One con of going to Boston University is that it doesn’t have a football team. But let’s not forget about hockey. With peak hockey season coming up, here’s a guide to understanding the game — broken down through the dynamics that show up in every group chat.
First, we have the forwards. There are three: center, left wing, and right wing. Their main job is to create offensive plays and score goals. The center plays in the middle of the ice and typically makes most of the plays, moving the puck around and creating opportunities for the team. They are the “planner” of the group — booking dinner reservations, in charge of Google Maps, and the first to text in the group chat. Without them, everyone would somehow end up at three different restaurants.
The left and right wings bring high energy and drive toward the net. They work alongside the center to move the puck into the offensive zone and create scoring opportunities. The left and right wings are the social butterflies of the friend group: showing up late with an iced coffee, suggesting spontaneous side quests, and dragging everyone out on Friday nights. They may not have had a plan five minutes ago, but somehow everyone is now involved.
Next are the two defensemen. They typically work in pairs, protecting their net, blocking shots, and stopping the opposing team from creating scoring chances. In the friend group, they are your ride-or-die duo. They’re always together, and when they’re together, a new personality comes out. They will tell off the obnoxious strangers, make sure everyone gets home safely, and somehow always know when something is about to go wrong. While the forwards focus on making things happen, the defensemen make sure everything doesn’t fall apart.
Finally, we have the goalie. The goalie’s main job is to protect the net and stop the opposing team from scoring. As the last line of defense, they have one of the most important jobs on the ice. In the group chat, the goalie is the “mom” of the group — keeping everyone in check, carrying the emergency Advil, reminding everyone to eat before going out, and somehow being the only person who knows where everyone is.
At its core, hockey is simple: the team that scores the most goals wins. Players work together to move the puck down the ice, create scoring opportunities, and defend their own net. There are plenty of rules that can make things more complicated, but understanding the positions is a good place to start.
Just like every friend group needs different personalities to function, a hockey team needs every position to do its job.
So the next time you’re at Agganis Arena, you’ll know who’s doing what — and, more importantly, which one of your friends would play each position.
Want to keep up with HCBU? Make sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, check out our Pinterest board, watch us on TikT ok, and read our latest Tweets!