The game of hockey is fast, slick and decisive. Players skate with speed, attack the net with aggression and shoot the puck with force. The game is often played at a dizzying pace that takes the breath away from the fans who are watching the game. At least that's the case if the ice is hard and firm. When the ice is slow and soft, it is much more difficult to skate.
Hard Ice
Players prefer to play the game on a surface that has "hard ice," meaning the ice has no snow on it or puddles of water that interfere with shots, passes or stick handling. When a player skates on fast ice, he gets a long glide at full speed when pushing off. He also passes the puck confidently, believing that the puck will stay on its true course at its natural speed.
Soft Ice
When a game is played on "soft" or bad ice, many players find the moves they normally make cannot be finished. The ice may have large water spots and piles of snow that occur from the natural starting and stopping motions of skating; the ice may also get "chippy," meaning it has a bumpy surface that has a negative impact on passes. Players may get conservative on slow ice because they don't believe a pass will get to the spot they intend it to go, or they may not handle their stick with as much confidence.
Temperature
According to ice maker Bruce Tharaldson of the San Jose Sharks, the ice should be kept at 16 degrees Fahrenheit for ideal play. This is considered hard ice and makes it easier for players to stickhandle, pass and shoot the puck. When the temperature is warmer, the ice gets softer and slower and passing and shooting get more difficult.
Climate Issues
Ice making has become a more consistent science since the mid-1990s as teams have moved to more modern buildings with consistent air conditioning and ice-making conditions. However, when games are played in a warm climate, the quality of the ice tends to become inconsistent, especially in playoff games held in May and June when temperatures are warmest.
Special Circumstances
The NHL has added outdoor games that are played once or twice per year in U.S. and Canadian cities. Outdoor games are subject to weather conditions. The NHL builds and maintains temporary outdoor rinks under the watchful eye of facility operations manager Dan Craig for games like the Winter Classic -- played on New Year's Day -- and chooses cold-weather cities like Boston, Buffalo and Chicago for the game. Extreme cold -- temperatures less than 10 degrees -- make it difficult for athletes to play and can also cause cracking problems on the ice.
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