You’re probably reading this post for one of two reasons…
Either you already have a decent understanding on the game of ice hockey, but you’d like to better grasp each position.
OR
You’re newer to the sport and want to know the various ice hockey positions for players in more detail.
Regardless of which it is, this article will be super helpful for you.
Along with breaking down each position, we’ll also highlight a few notable players in history that have played each hockey position as we move through the article (ex: Wayne Gretzky- center)
Let’s get into it.
Table of contents:
- Hockey Positions Explained
- Center
- Right Wing
- Left Wing
- Right Defenseman
- Left Defenseman
- Goaltender
- Conclusion
Hockey Positions Explained
In short, hockey positions are pretty easy to grasp once you understand the basics.
There’s no reason to fret.
There are six positions in hockey: center, right wing, left wing, left defenseman, right defenseman, and lastly, the goaltender.
Each team has 5 players + 1 goalie on the ice.
With both teams on the ice, that gives you 10 players + 2 goalies total (pictured below)...
As you move up each level from youth minor hockey to juniors/college and eventually to the pros in N America or hockey leagues in Europe, you’ll encounter a bit more nuance based on each position.
In general though, each position has a specific role to play on the ice.
Understanding how each position works together on the ice is helpful, therefore, we’ll cover that within each section below.
Center
In ice hockey, the center is often considered the most important offensive position on the ice.
Centers play a pivotal role in controlling the pace of the game through puck possession (winning faceoffs, setting up plays) and working hard in the offensive/defensive zones as well as the neutral zone. It’s expected for centers to do a ton of skating throughout a game and to support their wingers and defenseman as needed.
They carry a lot of the load.
Notable Hockey Centers:
Wayne Gretzky aka “The Great One” is considered by many to be the greatest hockey player of all time. Gretzky was a world class playmaker, held an incredibly high hockey IQ, and elevated every player who was able to play alongside him.
Mario Lemieux aka “Super Mario/Le Magnifique” possessed an incredible combination of size/skill. During his Hall of Fame career, he won multiple Stanley Cups and sits near the top of all-time points in NHL History to this day.
Right Wing
Based on statistical data, right wingers on a team are often one of the team's highest point producers (closely followed by left wing).
In the offensive zone, they’re responsible for finishing plays and generating offensive opportunities. Right wingers generally have a solid shot and play well along the boards and in the corners. Defensively, they play a big role on the backcheck in preventing opposing players from joining the rush up ice.
Notable Right Wingers:
Gordie Howe - Howe was one of the most well rounded forwards to ever play the game. Not only was he tough to play against, but he possessed a world-class scoring touch and a physical presence to his game.
Jaromir Jagr - A Swiss army knife of a forward with incredible size and skill, Jagr was a prolific scorer at the NHL level and always seemed to create scoring opportunities in any situation. For over the past decade, Jagr has been the majority owner of Kladno (in the top Czech Extraliga) and has continued playing at an elite level at various times.
Left Wing
Left wings play a very similar role to right wingers, but on the other side of the ice.
As you move up in levels, there’s more nuance based on a team's particular systems/etc. They generally have a quality shot, work hard in the corners/half wall, and create ample scoring chances for their team. On the defensive side of play, left wingers also need to get back hard on backchecks to support their linemates and make it hard for the opposing team to create chances.
Notable Left Wingers:
Steve Yzerman aka Stevie Y was known for his leadership ability and clutch performances during the big moments. Yzerman was a skilled winger with a rocket of a shot and quality defensive ability..
Alexander Ovechkin - Ovechkin has already established himself as one of the greatest left wingers all time in NHL history. He’s a world class scorer with an iconic one-timer (usually from the left side faceoff circle) and possesses incredible physicality and compete to his game.
Right Defenseman
The right defenseman is responsible for defending the right side of the ice in all zones of the ice.
Having a great first breakout pass out of the d-zone, poise with the puck, hockey IQ, and strong skating ability are all attributes you look for in this position. Right defensemen are also expected to have a high level shot from “the point” (just inside the blue line on the wall) and they may play a role as a high player on the power play.
Notable Right Defenseman:
Paul Coffey - With incredible skating ability and great offensive touch, he was a dominant force on both ends of the rink. One of the most well known hockey stick curves, the “Coffee Curve”, is named after him. Coffee is regarded as one of the most skilled defensemen of his era.
Brian Leetch - A skilled d-man with superior offensive abilities, Leetch had the ability to control the pace of the game when he was on the blue line. Leetch was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and was a huge contributor to the Rangers Stanley Cup win in 1994.
Left Defenseman
The left defenseman is responsible for defending the left side in all zones of the ice. They possess many of the same attributes as right defenseman do (covered in the section above).
Some defenseman are great “at-home” defenders...meaning they don’t produce a ton of points offensively, but they play an integral part of the team's defensive stability. Others are more puck moving defenseman who jump up in the play and add variety to the team's offensive threats.
Top defenders on a team will play a ton of minutes throughout a game so stamina and endurance are important characteristics that elite defenders possess as well.
Notable Left Defenseman:
Bobby Orr - Many consider Orr to be one if not the greatest defenseman of all time. Orr was a masterful skater (even amongst his NHL peers) with beautiful offensive skills and the ability to control the game from one end of the ice to the other.
Nicklas Lidstrom - Lidstrom was one of the best defensive defensemen of his era, with excellent positioning and a world class knack to read plays.
Goaltender
Talk to any coach or hockey player and they’ll tell you, goaltenders are one of the most important players on a hockey team.
Why?
They are the team's very last line of defense.
Due to this fact, a ton of pressure rests on their shoulders (much like a quarterback in American football). Goalies can steal games for a team when they’re on their A game or they can have a bad night and let a few goals in, contributing heavily to a team's loss.
Goalies come in many shapes/sizes, but many possess quite a number of these attributes below (especially as you keep moving up to higher levels): mental strength, accelerated reflexes, excellent hand-eye coordination, and the ability to read/react to plays. Great goaltenders are stellar at controlling the pace of the game (freezing pucks, puck handling, etc) and keeping their team confident (making the necessary saves best as can).
Bad goals are scored on all goalies from mites/atoms up to the NHL level (that’s a part of the game), but playing consistently well at your level night in and night out can make all the difference throughout the course of a season.
Conclusion
Whether you're new to the game of hockey or a seasoned player, understanding these different positions and their roles is essential for better understanding how the game of hockey is played.
As we've covered above, each position has a specific role to play within the game.
They work together though to collectively create scoring opportunities, play to their strengths/systems, and to prevent goals against. It's important to note that players often swap roles and responsibilities a bit depending on the situation. Teamwork and communication on ice is crucial for success in the game of ice hockey at all levels.
In reading this article, we hope you're now a little better equipped on the concepts.
Now go find yourself some ice, lace up those skates, and enjoy the greatest game on earth.
