My top hobbies? Board games and ice hockey! I'm at the rink several times a week, and I'm around a board game table as often as I can be. So, when I found out there's a game that scratches both itches, I was all in!
Sports Dice: Hockey is published by FoxMind and designed by Andy Geremia. The game is a quick, action-packed game that takes less than a period to play. It all starts at center ice when you're ready for face-off. You and your opponent roll six dice—whoever has the most rolls of one face wins the play. What are the possibilities? You can pass, defend, shoot, or even get sent to the penalty box. Once you're close enough to take a shot on goal, the goalie die is rolled. That's where the ultimate suspense happens—will the goalie stop your shot? Whatever the result, go back to center ice and move the marker. After 3 periods and 15 shots, the team with the most goals wins. Tied? Let's go to overtime, and if still tied, shootouts!!!
The game takes about 15 minutes to play. It can be played with 2 or more players, but I prefer it with 2 players, maybe adding a third so you can have a ref. Bonus points if your third player can narrate the game and move the puck and tokens.
Components
Rulebook: in both English and French
Dice: Each team has a set six 6-sided dice. Color choices are white or blue
Board: The ice rink board features different zones, period marker, shots marker, and score
Tokens: Tokens are used to track scores, periods, shots, and the puck's position
Power Chip: This special token can be used to win ties or re-roll dice
Setup
Give each player a set of dice
Place the hockey puck in center ice
Place red token by the shots area
Place bright blue token on first period
Flip the power chip to determine who goes first
Gameplay
Each team simultaneously rolls their dice up to three times. The symbol that appears most frequently on each team’s set of dice becomes their play. The team that rolled the most dice with the same symbol wins the roll.
The winning team applies the outcome of their play. This can include playing the puck, making a long pass, re-rolling, or assigning a penalty to the opposing team. If the opposing team receives a penalty, place one of their dice in the imaginary penalty box. This player will remain their until the next shot on goal.
When you’re in the offensive zone, you can choose to make a shot on goal. Roll all your available dice. The number of hockey sticks determines your chances. But watch out—if you’re too far from the goal line, you may have to subtract a point. If you’re too close, add a point. Then, the opposing team calls on their favorite goalie. For me, it’s Ukko from the Sabres, and if they roll higher or get the hockey mask, and scream no goal!
The game ends after three periods. If the score is tied, proceed to overtime; if it’s still tied, go to shootouts!
Overall Thoughts
The game is simple, yet it has strategic depth. The Power Chip can help you settle ties, but when do you use it? Luck is a big component, and the simultaneous gameplay can be a bit chaotic, but it’s really fun and simulates being on the ice. I haven’t played a hockey-themed game before, so now I naturally want to play it with all my hockey friends—the ones who play with me on the ice and the ones who just like to watch. Holidays are coming, so I may wait and just buy it as stocking stuffers 🙈
The game is very small and portable. We’ve already brought it to the rink while waiting for practice. It was a blast!
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