Mini hockey

Mini hockey (aka. mini sticks, sock hockey, knee hockey, hall hockey, shinny hockey, hand hockey, cyber hockey) is an indoor sport which is similar to ice or roller hockey. In mini hockey, two players attempt to put a soft, foam ball or puck into their opponent's goal using either their hands or specially designed mini hockey sticks for play in indoor spaces. The sport is played in many countries, although some official leagues are located in one city.

Knee hockey or mini hockey is played on a soft, indoor surface (usually a rug, although specially designed mini hockey mats are available). Two goals are set up at opposite ends of the "rink" and the players use either their hands or their sticks to put the ball/puck in the other goal. Most games are played with two players going head to head, playing both goaltender and offense. However, some games are played on larger surfaces with teams of two or even more players.

Rules

In most league play, three periods are played with the clock being stopped after goals, penalties, timeouts and when someone gets hurt. There is a short intermission between periods and an overtime is usually played if the score is tied after regulation. In some cases, the game will proceed to a shootout if the game cannot be ended in one overtime period. Instead of a hat trick, when 3 goals are scored it is a chicken sock. It is this because the inventors would play with a broken rubber chicken heads instead of sticks and they wore colored socks to represent their team.

For unofficial mini hockey in homes across North America, games are played with only few rules. Depending on the competitors, there may even be body contact allowed. It is common for games to have no time limit, but a score limit. Most often games of mini hockey are played up to 5 or 10 goals.

Equipment

The mini hockey "rink" is generally a living room, basement or hallway floor, since these areas are easily accessed and transformed into playing surfaces. There are usually no set dimensions for a rink other than it allowing for adequate movement for both players/teams.

The mini hockey stick is made of plastic or wood and very light.

The ball can be any light, round object, or a foam puck.

League play

There are many various neighborhood and community leagues for mini hockey, each with varying rule and team structures. The Official Governing body for the sport in America is the United States Mini Hockey Commission based out of Chicago.^[1] Even though there is a governing body, league play can still vary from league to league.

• The National Mini Hockey Association (NMHA) is a mini hockey league throughout the country competing for the Dr.Pepper Cup, there are 32 teams in the league, 16 in the Eastern and Western Conference, their official YouTube page is " NMHATV ", and also have a Official Facebook Page. The NMHA is coming off a lockout season and was scheduled to resume play June 10th, 2011, with the Nashville Natives @ Denver Dragons. The defending Dr. Pepper Cup Champions (back to back) are the Baltimore Battalion. On December 20, 2010 Battalion All-Star and 9 time Dr. Pepper Cup Champion Jeremy Goetz Announced that he would not resign with the team, and on January 9, 2011 he signed a 1 year deal with the Nashville Natives, which was voided due too the unexpected lockout, but then un-voided when it was announced that play would resume June 8 (Later changed to June 10).

On June 10, 2011 the National Mini Hockey Association held their Opening Day Game in Denver, Colorado. The hometown Denver Dragons fell in overtime 5-4 to the Nashville Natives. In another Opening Day Game held in Rochester, New York, the Pierre Wolf-Pack would defeat the home Rochester Rush 10-7. In the final Opening Day Game played in Juneau, Alaska the Juneau Sabres would edge the Philadelphia Phantoms 9-8. Standings and video highlights can be found on the league's official YouTube page.

The National Mini Hockey Association had a lockout season and play was scheduled to resume on June 8, 2011. The current teams in the National Mini Hockey Association are the following:

Eastern Conference:

Northeast Division:

Bangor Bobcats, Philadelphia Phantoms, Grand Rapids Greyhounds, Pittsburgh Walruses, Rochester Rush, Baltimore Battalion, Norfolk Nobles, Hartford Hawkeyes, Boston Banana-Jacks

South Division:

Raleigh Rangers, Alabama Eagles, Nashville Natives, Memphis Thunder, New Orleans Attack, Atlanta Firehawks, Tampa Bay Bullets, Key West Storm

Western Conference

Midwest Division:

Bismark Donuts, Pierre Wolfpack, St.Louis Sting, Denver Dragons, Casper Kings, Houston Heat, El Paso Passion, Tulsa Tigers

Pacific Division:

Seattle Seawolves, Spokane Spirit, Juneau Sabres, Los Angeles Lightning, Las Vegas Stealth, Sacramento Flames, Salt Lake City Spitfires, Oregon Otters

References

1. ^ USNMHL