Method of Starting Play in Ice Hockey NYT Mini Crossword Clue & Answer

We couldn’t determine which puzzle this clue comes from, but we’re looking for an answer to this one, which is a method of starting play in ice hockey. The answer is made up of eight letters, and it is a way of starting a game, which in this case is for the sport of hockey.

A good way to start a hockey game is by doing this.

The term in question is called a FACEOFF. It’s spelled as Face-off, and it is the method to start the game. Think about basketball having a tip-off, or American Football having a kickoff. The face-off is done where there are two players, often called the centers, who initiate it.

Both of them are in the middle, and the referee will drop the puck on the ground. They simply have to strike the puck in a way that passes it to their teammates. The game is officially started, but this is also a means of restarting it. Think about a fight breaking out, so they have to do another face-off.