Hockey game tips for beginners

Updated October 8, 2026

Never played a hockey video game? Or played once, got flattened, and gave up? This guide is for you. It starts from zero and walks through your first few games of Brudvig Hockey: what to press, what to watch, and the handful of habits that turn losing 6–0 into winning. If you already know the basics, our tips and tactics page goes further.

First: what's going on on the screen

• Two teams: Red and Blue. When you play the computer, you're Red.
• Three skaters and a goalie each. The computer plays everyone on your team except the one you control.
• Your skater has a ring under him. That's you. If you lose track, look for the ring.
• The score and clock sit at the top. A game is three two-minute periods.
• The goal you attack is the one the other team's goalie is in front of. Unlike real hockey, teams don't switch ends between periods, so once you know which net is yours, it stays that way all game.

The four buttons, in one minute

On a phone, your left thumb drives the thumbstick and your right thumb uses four buttons:

• ✕ pass. Without the puck, it switches to another skater.
• □ shoot. Tap for a quick shot, hold and let go for a big slap shot. Without the puck, on defense, it dives to block.
• ○ check. Tap to hit, hold to wind up a bigger hit.
• △ spin. Without the puck, it's a poke check.

On a keyboard: WASD or arrows to skate, E pass, Space shoot, F check, Q spin. Labels on the phone buttons show what each does right now. Full details: how to play Brudvig Hockey.

That's all of it. No combos to memorize.

Your first game: just skate

Seriously. For the first period, don't worry about scoring. Skate around. Turn hard at full speed and notice your skater curves rather than stopping dead, like a real skater. Get a feel for how long it takes to stop and change direction. Every other skill depends on this one.

Your first goal

Most beginners skate straight at the goalie and shoot into his chest. Try this instead:

1. Carry the puck into the attacking zone along one side.
2. Cut toward the middle, in front of the net.
3. As you move across the front of the goalie, tap □.

Moving across makes the goalie move with you, and a goalie on the move leaves the far side open. It's the single most useful trick for new players.

Your second goal: pass first

Once you're comfortable, try the best play in the game: pass across the ice to a teammate near the net and press □ the moment the puck reaches him. That's a one-timer. The goalie has to slide across, and the shot beats him before he's set. It takes a few tries to get the timing.

Defense for beginners

Don't chase, get in the way

The natural instinct is to chase the puck carrier. Instead, skate to a spot between him and your net. He has to get through you.

Check when he's close

Tap ○ when he's right next to you. Holding ○ for a big wind-up is fun, but beginners usually let go too late. Start with taps.

Switch skaters

On defense, the game gives you the skater nearest the puck. If someone else is better placed, tap ✕ to switch.

Try a dive

If a shooter is winding up in front of your net, press □ to dive toward him. Your skater lays out and blocks the shot. Just don't dive too early, or he'll skate around you.

The mistakes everyone makes

• Holding shoot too long in close. The slap shot wind-up takes time. In front of the net, tap.
• Never passing. Your teammates are good. Use them.
• Losing your skater. Find the ring. Zooming the camera in or out in the ⚙️ settings can help.
• Checking the air. A hit that misses leaves you out of the play. Hit when he's close.
• Giving up after one bad game. The second game is always better. The third is better still.

Picking a camera that suits you

Tap ⚙️ in the game to change the camera. The broadcast view is high and follows the play up and down the ice, like a TV broadcast. The side view is lower, from the side of the rink, like classic side-view hockey games. Zoom out to see more of the ice, in to see your skater better. There's no right answer; try both.

Phone tips

• Landscape gives you more room for your thumbs and a wider view of the ice.
• Keep your left thumb on the stick at all times.
• Once you know the buttons, tap Aa to hide the labels.

More in hockey games on your phone.

When you're ready for more

Once you're scoring and stopping a few rushes, you're past the beginner stage. Next steps:

• Learn the advanced moves: saucer passes (hold ✕), dangles (flick the stick side to side with the puck), spin moves (△). See hockey game controls explained.
• Practise on purpose: try the hockey drills you can practise in the game.
• Get on fire: score twice in a row with the same skater and he catches fire for a while: faster, harder shots and bigger hits.
• Play a person: challenge a friend. It's a different game against someone who adapts.

A little hockey knowledge helps

You don't need to know real hockey to play, but a few ideas carry over: pass to where a teammate is going, shoot when the goalie is moving, stay between the puck and your net. If you're curious, hockey rules explained, hockey positions and the hockey glossary cover the basics in plain language.

Why start with an arcade game

If you're new to hockey games, an arcade game is the friendliest place to begin. There are no rules to learn (no offside, icing or penalties), the controls fit on four buttons, and games are short enough that a bad one doesn't matter. And since Brudvig Hockey is free in your browser, there's nothing to lose by trying, unlike the yearly $70 console release. See arcade vs sim hockey games.

Your first week, game by game

1. Game 1: skate, pass, shoot. Don't worry about the score.
2. Game 2: score by moving across the front of the goalie.
3. Game 3: try a one-timer every time you enter the zone.
4. Game 4: play defense on purpose: stay between the puck and your net.
5. Game 5: try holds: a slap shot from the top of the zone, a wound-up hit, a saucer pass.
6. Game 6: beat the computer.
7. Game 7: challenge a friend.

Beginner questions

Why does the computer always score on me?

Usually because your skater is chasing the puck instead of guarding the net. Back off and get between the carrier and your goal. Switching to the right skater helps too.

Why don't my shots go in?

Shots straight at a set goalie are easy to stop. Shoot while moving across the net, or off a pass.

What does the ring under my skater mean?

That's the skater you control.

Can I change the difficulty?

There's no difficulty setting. The computer is the same opponent every time, which makes it a good measuring stick: you'll notice yourself improving against it.

Can I pause?

Against the computer, yes: Esc on a keyboard, or open the ⚙️ settings, and the game waits. Online games keep running.

Play your first game

Open Brudvig Hockey, press Play the computer, and spend the first period just skating. You'll be scoring by the second.