Line (ice hockey)

A line in ice hockey is term used to describe a group of players that play in a group, or shift, during a game.Due to fast and intense pace of higher levels ice hockey, players play are replaced often during each game by team members, usually in groups that have experience playing in tandem, called linemates. Linemates may change throughout the game at the coach's discretion.

A forward line consists of a left wing, centreman, and a right wing. A pair of defencemen who play together are called a blue line pair. There are typically four lines forwards, 12 individuals total, and three lines of defenceman, six individuals total, that are used during the game.

The first line is usually composed of the best offensive players on the team. Teams heavily rely on this line, which generates the bulk of the team's scoring. These players often see the highest number of minutes among forwards in a game.

The second line is generally composed of second-tier offensive players, and helps by adding supplementary offense to that generated by the first line. Higher end (typically first line) players may be put on the second line to spread scoring across the line up, making a team more difficult for opponents to defend against.

The third line is often called the Checking line, and generally made up of more defensively oriented forwards. This line is often played against opponent's first or second lines in an effort to reduce their scoring, and physically wear them down. The third line adds less offense than the first or second lines, but generally more than the fourth.

The fourth line is often called the "energy line" on an ice hockey team, both because they give other players a chance to rest, and because they are typically very physically oriented, and give their team an emotional boost through their physical play, making them more energized. It is usually composed of gritty, journeymen players with extremely limited scoring potential, but strong physical play and, as often as possible, strong skating abilities. They receive the least ice time out of all four lines on a team.

ee also

* List of ice hockey linemates
* Goal line (ice hockey)
* Hockey rink
* Forward (ice hockey)