Nok Hockey

Nok Hockey is a tabletop game produced by the Carrom Company since 1942. It has its roots in the ancient game of carrom, but combines the basic "strike and pocket" gameplay with a hockey theme.^[1]

Description and Construction of Playing Surface

Nok Hockey is a two player action board game. It is played in a "rink", constructed by enclosing a 2'x3' section of smooth hardboard wall panel (playing surface) within a perimeter of 1"x2"x"L" wooden siderails (the walls). Each narrow end is fitted with a 4" wide cut out "slot" flush with the playing surface, which allows the puck to pass through. Each inside corner is fitted with a wooden "wall" which allows the puck to carom off the corners. A 2"x2"x1" square wooden block (the "goalie") is mounted approximately 3" in front of each end slot in diamond pattern. A line is normally drawn on the playing surface midway between the goals ("center ice") to denote each players half of the rink. The rink is normally unfooted and played on a flat surface, such as a table or floor. NOTE: The dimensions and materials used may vary.

The "puck" is a 2" diameter circular piece of wood. The miniature "hockey sticks" included with the game were originally made of wood as well; later on, the sticks were made of plastic.

Rules

The object of the game is to knock the puck into the opponent's goal. If any portion of the puck crosses the plane defined by the outside wall of the Nok Hockey board, it is considered a goal. It is possible to take a direct shot into the goal, but more often, a player must bank the puck off the wall, corner or goal block. After a goal is scored, the player who was scored upon receives the puck on the center circle. A face off is when the two players fight for the puck. In the face off you may not score. A player is not allowed to hit the puck when it is in his opponent's defense area.

Alternative rules

The object of the game is to get the puck through the slots as many times as possible. Players take turns hitting the puck. If the puck lands in the red zone by the goal, the player squeezes the puck using the block. If the puck lands on either of the blue lines it is called a liner and the player places the puck to the side of the arena and hits it. If landed in any of the red circles the player says "BULL'S EYED" which is two syllables so the puck is hit twice, if landed on the hockey player or the words nok hockey, the puck is hit three times because there are three syllables in nok hockey. If a player hits the puck out of the arena the other player places the puck on a diamond and hits it while saying "banana" and when the puck falls hits it while saying "SPLIT". If scored, the player may put the puck in the red circles or by the diamond for a thumb shot. If the player hits the puck and it hits the sides, then bounces into goal it is ruled a goal, unless the opponent or the player uses their hands and puts the puck in the net.

Playground rules

This version of the game is playing a majority of playgrounds in the northeast. Each game is up to 21, winning by 2 points. The puck is placed in the middle circle and the players have a face-off. Players take turns hitting the puck until one scores, regardless of where the puck lands after a shot. When scored upon, a player may take a shot from the red circles behind the defense line, from the diamond using the thumb, or from on top of the diamond. Scoring from the top of the diamond is worth 100 points. If the puck goes out of play, the player with the next shot may take a shot from the corner for 30 points. The puck does not have to go through the goal all the way, if the puck has sunlight on the outer edge or can be moved by swiping a stick down flush against a board, then the shot counts.

Alternative Playground rules

Playground rules vary widely. Points to win, winning margin, definition of a point (partially or fully through the slot), regular shot points, corner shot points, diamond shot points etc.., are usually agreed upon by the players prior to a match. Sticks or thumbs or a combination of both are also agreed upon.

Electronic Version - App Store and the iPhone

In 2009, an electronic version of Nok Hockey was released into Apple's AppStore. This version, created by TNT Apps Inc., is the first and only version that has been accepted and approved by Apple. As of May 1, 2010, over 15,000 downloads of the AppStore version of Nok Hockey have been downloaded onto iPhones, iPads, and iTouches.

References

Carrom Company History