Fast. Physical. Loud in all the best ways.

If you’re heading to a Rapid City Rush game at The Monument Ice Arena for the first time, you’re in for a high-energy night where the action never slows and the crowd stays locked in from puck drop to final horn. Here’s a quick Hockey 101 to help you follow the game and feel right at home in the stands.

The Basics

A photo taken from above, hockey players in white jerseys on the ice give fist bumps to teammates on the bench. Coaches in suits standing behind the bench jot down notes in small notebooks.

Hockey is played with two teams of six players on the ice, five skaters and one goalie. The goal is simple: put the puck in the net more times than the other team.

Games are played in three periods, each lasting 20 minutes, with short breaks in between. If the game is tied at the end of regulation, expect overtime (and sometimes a shootout) to decide a winner.

How Scoring Works

Hockey players in white jerseys gather for a group hug after scoring a goal. Fans behind the boards stand and celebrate with the team.

A goal counts when the puck fully crosses the goal line inside the net. Goals can come from:

  • Slap shots from the blue line
  • Quick wrist shots in tight
  • Deflections and rebounds right in front of the crease

If the red light comes on and the horn sounds, that’s your cue: stand up, cheer loudly, and soak it in.

A Rush tradition: the goal song celebration. “Rock and Roll, Pt. 2” by the Tube Tops blasts through the speakers, and when the chorus hits — you’ll feel it coming — fans raise their fists and shout “Hey, go Rush!” in rhythm with the beat. It’s loud, it’s electric, and it’s all part of the celebration.

The Flow of the Game

Two ice hockey players face off mid-play on the rink—one in a white Rapid City jersey skating forward with the puck, and one in a black jersey defending—while ice sprays from their skates and spectators watch from the stands behind the boards.

One of the best parts of hockey? There’s no stopping the clock every few seconds. Play moves quickly, with players changing on the fly while the puck stays live.

You’ll see:

  • Line changes happening mid-play
  • Dump-and-chase hockey to gain offensive position
  • Quick transitions from defense to offense

It’s nonstop, and that’s the point.

Offsides and Icing (The Two Rules Fans Ask About Most)

Hockey players from two teams line up for a faceoff while a referee drops the puck, with fans in the stands behind the glass and large championship banners hanging overhead in the arena.

Offsides:
An attacking player can’t cross the blue line into the offensive zone before the puck. If they do, play stops and the faceoff moves back out.

Icing:
If a player shoots the puck from behind the center line and it goes all the way past the opposing goal line without being touched, it’s icing. Play stops, and the faceoff comes back to the defending zone.

Both rules are there to keep the game moving and the competition fair.

Penalties and Power Plays

Close-up of two hockey players in action during a face-off. They wear teal and black gear. The puck is suspended between their crossed sticks on ice.

Hockey is physical, but there are limits. When a player commits a penalty, like tripping, hooking, or high-sticking, they head to the penalty box.

That gives the other team a power play, skating with a man advantage, usually for two minutes. Power plays are prime scoring chances, and the crowd knows it.

When the penalty expires or the team with the power play scores, the player jumps back on the ice and the game stays rolling.

Fights (Yes, They Happen)

Two ice hockey players grapple during a fight on the ice—one in a red jersey and one in a black jersey—clutching each other’s arms while fans stand and watch behind the glass in the arena.

Hockey doesn’t shy away from emotion. If two players drop the gloves, officials step in only once a player goes down, and both players head to the box for five minutes. It’s part of the culture, part of the intensity, and the crowd reacts every time.

Why Rush Games Hit Different

A hockey player in a charcoal gray Rapid City jersey fist bumps young fans who are watching warm ups on the player bench.

Rapid City Rush games bring pro-level speed and skill with a fan experience that’s up close and electric. You’re close enough to hear skates carving the ice and sticks snapping shots. The pace is fast, the hits are real, and the energy carries through the building.

Whether you know every rule or you’re learning as you go, the game pulls you in fast.

Final Tip: Just Enjoy It

Hockey players in red jerseys skate off the ice, celebrating a victory. A cheering crowd fills the arena, banners overhead. Energetic, triumphant scene.

You don’t need to know everything to have a great time. Follow the puck, read the crowd, and let the energy do the rest. Hockey is one of the most exciting live sports experiences out there, and Rapid City delivers it every night the Rush hit the ice.

See you at the rink!