Before I met my partner, I had heard about ringette, but it just seemed like hockey with a rubber ring and no blade on the stick. However, after seven years of being around the sport, I’ve naturally learned a lot more about it.

Similarities to Hockey

Let’s start with what’s familiar to the average person, especially if they’ve watched a hockey game. Ringette is played on a standard hockey rink, and many of the markings on the ice are the same. For example, you’ll notice the blue lines, center line, and goal crease look pretty similar to those in hockey.

Each team has five skaters and one goalie on the ice at any given time, just like in hockey. The goal nets are also identical in size and shape to those used in hockey. So, if someone were to walk into their first ringette game, they’d feel at least somewhat familiar with the rink setup and team structure.

Key Differences

Now, here’s where things start to diverge from hockey:

1. The Stick and Ring: The most noticeable difference is the equipment used to play. Instead of a puck, ringette is played with a rubber ring, and instead of a bladed hockey stick, players use a straight stick with no blade. The ring is much larger than a puck, and the stick has a specially designed tip to control the ring.
2. No Carrying the Ring Across the Blue Line: One of the biggest rule changes is that players are not allowed to carry the ring over the blue lines themselves. In hockey, players can skate the puck across the blue line, but in ringette, they must pass the ring across the line to a teammate. This promotes more team play and passing, which changes the dynamics of the game significantly. The rule forces teams to rely heavily on passing and teamwork rather than individual skill.
3. The Free Pass: Instead of face-offs like in hockey, ringette uses a “free pass” to start play after stoppages. The player taking the free pass is given five seconds to pass the ring to a teammate from a designated circle. This helps keep the game moving and emphasizes the passing nature of the sport.
4. The Shot Clock: Ringette introduces a shot clock, which is not found in hockey. Teams have a limited amount of time (usually 30 seconds) to take a shot on goal once they gain possession of the ring. If they don’t, the other team gains possession, similar to how shot clocks in basketball work. This adds an extra layer of urgency and strategy to the game, as teams need to set up offensive plays quickly.
5. No Body Checking: While hockey allows physical body checking, ringette is a non-contact sport. Players are not allowed to body check or use physical force to gain control of the ring. Instead, defensive strategies focus on positioning and stick play to intercept passes and block shooting lanes.
6. The Goalie’s Crease: Another key difference is the goalie’s crease. In ringette, players are not allowed to enter the crease at all, and only the goalie is allowed to play the ring while inside it. This rule is strictly enforced, and any violation results in a penalty or loss of possession. It makes defending the goal quite different compared to hockey, where players often scramble for loose pucks in front of the net.

After years of watching and learning about ringette, I’ve come to appreciate its unique pace and emphasis on strategy and teamwork. While it shares some commonalities with hockey, the differences really set it apart as its own fast-paced, dynamic sport and having a partner who is a player and Referee means I have a living Primary source for my information!

Rob