Math in Hockey

By: Charles Dweck Math in Hockey

This Year we constantly talked about how geometry surrounds us, and makes the world we live in. I decided to find its connection to something I love, Hockey(ice and NOT yeshiva league). Ive been playing this sport for over 4 years now and until today, never saw its connection to Geometry.

Measurements of the rink

Find Area 3

The goalie When the opposing team is in the goalies zone, the goalie stays in the back of his crease protecting the puck from getting behind him. Since there are players surrounding him waiting for the puck to get to the crease to sneak it behind him, the goalie stays by the goal line. However when the goalie is faced with a breakaway he comes to the top of the crease. Why?

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Example:

Why?As you can see when the goalie comes out it gives the player less targets to hit. Its the same goalie and same angles the only thing thats happening is he is coming out of the net. This gives the attacker less angles to shoot from since the goalie is right in front of him.

Top Shelfer- its measurements

Some are good at hockey and others are good at math. Now those good at one can be good at the other. Using a measuring tape and formulas(sohcahtoa) I was able to calculate all angles and distances needed to hit this shot.

19243197using Pythagorean theorem we can find the full length from the puck to the targetAngle of elevation=12.6Using tangent

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Using the boardsThe angle that the puck hits the boards will be the angle that the puck bounces off the boards

Video

A Better stanceThe leg that isn't in stride should be 90 degrees, keeping your momentum forward and preparing you for the next stride. Nose knees and toes should always be collinear. For a perfect stride, your leg thats in stride should be on a 164 degree angle. Your body should make a 45 degree angle with your legs in order to keep momentum forward.

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Good defense Keeping the attacker to the outside makes it harder for him to score, Why?. From the slot (the middle of the net) the shooting angle is about 40 degrees, which is an easy goal. The further the defenseman pushes the attacker out the smaller the shooting angle gets, making it harder for him to get the shot on net.

40 degrees15 degrees

Hockey sticksHockey sticks are much much more complex than we think they are. Back in the day sticks were made out of wood and were cracking left and right. Now, sticks are made from composite and fiber-glass allowing them to flex. Sticks are commonly found with flex rating 45,50,75,100, and 110. flex ratings indicate the about of pounds of force it takes to flex the stick one inch. I use a stick with flex rate 75 so if I get 100 pounds of force into my shot the stick would flex 1 inch and 4/12 of an inch. Sticks also have different flex points- where the shaft flexes.