Hockey is the fastest game on earth and can be one of the easiest to understand. Once you've mastered the three basic rules of offside, two-line pass and icing, you'll be on your way. These rules are actually designed for fans - to cut down on stalling and excessive defensive play, to encourage teamwork and to maintain the speed and slashing action that makes the game so interesting to watch.

OFFSIDE - When any member of the attacking team crosses the defending teams' blue line before the puck, offside is called. Play is stopped and a face-off is held in the neutral zone outside the defending team's blue line.

TWO-LINE PASS - This is called when a member of the attacking team passes the puck up the ice across his own blue line and the center red line to a teammate. Play is stopped and a face-off is held at the spot from which the pass was started.

ICING - When a player shoots the puck up the ice from his side of the center line and across the opponent's goal line, and the puck is touched by an opposing player, icing is called. Play is stopped and a face-off is held in one of the circles at the offending team's end of the ice. This rule does not apply to a team playing shorthanded due to a penalty or if the puck goes into the opponent's goal.

Hockey does not employ a variety of set plays such as football. Instead, the players must react from instinct to a variety of situations, some of which they can anticipate from experience. Teamwork is vital.

Games last 60 minutes and are divided into three periods of 20 minutes each. Intermissions between periods permit the players to rest and a new surface to be put on the ice.

A team scores when one of its players shoots the puck into the opponent's net with his stick. Players who help set up a goal get assists, but only two assists can be scored on a goal. For personal scoring record, one point is given to each player for a goal or assist, but the team gets just a single point for each goal.

A victory is worth two points in the league standings to a team and one point for an overtime loss.