Hockey positions explained
A hockey team has six players on the ice: three forwards (a center and two wingers), two defensemen and a goalie. Every skater plays both offense and defense, but each position has its own job and its own spot on the ice. Here's what each one does, how lines and shifts work, and how it all changes in 3-on-3, the format of Brudvig Hockey.
The six positions at a glance
| Position | On offense | On defense |
|---|---|---|
| Center | Playmaker in the middle, takes faceoffs, sets up wingers | Comes back deep to help the defensemen, covers the slot |
| Left wing | Scores and works the left side and the boards | Covers the opposing defenseman on his side at the blue line |
| Right wing | The same, on the right side | The same, on the right side |
| Defensemen (2) | Start the breakout, hold the blue line, shoot from the point | Protect the net, clear the front, block shots, win pucks in the corners |
| Goalie | Plays the puck to defensemen, starts the rush with a pass | Stops the puck |
Center
The center is the busiest skater on the ice. He takes most of the faceoffs, carries the puck through the middle of the ice, and is usually the main passer on his line. In his own zone he comes all the way back to help the defensemen down low and cover the slot, the area in front of the net where most goals come from.
Skills: passing and vision, faceoffs, skating endurance, and defensive awareness. A center who only plays one end leaves a hole in the other. Many coaches put their smartest all-round player at center.
Wingers (left and right)
Wingers play along the sides of the ice. On offense they're often the shooters: they get open for passes, drive to the net, and fight for pucks along the boards. On the forecheck, chasing the puck in the other team's end, they're usually the first in. On defense a winger covers the opposing defenseman on his side and blocks the passing lane out to the point.
Some players play their "off wing": a left-handed shooter on the right side, or the other way around. That opens up the forehand for one-timers from the faceoff circle, while a winger on his strong side has the forehand facing the boards, which helps with carrying and protecting the puck.
Skills: shooting, speed, battling along the boards, and getting to the net. The shooting guide covers the shots wingers live on.
Defensemen
The two defensemen are the last skaters between the puck and the goalie. They keep attackers to the outside, clear opponents from the front of the net, block shots and win pucks in the corners. On offense they start the breakout with the first pass out of the zone, then hold the blue line in the attacking zone, at "the point", where they keep the puck in and take shots through traffic.
Skills: skating backward and pivoting, positioning, passing out of the zone, and a hard, low shot from the point. In leagues that allow it, body checking too. See body checking explained.
Goalie
The goalie's job is to stop the puck, and he's the only player allowed to cover it with his glove to stop play. Most of it is angles and positioning: staying between the puck and the middle of the net. A good goalie also handles the puck, stopping dump-ins behind the net and passing to his defensemen. The goalie guide goes deeper.
Skills: positioning, reflexes, rebound control, skating in the crease, and staying calm after a goal against.
Lines and shifts
Skating hard is exhausting, so players rotate in groups. Forwards play in lines of three: a center and two wingers. Defensemen play in pairs. An NHL team usually dresses twelve forwards, six defensemen and two goalies, so four forward lines and three defense pairs. The goalie normally plays the whole game.
A shift is usually 30 to 60 seconds. Lines change on the fly, with players jumping over the boards during play, as well as at stoppages. Coaches try to put certain lines against certain opponents: a checking line against the other team's top scorers, a scoring line when the other team is tired. Special teams, the power play and the penalty kill, often use different combinations. The rules guide explains power plays, and the glossary has the rest of the vocabulary.
5-on-5 vs 3-on-3
A normal game is 5-on-5 plus goalies. Penalties make it 5-on-4 or 5-on-3. In the NHL regular season, overtime is five minutes of 3-on-3, then a shootout. Playoff overtime stays 5-on-5.
In 3-on-3 the positions blur. There's no room for a set center, two wingers and two defensemen, so teams usually play two forwards and one defenseman, or just keep one player high, between the puck and their net, while the other two attack. Everyone has to defend, everyone has to be able to carry the puck, and a turnover often turns into an odd-man rush the other way. Speed and puck control matter more than size, and teams circle back to keep possession instead of dumping the puck in. More in 3-on-3 hockey explained.
Positions in Brudvig Hockey
Brudvig Hockey is 3-on-3: three skaters and a goalie a side. You control one skater at a time, the one with the ring under him. When your team has the puck, that's the puck carrier. On defense the game gives you whoever is closest to the puck, and the pass button switches you to someone else. The computer plays everyone you aren't controlling, and your team's style shapes how your computer teammates play: a stretch-pass team leaves early, a trap team stays home. There are no line changes.
The real 3-on-3 habits work here. Keep one skater high, don't force a shot, and change direction to move the goalie and the defenders. With friends online, up to six people can play, three a side, all as skaters.
To play goalie, open ⚙️ and turn on Play as goalie. You take your goalie and the computer takes your skaters. A Goalie cup in the Challenge Cup keeps you in net for the whole tournament. The buttons are on the controls cheat sheet, and the rest is in how to play and tips and tactics.
Questions
What are the positions in hockey?
Six players a side: a center, a left winger and a right winger (the three forwards), two defensemen and a goalie.
What does a center do in hockey?
Takes faceoffs, plays both ends of the ice, and is usually the main playmaker. On defense the center supports the defensemen down low in his own zone.
What is the hardest position in hockey?
Most people would say goalie, because one mistake is a goal. Center is often called the hardest skating position because it covers the most ice at both ends.
How long is a shift in hockey?
Usually 30 to 60 seconds for skaters. Lines change on the fly, during play, as well as at stoppages.
What positions are there in 3-on-3 hockey?
Officially there are no fixed positions. Teams usually play two forwards and one defenseman, or keep one player high while two attack, and everyone defends.
Who do you play in Brudvig Hockey?
One skater at a time, three a side, and you can switch to another skater on defense with the pass button. Turn on Play as goalie in the settings to play in net instead.