The Secret Half of Hockey: Quarter Counts Everyone Gets Wrong

Mon, 04 May 2026 14:07:59 +0000

The Secret Half of Hockey: Why Quarter Counts Everyone Gets Wrong When fans settle in for a hockey game, one detail they often take for granted is the way time is tracked — especially in quarters. Many believe that professional or amateur ice hockey is divided into four equal 15-minute quarters, like basketball or soccer. But in reality, this is a common misconception. Unlike those sports, hockey does not officially use quarters. Instead, the game flows in periods — typically three 20-minute halves — with no quarter-based structure. ### The Real Structure: Periods, Not Quarters In professional leagues like the NHL, the game is broken down into three 20-minute periods, not four quarters. Each period starts fresh, with a full 20 minutes of play followed by a break, usually for intermissions and strategic adjustments. This structure mirrors football in timing but contrasts sharply with the quarter system used in basketball.