skill. They’re also adept at battling opponents along the boards as well as in front of and behind the net and own pretty good scoring skills.
Some of the NHL’s top power forwards include Alexander Ovechkin, Jamie Benn, Aleksander Barkov, Josh Anderson, Tom Wilson, Brady Tkachuk, Matthew Tkachuk, and Chris Kreider.
2. Playmaker
A playmaker is a player who has the knack of setting up their teammates in open ice for excellent scoring opportunities and racks up the majority of their scoring points with assists.
A playmaker may be a capable scorer himself but prefers to set up others due to their superior on-ice vision and intelligence. Naturally, a playmaker needs to be an excellent passer as they’re usually thinking pass first when they have the puck.
Some of the best playmakers in the NHL are Mitch Marner, Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Nikita Kucherov, and Nathan MacKinnon. They also include defencemen such as Erik Karlsson and Quinn Hughes.
3. Two-Way Forward
A two-way forward is known as a 200-foot player as he’s effective in all three zones of the rink. They’re typically just as good defensively as they are offensively and are relied upon to chip in with goals and assists as well as to excel at their checking and defensive duties.
Some of the best two-way forwards in the NHL include Anze Kopitar. Brad Marchand, Mark Stone, and Elias Petterson.
4. Goal Scorer/Sniper
A team’s goal scorer/sniper is a star player who is depended on to lead the squad in goals. The sniper usually comes through in the clutch and often notches a goal when the team really needs one and usually scores on a high percentage of their shots.
Some of the best snipers in the NHL include Auston Matthews, Alexander Ovechkin, Connor McDavid, Mikko Rantanen, and Jack Hughes.
5. Defensive Forward
A defensive forward concentrates on his defensive duties and shutting down the other team’s big line rather than concerning himself with offence. However, there are many elite defensive forwards who can also rack up the points and these players usually find themselves nominated for the Frank J. Selke Award as the NHL’s top defensive forward.
Some of the league’s most effective defensive forwards include Aleksander Barkov, Ryan O’ Reilly, Sean Couturier, and Jamie Benn.
6. Offensive Defenceman
An offensive defencemen jumps into the play and contributes to the team’s attack by chipping in with a fair share of points. They possess excellent shots, stickhandling and passing skills and are adept at finding the open ice.
Bobby Orr is widely regarded as having revolutionized the game with his offensive talent in the 1960’s and 70’s and some of the top offensive defenders these days include Cale Makar, Erik Karlsson, Quinn Hughes, Roman Josi, and Josh Morrissey.
7. Stay-at-home Defenceman
A good stay-at-home defenceman concentrates more on the defensive side of the game than the offensive side. Their main job is to prevent goals and shut down the opposition’s top scorers. Some stay-at-home defenders also have good offensive skills, but they’re depended on to make the safe play first.
Some of the top stay-at-home defenders in the NHL include Jonas Brodin, Ryan McDonagh, Chris Tanev, and Adam Pelech.
8. Enforcer, Grinder, or Agitator
Many team’s don’t bother dressing enforcers these days and they are also known as the team’s policeman. They would hold their opponent’s accountable when it came to roughing up their star teammates and would often let their fists do their talking. Ryan Reaves is one of the last of this dying breed.
However, agitators and grinders don’t need to fight to get on their opponent’s nerves as they play a physical style of game which borders on the dirty, but they try not to cross that line.
A good agitator such as Brad Marchand and Matthew Tkachuk can often be seen chirping the opposition in an attempt to get under their skin and throw them off their game. A grinder is a player who may have somewhat limited skills but gives their all every shift in all areas of the ice and hopes to create a disturbance or make something happen with their physical play.
Some of the top grinders today are Matt Martin, Cal Clutterbuck, and Corey Perry.
See the 10 Most Feared Enforcers in the NHL for the 2023-24 Season here.
9. Penalty Killer
A penalty killer’s job is to play while his team is shorthanded and to prevent the opposition from scoring. Good penalty killers will also be able to take advantage of offensive opportunities that arise while playing shorthanded. They generally have good on-ice vision and can anticipate plays.
Some of the best penalty killers in the NHL include Mitch Marner, Elias Pettersson, J.T. Miller, and Bo Horvat.
10. Power Play Specialist
Leading the way with goals and/or assists when their team has the man advantage is the requirement of a power-play specialist. They know how to move the puck around, screen the goalie, head to the slot and when to take a shot while playing with the extra man.
Some of the best in the league at the moment include Alexander Ovechkin, Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid, and Brayden Point.
11. Faceoff Specialist
Winning the draw is an important part of a team’s overall offence and defence as it gives the team possession of the puck in all areas of the ice. These players, who win well over 50 per cent of their faceoffs and are relied upon to take all of the big draws, currently include John Tavares, Claude Giroux, Bo Horvat, and Elias Lindholm.
12. Team Leaders
Each player on a hockey team plays a specific position and will have a role on the squad. However some players may be deemed more valuable than others as they can handle multiple roles and/or positions and excel at them.
Depending on the game situation, a team leader may see his role change as the game goes on, perhaps from a power-play specialist to a grinder or from an offensive defenceman to a stay-at-home defender when trying to protect a lead late in the game.
Leaders are also typically vocal in the dressing room as they attempt to motivate their teammates.
Do Goaltenders Have Roles?
You won’t find many goaltenders playing the role of enforcer or agitator, but it can happen, with Jordan Binnington sometimes taking matters into his own hands during games.
The main role of the goalie is to stop the puck, and you’ll find that goalies employ different styles to get the job done. These include the butterfly, hybrid, and stand-up style, which dictates how they position themselves and react to shots.
Let me explain each for you:
Butterfly
The butterfly style means the goaltender protects the lower part of his goal by dropping to his knees when facing the majority of shots. The style is named the butterfly as the goalie’s pads and hands spread out and resemble butterfly wings.
One problem with this style of netminding is that the upper area of the net is often left unguarded as the goalie drops to his knees.
Stand-Up
The stand-up style of goaltending simply means the netminder prefers to stay on their feet to cut down the shooter’s angle and to cover the top half of the net while making saves. This style will often leave gaps in the bottom of the net though.
Hybrid
The hybrid style is a combination of the butterfly and stand-up techniques which makes the goaltender’s move unpredictable to the shooter as it becomes a guessing game. It requires a great deal of athleticism and quick reflexes.
Who Else is Part of a Hockey Team?
While most fans focus on a hockey team’s on-ice talent, there are a lot of people behind the scenes who help the organization run as smoothly as possible. There’s wide support system for each club and these individuals often don’t get the recognition they deserve.
Here are some key roles beyond the players:
Coaching Staff
Head Coach
The head coach is in charge of the coaching staff and typically deals with the media and handles the line matchups, changes and strategies during the course of a game.
Assistant Coaches
The assistant coaches help the head coach in any manner requested of them. They stand behind the bench with the head coach during games, give him their tactical input and often run team practices.
Each team has several assistants with each coach usually focusing on a specific area of the game such as the power-play, penalty killing or the team’s defence etc.
Medical and Training Staff
Athletic Trainers
The athletic trainers have numerous responsibilities such as taking care of warm-up techniques, injury prevention, first aid, treating on-ice injuries, promoting a healthy lifestyle and sharing information and strategies with team doctors.
Team Doctors
The team doctors and dentists take care of major injuries when it comes to diagnosing and treating them. The head physician is responsible for medical decisions concerning the health and wellness of the players and works closely with other team medical professionals such as the athletic trainers.
Team Physical and Massage Therapists
The team’s therapists help treat players and rehabilitate from injury and will also help them properly prepare for a game and recover after a game. Their services may also be required during the action.
Nutritionist
A team’s nutritionist lays out a plan which helps players live a healthy lifestyle. This typically includes suggesting which foods to eat and which ones to stay away from by suggesting specific dietary needs for the individual.-
Equipment Staff:
Equipment Managers
The equipment managers look after all of the players’ gear. They prepare it before games and practices, launder and pack it away after games and make sure it’s ready to be shipped and unloaded during road trips.
They make sure each player has the sticks and protective equipment needed at all times.
Equipment Assistants
The equipment assistants help out the equipment manager as required.
Front Office and Support Staff:
Team Owner
Many teams are owned by corporations these days but there are still some individuals who own NHL franchises. These people are ultimately in control of the club and often hire qualified people to run it for them.
General Manager (The GM)
The GM is responsible for putting the on-ice talent together, usually by drafting players, signing free agents and making trades. They also negotiate contracts with players and designate them for assignment, such as releasing them or placing them on waivers.
Assistant GM
The team’s assistant GM helps the general manager by assuming some of his daily duties. Many assistant GM’s are now given the responsibility of taking care of player contracts when they come up for re-negotiation.
Team Scouts
Each NHL club has a team of scouts which consists of amateur and pro scouts. The pro scouts study the play and tactics of upcoming opponents to help the squad properly prepare for them.
They may also scout a specific player or players if the team has an interest in acquiring them and often check out other pro leagues around the world for potential free-agent signings. Amateur scouts travel across North America and other areas of the world to scout players the club may be interested in acquiring at the annual NHL Amateur Draft.
Public and Media Relations
The job of the public and media relations team is to deal with the press and media. They schedule interviews, write press releases and coordinate players’ public appearances in the community etc.
They handle the game-day media relations such as preparing pre and post-game reports, charts, statistics and game notes. They also handle media credential requests.
Administration Staff
The administration staff of a hockey club typically includes occupations such as secretaries, assistants, director of team services, director of hockey administration, director of hockey analytics, video replay administration and statistical and data analysts.
Ice Hockey Positions FAQs
How Many Players are on the Ice at a Time?
When a team is at full strength it consists of six players. These are the goaltender, two defencemen, two wingers and a center. In regular-season overtime, the number of players is four; a goaltender and three skaters.
Even when shorthanded, a team can never play with fewer than three skaters and a netminder. Please note that a netminder may be pulled during a game in favour of an extra skater.
Can One Player Play Multiple Positions?
Some players are adept at playing different positions on the ice at different times. This is usually a forward being able to play either wing and/or the center position. On rare occasions, a forward may be moved back to play defence or vice versa.
Which Hockey Positions Are Known to Score the Most Goals?
In general, the most goals are scored by forwards and the wingers are usually responsible for the bulk of them. This is just a generalization however as it depends on each team and the individual players. Offensive-minded defencemen can sometimes lead their clubs in scoring and on rare instances a goaltender will chip in with an empty-net marker.
Are NHL Hockey Positions the Same as Any Other Hockey League?
All competitive hockey leagues line up the same way, with a goalie, two defenders and three forwards.
What Hockey Position Should You Choose to Play?
There are several factors you should consider when determining which on-ice position you should play. It comes down to what your strengths and weaknesses are and which position you really prefer to play.
- Big players may be better suited to play defense because of their reach, but of course, this may not be the position for you if you’re a weak backwards skater. I was a defenceman, but I am 5 foot 10, so my style was more of an offensive defencemen player. I prefer to see all the ice in front of me, choosing to skate when the ice looks open.
- Small, quick players with elite stickhandling skills typically play center while physical players with good shots often end up on one of the wings.
- Those who like to be in the heat of the action all night long and like the idea of being the last line of defense should consider becoming a goaltender.
Whatever position you choose to play, it’s important to research the requirements and practice all of your skills to master it the best you can.
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.
