Discover NHL Center Ice on DirecTV

If you are a die hard hockey superfan you are probably tired of being stuck with only being able to watch a few of you favorite team’s games. Out of market scheduling, network blackouts and just living in a different area of the country than your team can all keep you from seeing that pivotal game winning shot. Now there is a solution to chronic hockey withdrawal.
If you are a DIRECTV user you can subscribe to NHL Center Ice. This premium package will bring you over 40 games from around the country every week. You will be able to see and hear every check and goal in glorious HD from the comfort of your own home. Do you want to here how the away announcers are treating the team? The package comes complete with the option for Duel Feeds. You will be able to choose how you view the game by switching between the Home and Away broadcast feeds. From the first puck drop to the final second of the Stanley Cup, you will be able to see every important play of the season. The only way to be more a part of the game is to be there.

If you subscribe to the package you will also gain access to the behind the scenes and background stories of your favorite players. Part of your viewing pleasure is sure to be because you are receiving the NHL Network for free as part of the deal. You will get all of the league news, player stats and team standings right on your TV. You will be up to the minute with the real time score updates and color commentary on everyone from your favorite team to their bitterest rivals. From center ice to the locker room, you will not miss a thing.

Ice Skating 101

Ice-skating a fun activity during that can be done indoors at an ice rink or outdoors during the winter. Ice-skating is a little scary or intimidating at first, but it is easy to master with a little patience and perseverance. It is a great form of exercise once you learn the basics. Here are a few simple tips to get you going.

Choosing Ice Skates

The first step in learning how to ice skate is choosing a pair of ice skates that fit properly. Ask the skating rink attendant to help you choose the right skates and lace them up correctly before stepping on the ice.

Practice Walking With the Skates

It takes a little bit of time to feel comfortable in ice skates. Practicing walking in the skates until you feel a good sense of balance. Practice standing up from a sitting-position. This prepares you to stand up on the ice after the inevitable tumbles that you will take as you begin iceskating. Practice falling. Make an effort not to land on your hands. This can lead to painful sprains and other injuries

Stepping Onto the Ice

Hold the side railing as you step onto the ice. Slightly bend your knees for balance. Stand still for a minute or two to become comfortable with the ice surface before you let go of the rail. Hold onto a friend if you are skating outdoors without a railing. Let go of the railing after you feel comfortable. Try marching in place to get used to moving your feet up and down. If you fall down use the picks on the tips of the skate to stand up. The picks have jagged edges that will dig into the ice and help you stand up without losing your footing.

Slowly Move Forward

As you march in place you will begin to gradually move forward. Carefully push off the ice with one foot at a time. Allow the opposite foot to glide behind you. Make small movements at fist as you move forwards. Gradually make bigger movements as you begin to feel more comfortable moving across the ice.

More Advanced Motions

Once you are comfortable moving on the ice you can begin to have more fun. Try skating backwards by reversing the movements of your feet. Push off with one foot, and allow the opposite foot to glide on the ice. Practice stopping. This is an essential skill to master. A T-stop is the easiest way to slow down and stop your motion. Turn one of the skates to a 45-degree angle. Drag the blade along the ice behind you. This causes friction on the ice allowing you to come to a full stop.

Ice Hockey Rules Cheat Sheet

In order to properly place ice hockey, you need to know the rules and what makes up a game. A National Hockey League rink is 200 feet in length and 85 feet in width. A rink in the international competition is 15 feet longer. The ice hockey rink is divided down the center with a red line. There are also two blue lines, one on either side of the red line. There are five face off circles, two on either side of the hockey rink and one in the very middle of the rink. There are four face off spots, two on either side of the red line and finally, there are two goals with two creases. The goals are where the hockey puck must enter to score a goal and the creases are where the goalie stands on either side of the rink.

How To Shoot & Pass The Puck
We all know that scoring the goals is what wins the hockey game so a player must do this. Shoot and pass the puck very quickly and precisely to help your other teammates. These basic guidelines will help:

  • The younger a player is, the shorter their pass comes out to be
  • When you receive the puck, cradle it closely with your stick
  • Remember never to pass directly to a player. Pass to where they are going. Also, try to pass directly to where the blade of their hockey stick will be.
  • Never pass over two lines. This is strictly against the rules and the official of the game will blow their whistle to call a face off
  • Try to keep the puck on the ice unless you must elevate it to pass to a teammate. In this case, try to make the puck land flat on the ice

Penalties
If an ice hockey player gets a penalty, they will have to spend time in the penalty box. There are major, minor and misconduct types of penalties. The more harsh your penalty is, the more harsh your punishment will be and the longer time you will be inside the penalty box.

  • Butt Ending
  • Checking From Behind
  • Cross Checking
  • Elbowing
  • Fighting
  • Hooking
  • Interference
  • Kneeing
  • Roughing
  • Slashing
  • Spearing
  • Tripping