Olympic hockey: The essential guide

How long has hockey been in the Olympics?
Men's ice hockey was first played at the 1924 games. Women's hockey made its debut in 1998.

How does Olympic hockey compare to NHL hockey?
• The Olympic rink is bigger
• Olympic teams are two players larger
• Tougher rules against fighting: If you fight in an Olympic game, you'll be ejected. There are also stiffer penalties for checking the head and neck
• Different icing rules: The play is dead when the puck is shot across the goal live from the other side of center ice
• Settling a tie: If the game is still tied after 10 minutes of sudden-death overtime, it's decided by a shootout
• Players can't stand in the goalie crease
• The goalie can handle the puck anywhere behind the net
• If a player loses a helmet, play is stopped

What happens to the NHL during the Olympics?
The season is put on pause for two weeks during the Olympic Games. But the NHL has yet to decide whether it will allow players to participate in future Olympics. This year, the NHL is sending 150 players to compete in the Olympics.

How about between men's and women's games?
The biggest difference is that there is no checking in women's hockey.

How are the brackets determined?
The brackets for the medal round are determined by a preliminary round. The twelve teams are broken into three groups of four. Each team will play the three other teams in their group. The top two teams in each group get a first-round bye in the medal tournament.

The rankings for the team are not simply determined by win-loss records. A team gets three points if they win in regulation play, two points if they win in overtime, one point if they lose in overtime and no points if they lose in regulation.

Minnesota's hockey Olympians:

David Backes: Born in Minneapolis; played for Spring Lake Park High School and Minnesota State University-Mankato; currently captain for the St. Louis Blues

Megan Bozek: Grew up in Illinois; played for the University of Minnesota

Julie Chu: Played professionally with the Minnesota Whitecaps

Brianna Decker: Grew up in Wisconsin; played for Shattuck-St. Mary's High School in Faribault, Minn.

Justin Faulk: Born and raised in South St. Paul; played for University of Minnesota-Duluth; currently plays for the Carolina Hurricanes

Mikael Granlund: Plays for the Minnesota Wild; competing for Team Finland in the Olympics

Mira Jalosuo: Played for the University of Minnesota; Competing for Finland in the Olympics

Amanda Kessel: From Madison, Wis.; attended Shattuck-St. Mary's; plays for the University of Minnesota

Phil Kessel: From Madison, Wis.; played for Shattuck-St. Mary's and the University of Minnesota; currently plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs

Mikko Koivu: Plays for the Minnesota Wild; competing for Team Finland in the Olympics
UPDATE (Feb. 7): Koivu withdrew today, saying he is not healthy enough to play at the level that he wants to.

Jocelyne Lamoureux: Played for Shattuck-St. Mary's in high school, played for the University of Minnesota before transferring to University of North Dakota

Monique Lamoureux: Jocelyne's twin; played for Shattuck-St. Mary's and the University of Minnesota before transferring to University of North Dakota

Paul Martin: Born and raised in Elk River; played for the University of Minnesota; currently plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins

Gigi Marvin: Born and raised in Warroad, Minn.; played for the University of Minnesota and professionally for Minnesota Whitecaps

Ryan McDonagh: Born and raised in St. Paul; played for Cretin-Derham Hall; currently plays for the New York Rangers

Nino Niederreiter: Plays for the Minnesota Wild; competing for Team Switzerland in the Olympics

T.J. Oshie: Played for Warroad, Minn., High School; currently plays for the St. Louis Blues

Zach Parise: Born in Minneapolis; played for Shattuck-St. Mary's; currently plays for the Wild and is captain of Team USA

Noora Raty: Played for the University of Minnesota; competing for Team Finland in the Olympics

Molly Schaus: Lived in Minnesota until second grade

Anne Schleper: Born and raised in St. Cloud; played for the University of Minnesota

Lee Stecklein: Born and raised in Roseville; plays for the University of Minnesota

Derek Stepan: Born in Hastings; played for Shattuck-St. Mary's in high school; currently plays for the New York Rangers

Ryan Suter: Born in Wisconsin; plays for the Minnesota Wild

Thomas Vanek: Played for the University of Minnesota and spends summers in Stillwater; currently plays for the New York Islanders; competing for Team Austria

Blake Wheeler: Born in Plymouth, grew up in Robbinsdale; played for the University of Minnesota; currently plays for the Winnipeg Jets

Learn more:
• Team USA, women's hockey
• Team USA, men's hockey

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Find more: Your guide to the 2014 Winter Olympics