Hockey is one of the most fast-paced and thrilling sports in the world, captivating fans with its intense physical play, lightning-fast action, and strategic depth. Whether you’re watching a professional NHL game or a local amateur match, you might wonder: how long does a hockey game actually take from start to finish? While the answer might seem simple—three periods of twenty minutes—it turns out that several factors influence the total duration of a hockey game. Let’s break down the different elements that determine how long is a hockey game lasts.
Regulation Time: The Foundation of Every Game
At its core, a standard how long is a hockey game is divided into three periods, each lasting 20 minutes of actual playing time. These are known as regulation periods. Between each period, there is an intermission, usually lasting around 15 to 18 minutes in professional leagues like the NHL. Therefore, the regulation play alone accounts for 60 minutes, and when you include the intermissions, that brings the game time to approximately 90 minutes. However, this doesn’t account for the many stoppages that occur during play—such as icing, offside calls, penalties, and timeouts—which extend the total elapsed time.
Stoppages and Commercial Breaks: The Hidden Time Additions
While the clock may run for 60 minutes of gameplay, the actual duration you’ll spend watching a hockey game is typically longer—closer to two and a half hours. This is primarily due to stoppages in play and commercial breaks. In professional leagues, especially those broadcast on television, scheduled TV timeouts are taken during each period, typically after the first whistle following the 14-, 10-, and 6-minute marks. These commercial breaks usually last about two minutes each. Additionally, there are frequent stoppages due to penalties, injuries, faceoffs, or puck-outs, and while the clock stops during these breaks, the audience’s experience lengthens as a result.
Overtime and Shootouts: When the Game Doesn’t End in Regulation
If a hockey game is tied at the end of regulation time, it often goes into overtime. The structure of overtime varies depending on the league. In the NHL regular season, overtime consists of a five-minute, sudden-death period played with three skaters per team. If no one scores, the game proceeds to a shootout, which can add another 5–10 minutes. However, in the NHL playoffs, games go into 20-minute sudden-death overtime periods until a goal is scored—meaning games can sometimes last over four or even five hours during multiple overtime rounds. This element of unpredictability adds excitement but also contributes to the uncertainty around a game’s total length.
Differences in League Formats and Levels of Play
Not all hockey games are governed by the same rules as the NHL. For instance, youth, high school, and recreational leagues often have shorter periods or fewer stoppages. Some amateur games might consist of three 15-minute periods with only one intermission. On the other hand, international tournaments may adopt their own timing formats or overtime rules. Understanding which league or level of play you’re watching is crucial to predicting the length of a game. Additionally, some college hockey games use different rules for overtime and shootouts, further altering game duration.
Total Time Commitment for Fans and Viewers
When attending a hockey game in person or watching it at home, you should expect to spend about 2.5 to 3 hours from start to finish. This includes the pre-game introductions, the actual 60 minutes of play, intermissions, stoppages, and any potential overtime or shootout sequences. For fans, this means that planning around a hockey game—whether attending it live or watching from the comfort of your home—involves more than just blocking out one hour of time. If it’s a high-stakes playoff game or a rivalry match, the length may increase further due to extended gameplay and ceremonial additions.
