Hockey - What Are the Positions?

In the game of ice hockey there are four basic positions: center, winger, defenseman, and goalie. There is generally one center, two wingers, two defenseman, and one goalie on the ice for each team at any given time. Each position is meant to be played by an individual with a certain set of skills. With a great deal of practice players can develop skills to better specialize to play only one specific position.

The center is considered the main puck distributor on the team. It is the role of the center to take face-offs and control the middle of the ice. During play, the center's job is very similar to a point guard in basketball or a setter in volleyball. He or she has the responsibility of gaining control of the puck and passing it to the wingers, who are ideally the team's primary goal scorers. The team's best passers are usually centers.

Wingers are primarily responsible for putting the puck into the net. They are generally the smallest and fastest players on the team. Ideally, wingers should be able to take passes from the center or defensemen and carry the puck to the opposing net. When their team does not have the puck it is the wingers' job to stay at the blue-line and cover the opposing team's defensemen. The wingers should be the first skaters to start an offensive rush.

Wingers generally prefer to play either the left or right side of the ice. While it is not necessary that wingers keep to their designated side, having a designated "left wing" and "right wing" will lead to more organized play on the ice. Most wingers tend to play on only one side of the ice based on personal preference.

Defenseman also play on either the left or right side of the ice. It is their job to be the last wave of players to defend against oncoming rushes. The primary job of a defenseman is to prevent the opposing team from scoring by protecting their own net. Defensemen are generally the biggest and strongest players on the team, and are adept at skating backwards. Defensemen generally do not score as much as wingers and centers, but do contribute by tallying assists.

Finally, the goalie must obviously defend the net. When all else fails, the goalie is the last line of defense. The goalie in hockey is often considered to be the most important position in all of sports, along with the quarterback in American football. A good goalie can make even a bad team competitive.

If you are considering trying your hand (or skates) at the game of hockey consider your strengths and weaknesses. Are you a fast skater with a good shot? Are you an accurate passer? Are you big and strong with a physical edge? If you can identify with one of these descriptions then maybe your ideal position is easier to determine than you think.