These hockey trivia questions are built for fans who know the sound of skates cutting fresh ice and for newcomers still learning the blue lines. The set includes 50 answers across five rounds, with NHL trivia questions on rules, Original Six history, franchises, legendary players, trophies, and the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Score one point for each correct answer. The early rounds are approachable enough for a mixed group, while the legends and trophy rounds give longtime fans room to separate from the pack.
How to use these hockey questions
For a live quiz, give teams 20 seconds per question and reveal all 10 answers at the end of each round. Accept common shortened team names where the meaning is clear, but require the correct trophy name in the final round. For overtime, ask teams to guess the current Stanley Cup's weight; closest answer wins. The host's answer is 34.5 pounds.
- Start with rules and rink language for a quick warm-up.
- Move through league history, cities, and classic franchise identities.
- Close with famous players, major awards, and the playoff format.
How the answers were checked
The questions focus on completed careers, established traditions, and stable rules instead of current leaders or this season's standings. League history, trophy details, playoff structure, and records were checked against the NHL's official rulebook and NHL Records pages.
Round 1: Hockey Rules and Rink Basics
How many players from one team are normally on the ice at full strength, including the goalie?＋
Six players: five skaters and one goaltender.
How many regulation periods are played in an NHL game?＋
Three periods of 20 minutes each.
What must the puck do for a goal to count?＋
The entire puck must legally cross the goal line between the posts and beneath the crossbar.
Which rink line is central to an offside call?＋
The attacking blue line; the puck generally must enter the attacking zone before the attacking players.
What is icing?＋
It generally occurs when a player sends the puck from behind the center red line across the opponent's goal line without a qualifying touch.
What is a hat trick?＋
Three goals scored by one player in a single game.
What is a power play?＋
A manpower advantage created when an opponent is serving a penalty.
Where does a player usually serve a minor penalty?＋
In the penalty box, usually for two minutes.
What is the name for restarting play when an official drops the puck between opponents?＋
A face-off.
Why might a team pull its goaltender late in a game?＋
To add an extra attacker while accepting the risk of an empty net.
Round 2: NHL Origins and Traditions
In which city was the National Hockey League founded in 1917?＋
Montreal, Quebec.
Which teams are known collectively as the Original Six?＋
The Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Who donated the original bowl that became the Stanley Cup?＋
Lord Stanley of Preston donated it in 1892 while serving as Canada's governor general.
What was the original name of the Stanley Cup?＋
The Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup.
Which was the first season when only NHL teams competed for the Stanley Cup?＋
The 1926-27 season.
Which team is associated with fans throwing an octopus onto the ice?＋
The Detroit Red Wings; the tradition began during the 1952 playoffs.
What machine is commonly used to resurface arena ice?＋
An ice resurfacer, often called a Zamboni after the best-known brand.
What do playoff opponents traditionally do after a series ends?＋
They line up and shake hands at center ice.
What is engraved on the Stanley Cup to preserve championship history?＋
The names of winning teams and eligible team members are engraved on its bands.
What long-running Canadian broadcast is commonly abbreviated HNIC?＋
Hockey Night in Canada.
Round 3: NHL Teams and Cities
Which NHL team is based in Montreal?＋
The Montreal Canadiens.
Which team plays in Toronto?＋
The Toronto Maple Leafs.
Which Original Six team calls Boston home?＋
The Boston Bruins.
Which NHL team plays in New York City's borough of Manhattan?＋
The New York Rangers.
Which team is represented by the winged-wheel logo?＋
The Detroit Red Wings.
Which NHL team is nicknamed the Broad Street Bullies after its physical 1970s squads?＋
The Philadelphia Flyers.
Which Pittsburgh team uses a skating penguin in its logo?＋
The Pittsburgh Penguins.
Which NHL team did Wayne Gretzky captain to four Stanley Cup championships?＋
The Edmonton Oilers, who won with Gretzky as captain in 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1988.
Which NHL team plays in Vancouver?＋
The Vancouver Canucks.
Which team moved from Quebec City to Denver in 1995?＋
The Quebec Nordiques became the Colorado Avalanche.
Round 4: Hockey Legends and Records
Which player is nicknamed the Great One?＋
Wayne Gretzky, who retired in 1999 with 2,857 NHL regular-season points.
Who was known as Mr. Hockey?＋
Gordie Howe.
Which Pittsburgh Penguins star was nicknamed the Magnificent One?＋
Mario Lemieux.
Which defenseman won the NHL scoring title in both 1970 and 1975?＋
Bobby Orr remains the only defenseman to win the Art Ross Trophy.
Who became the first NHL player to score 50 goals in 50 games?＋
Maurice Richard reached the mark for Montreal in 1944-45.
Which player scored a record 92 goals in the 1981-82 regular season?＋
Wayne Gretzky scored 92 for the Edmonton Oilers.
Which goaltender retired with an NHL-record 691 regular-season wins?＋
Martin Brodeur, who played the vast majority of his career with the New Jersey Devils.
Which Czech goaltender was nicknamed the Dominator?＋
Dominik Hasek.
Which Hall of Fame goalie helped popularize the modern butterfly style?＋
Patrick Roy, especially during his career with Montreal and Colorado.
Who became the NHL's first Black player in 1958?＋
Willie O'Ree debuted for the Boston Bruins on January 18, 1958.
Round 5: Trophies and the Stanley Cup Playoffs
Which trophy honors the NHL's most valuable player as selected by hockey writers?＋
The Hart Memorial Trophy.
Which trophy is awarded to the NHL's top goaltender?＋
The Vezina Trophy.
Which trophy recognizes the league's top defenseman?＋
The James Norris Memorial Trophy.
Which trophy is awarded to the NHL's top rookie?＋
The Calder Memorial Trophy.
Which trophy goes to the player who leads the regular season in points?＋
The Art Ross Trophy.
Which trophy goes to the NHL's leading regular-season goal scorer?＋
The Maurice Rocket Richard Trophy.
Which trophy honors the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs?＋
The Conn Smythe Trophy.
What does the Presidents' Trophy recognize?＋
The NHL team with the best overall regular-season record.
In the standard four-round NHL playoff format, how many series must a team win to capture the Stanley Cup?＋
Four best-of-seven series, requiring 16 game wins.
Which franchise won its 24th Stanley Cup championship in 1993?＋
The Montreal Canadiens; that total includes one championship won before the NHL formed.
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