How fast does a hockey puck travel?

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Can you name the fast-paced sport in the world? If you are thinking of Hockey, a big clap for you. A hockey puck is the main hero of the game. But have you ever thought of how fast does a hockey puck travels? If not, then go through the article to know the answer.

A hockey puck is always a fast-moving object. But many hockey enthusiasts don’t know about hockey pucks’ speed. But it is important to know since different pucks have different speeds.  Some pucks need to be pushed tactfully to accelerate speed while others need force. If a person has sufficient knowledge about the speed of the puck, he can deliver the puck efficiently, minimizing the chances for defense from the opposite team.

How fast does a hockey puck travel

So, this article will focus on the discussion “How fast does a hockey puck travel?” Besides, the readers will know about some exciting facts about Best Roller Hockey Puck and some FAQs. So, let’s start.

What is a Hockey Puck?

Before discussing the speed of the hockey puck, it is pivotal that a person has sufficient knowledge of hockey pucks. Because people often get confused between hockey puck and ball. So, let’s explore the world of hockey pucks.

A hockey puck is a small, rigid, flat, vulcanized black disk. In Hockey, players play with hockey pucks instead of balls since the balls waggle too much on the hockey ground. Besides, these pucks use hard rubber to ensure a balanced motion.

Furthermore, there are varieties of hockey pucks available to suit different hockey types. These hockey pucks are distinctive from each other in various aspects.

For instance, the regular hockey pucks have 3-inches in diameter and 1-inch thickness, weighing from 5.5 to 6 ounces. In contrast, the pucks used by the National Hockey League generally have a diameter of 7.6 cm, a thickness of 2.54 cm, and weigh between 154 grams and 168 grams. However, the lightest hockey pucks are used in junior Hockey, only 143 g.

Depending on various things, a hockey puck can travel with different velocities. As aforementioned, a hockey puck moves quicker than the skater once a player shoots. In this section, I will give a general view of the speed of different hockey pucks. So, let’s begin.

In general, a hockey puck can travel up to 100 miles per hour, almost equivalent to 160 km/h. Therefore, the pucks in ice hockey can travel between 80 and 100 miles per hour. The slap shot is a magic name for these fastest shots.

Hockey enthusiasts may already know that slap shots help the pucks to travel faster. In fact, most players in the NHL can take slap shots that make the puck travel at an average speed of 90 mph. But this type of shot is more challenging to deliver than other types of shots and requires higher expertise. But once a player acquires a grip on slap shots, he will be in a more significant advantageous position.

For instance, Denis Kulyash made a record for delivering the fastest puck in the KHL All-Star in 2011. In that ice hockey event, the puck’s velocity reached 110.3 miles per hour when the player made a slap shot. Furthermore, one of the best hockey players, Bobby Hull, achieved puck speeds of 118.3 and 105 miles per hour with the same slap shots during the 1960s.

Many of you may not know that Alexander Riazantsev, a Russian ice hockey defenceman, recorded the fastest hockey puck at 114.127 mph or 183.67 km/h. Unfortunately, the NHL refused to accept the record since the puck traveled a short way to the net goal in comparison with other NHL tournaments. Moving towards other types of Hockey, such as air hockey, it is evident that an air hockey puck can travel at 80 miles per hour under a relatively smooth air surface.

What makes the puck that fast?

Some issues can significantly enhance the speed of the puck. Here are the top five vital factors mentioned below:

  • Surface type: If you regularly watch hockey events, you may hear the names of fast and slow ice. Fast ice indicates a smoother surface where the amount of snow is nominal. On this type of surface, a puck can travel faster than ever.

In contrast, slow ice consists of more snow, making the surface rough. So, the puck bounces more on these surfaces rather than moving fast.

  • Speed of the player’s feet: In general, the quicker the players move their feet, the faster the puck will travel. A player can move their feet at seven m/s maximum. With the increased velocity of the feet, a player can enhance the speed of the puck through a forward push.
  • Freezing: The organizers of Hockey events keep Hockey pucks in a freeze before any game. Because freezing makes the Hockey pucks smoother, and the smoother the puck, the faster it will travel.
  • Material of the Hockey puck: Pucks can be of different kinds. Some pucks use rubber materials, while others can use plastic as well. For instance, the street hockey pucks use plastic material. Plastic is lighter than rubber. So, it is easy to assume that plastic pucks will travel faster than rubbers.
  • Force: According to Newton’s third law, every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Similarly, the more energy a player will deploy to shoot the puck; the puck will move faster.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How fast does a hockey puck accelerate?

The speed of hockey pucks depends on several issues. However, the velocity of a hockey puck can accelerate to 100 miles per hour in Ice Hockey. In contrast, an air hockey puck can reach a speed of 80 MPH.

  • How long do hockey pucks stay in the freezer to be faster?

The home team is responsible for freezing the hockey pucks between 14 and 20°F until the game ends. Because during the game time, players may need to change pucks several times.

  • Who has the fastest and hardest shot record in Hockey?

Zdeno Chara, a Slovak professional ice hockey player, has the record for the hardest shot in the NHL skills competition. The shot made the puck acquire a velocity of 108.8 mph in 2012. In contrast, Denis Kulyash has the fastest shot record, which reached 110.3 miles per hour in 2011.

Final verdict

There is no doubt hockey is one of the most interesting and fast-paced games globally. It holds the 3rd rank in the most popular sports in the world. The faster puck retains the audiences’ attention throughout the game towards it. But it is almost impossible to follow the tiny object all the time due to its speed and small size. So, many people ask “how fast does a hockey puck travel?” I have tried to explore all possible facts and information to fulfill the readers’ query regarding the speed of the hockey pucks. But one should keep in mind that safety comes first. So, keep all necessary safety measures, such as the best Hockeymouthguards, while speeding up the puck. I hope the article was helpful for the readers.

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Hi, I am Prince. I’m a semi-professional hockey player. I’m the founder and chief editor at “Hockey Ever”. I love playing hockey and helping players to improve their game and that’s why I decided to start this blog.

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