8. Fast Pace
Cheating with skates, it only takes a blink of an eye for the players to go end to end. In a rink surrounded by boards and glass panels, the puck can hardly go out of bound. Thus one play often proceeds for minutes without interruption.

7. Line Change
There are normally 4 offense lines and 3 defense pairs in the rotation. In order to keep fresh legs on the ice, a shift of offense line usually lasts no more than 1 minute, while the defense pair changes less frequently. Most of the time the line change occurs during the play, so the timing could be really tricky. You don't want to get caught in a short-handed situation by the opposing team, but neither do you want to receive a stupid too-many-men-on-the-ice penalty.

6. Stickhandling
The stickhandling is pure art! Just check these two videos (Wheeler and Ovechkin). Enough said.

5. Penalty Box
Penalty box is a much more efficient and effective punishment than yellow card IMHO. There are 3 kinds of penalties: minor (2-min), double minor (4-min) and major (5-min), all effective right after the referee blows the whistle. With a player serving in the penalty box, the opposing team has an advantage in the number of players on the ice, which brings up...

4. Power Play
That's the beauty of hockey. Either 5-on-4 or 5-on-3 is called power play. A power-play goal is surely exciting, a short-handed goal (when the team serving the penalty scores), however, could blow you away. If both teams get penalties during a short span of time, it's almost amusing to see how the momentum shifts from 5-on-5, to 5-on-4, to 4-on-4, to 4-on-5, then back to 5-on-5.

3. Fighting.
You could drop the gloves for retaliation, intimidation, momentum-building, protecting teammates, or just for the sack of fighting, of course, under certain rules. It would guarantee you a 5-min major penalty though (hence the phrase 'five for fighting'). Once understanding the rules, I've considered fighting is one of more important parts of the game.

2. Team Chemistry.
It's always about chemistry. They officially, ridiculously worship it. There are always the raves about camaraderie in the locker room, click with linemates, and all cliches possible. They even have team bonding outings like frat boys before and during the season.

1. Hockey Boys (what else do you expect me to say?)
They are well built, tough, smart and everything. To me, these never get old...



ps: This video is sooo funny! One of the funniest moments in sports. Chances are you've seen this video somewhere already.