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🏒 Adult Pick-Up Hockey Rules – Ottawa West & Kanata

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Most of our adult pick-up hockey games are hosted in the west end of Ottawa, including Kanata and Stittsville. We run both 3 vs 3 small-area games and full-ice 5 vs 5 games designed for beginners and recreational players. Below is a guide to our game rules and guidelines to ensure a fun, safe, and competitive environment.

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Before the Game

  1. Team & Jersey Assignments: Teams are pre-assigned by jersey color — Dark vs Light. Please avoid wearing blue or grey jerseys.

  2. Arrival Time: Arrive 30 minutes early to get ready and ensure proper warm-up.

  3. Ice Safety: Wait for the Zamboni to finish grooming and the attendant to close the doors before stepping onto the ice.​

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Pre-Game Warm-Up

  • Warm-ups are limited to 2–3 minutes.

  • Ensure goalies are ready before taking shots.

  • Shoot only when others are not actively warming up — safety first!

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Game Time

We play 3 vs 3 and 5 vs 5 adult hockey. If short-handed for 5 vs 5, games usually start with 4 defensemen and 6 forwards.

Shift Guidelines:

  • Keep short shifts, ideally under 2 minutes, to allow all players ample ice time.

  • Make adjustments when the teams seem to be unbalanced between shifts for our pickup games

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Pick-Up Hockey Rules

  • No Body Checking – safety is our top priority.

  • No Slapshots – use wrist or snap shots instead.

  • No Goals on Goalie Face Mask – goals do not count if the puck hits the goalie’s mask.

  • No Charging the Goalie – give goalies space and respect their position.

  • Offensive Blue Zone Clearance: Clear the puck once scored or if the goalie covers it.

  • Center Ice Clearance: Players must pass to center ice after scoring.

  • No Fighting or Aggressive Play: Zero tolerance for unsportsmanlike behavior.

  • Give Space to Goalies: Respect goalie timeouts and calls during play.

  • Team Balance: Teams are organized as evenly as possible to keep games fair.

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Sportsmanship & Fun

  • Shake Hands: Line up and shake hands at the end of each game.

  • No Showboating: Limit individual scoring — once you reach three goals (hat trick), allow others the opportunity to score.

  • Enjoy the Game: Pick-up hockey is meant for fun, fitness, and community — respect, teamwork, and inclusion are key.

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