Ice hockey is one of only a handful of sports (gridiron football and basketball being the two most prominent others) that allows for unlimited free substitution and uses a system of multiple sets of players for different situations.

eleven players

six players

There is a total of 18 skaters for a game and 2 goalies. With 5 players and 1 goalie on the ice at a time, that leaves for 13 skaters, 1 goalie, and the coaching staff to be in the bench area.

Competition procedure. A regular game consists of three 20-minute periods, with a 15-minute intermission after the first and second periods. Teams change ends for each period. If a tie occurs in a medal-round game, a five-minute sudden-victory overtime period is played.

NHL teams have a 17-minute break between periods for televised games, which equates to about 15 minutes of actual downtime once they get on and off the ice. Most players use that time to take their jerseys off, towel off a bit and use the restroom.

“You don’t even know what to do: Guys are eating pizza in between periods,” said Tenute. “You’re just kind of doing what you’ve got to do to get through the game. The trainers are coming around and passing out fruit and bread and peanut butter and jam. “Their parents had to take them home to bed,” said Tenute.

About The Plan Players earn one quarter of a year’s benefits for every 20 credited games, and they are vested in their benefits as soon as they earn them. A player who has earned 10 full years of benefits will have earned the maximum benefit payable by law. 4 The maximum benefit is $210,000 for 2014 and 2015.

After ten years of service time, players earn their full pension, which guarantees players a minimum of $63,000 a year and up to $220,000 if they wait until turning 62 to start collecting.

The change from four years of credited seasons to three to become vested for a pension provides a $19,800 annual pension for life for former players with three years of NFL service but not four.