Hockey pool

From ArticleWorld

Hockey fans, often to add a little more excitement to the game, will join together with friends or co-workers to create a hockey pool, using the statistics of individual players to decide who wins and loses money. It is similar to fantasy football and baseball leagues that have sprung up among fans.

How it works

Normally, each member of the pool will select a number of players from the ranks of the national Hockey League to be their “team”. Game to game, these players’ scoring statistics and the win-loss record of goalies are tracked. (Some more sophisticated hockey pools also track players’ defensive numbers.) Often, a pool entrant is credited with one point for a goal or an assist and one point if any goalie they have on their “team” wins. The participant with the most points at the end of the season wins.

Draft or not

In some pools, a player can be chosen by any and all participants. In others, these are often called “drafts”, a player can only be chosen by one person. This is not unlike a draft of talent in any sports league. Being successful in a hockey pool that uses a draft system means participants should at least pay attention to current statistics, so they can enhance their chances of building a winning team.

Legal or not

Before a hockey pool is formed, someone ought to check to be sure such contests are legal in their local jurisdiction. If this is formed at work, participants should check to be sure there is no company policy against them.