US Trends

how long between hockey periods

The break between hockey periods is usually about 15–18 minutes in most professional leagues, including the NHL, with 18 minutes being the current standard in the NHL.

How Long Between Hockey Periods? ⏱️

Quick Scoop

For a standard ice hockey game (like the NHL):

  • 3 periods of 20 minutes each.
  • 2 intermissions between periods.
  • Each intermission: typically 15–18 minutes , with the NHL using 18-minute breaks so the ice can be resurfaced and teams can regroup.

So if you’re at an NHL game and the period ends, you generally have about 18 minutes to hit the restroom, grab food, and get back to your seat before the puck drops again.

Variations at Other Levels

Outside the NHL, the length of time between periods can change a bit:

  • Many adult rec and youth leagues still use breaks in the 10–15 minute range, sometimes shorter if they don’t fully resurface the ice.
  • Some local or amateur leagues may only leave about a minute or two between periods if they run a continuous schedule and don’t use a Zamboni every time.

The general pattern: higher level of play and bigger arenas = longer intermissions.

Why Intermissions Matter

Intermissions aren’t just dead time:

  • Ice resurfacing: The Zamboni cleans and smooths the ice, which keeps the puck moving properly and reduces bad bounces.
  • Rest and strategy: Players recover, get medical treatment, and coaches adjust tactics for the next period.
  • Broadcast & in‑arena stuff: TV commercials, contests, and fan activities also fill that 15–18 minute window.

Mini FAQ

Q: How long is the break between regulation and playoff overtime periods in the NHL?
A: Between overtime periods, the break is about 15 minutes , slightly shorter than the 18-minute standard between regulation periods.

Q: If a game has no overtime, how long is the whole event?
A: With three 20-minute periods plus two intermissions and all the stoppages, an NHL game usually runs about 2.5 hours in real time.

Simple HTML Table for Intermissions

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Level / League</th>
      <th>Intermission Length</th>
      <th>Notes</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>NHL (regulation)</td>
      <td>18 minutes</td>
      <td>Standard break between periods 1–2 and 2–3.[web:1][web:3][web:7]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>NHL (between OT periods)</td>
      <td>About 15 minutes</td>
      <td>Slightly shorter than regulation intermissions.[web:3][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Other pro / high-level leagues</td>
      <td>15–18 minutes</td>
      <td>Often similar to NHL, can be a bit shorter off TV.[web:3][web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Youth / rec leagues</td>
      <td>~1–15 minutes</td>
      <td>Shorter breaks; sometimes just quick bench swaps.[web:5][web:6]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

TL;DR: In most pro hockey, expect about 18 minutes between periods; in lower levels, anything from a very quick change to around 10–15 minutes , depending on ice resurfacing and scheduling.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.