Hockey is a fast-paced, high-intensity sport that requires endurance, strategy, and skill. While teams typically dress 18 skaters and 2 goalies for a game, there are rare scenarios where a team can find itself dangerously low on players—sometimes to the point of having no substitutions or even playing with fewer than five skaters. Though uncommon, such situations have occurred in professional, international, and amateur hockey, leading to some of the most chaotic and memorable moments in the sport’s history.
The Basics: Roster Limits and Minimum Players
Under NHL rules, a team must have at least 18 skaters and 2 goalies available on its roster. However, in special circumstances (such as injuries, salary cap constraints, or suspensions), teams can dress fewer than 18 skaters. While rare, there have been cases where teams have gone into games with fewer than the standard lineup due to unexpected situations.
But what happens if a hockey team runs out of players entirely? The NHL rulebook states that a team cannot continue if it does not have at least four skaters and a goaltender. If a team drops below this threshold, the game is either forfeited or postponed. However, before reaching that extreme, teams have been forced to play shorthanded in some wild situations.
Notable Cases of Teams Running Low on Players
1. The 2021 Vegas Golden Knights Incident
The Vegas Golden Knights had a bizarre moment in 2021 when salary cap issues forced them to play a game with only 15 skaters instead of the usual 18. Due to injuries and the team’s tight cap situation, Vegas had to ice a lineup missing multiple players, leaving them shorthanded against the Colorado Avalanche. While they put up a valiant effort, the lack of fresh legs eventually caught up with them.
2. The Carolina Hurricanes and the Emergency Goalie (2020)
One of the most famous cases of a team nearly running out of players happened when both of the Carolina Hurricanes’ goaltenders—James Reimer and Petr Mrázek—were injured in the same game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. This forced 42-year-old emergency backup goalie (EBUG) David Ayres, a Zamboni driver, into action. While the Hurricanes still had enough skaters to continue, losing both goalies was nearly catastrophic. Incredibly, Ayres made key saves and led Carolina to a 6-3 victory, proving that anything can happen in hockey.
3. The 1982 New York Islanders vs. Pittsburgh Penguins Incident
A bizarre situation unfolded in 1982 when the New York Islanders had multiple players ejected for fighting in a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. With so many misconduct penalties handed out, the Islanders were left with only a handful of skaters on the bench. Though they avoided completely running out of players, they had no extra skaters to rotate, making it one of the most exhausting games for those who remained.
4. The St. Louis Blues and the Food Poisoning Debacle (2000)
In a truly strange twist, the St. Louis Blues found themselves with barely enough players due to a team-wide food poisoning incident before a game against the Calgary Flames. Several players were too sick to take the ice, leaving the Blues with just a handful of available skaters. The team played with a severely reduced bench, leading to one of the most physically grueling games in recent history.
What Happens When a Team Is Forced to Play Shorthanded?
When a team runs low on players, the coach has to make major adjustments:
• Double-Shifting Players – Top players take extra shifts to cover missing teammates, leading to exhaustion.
• Defensive Adjustments – Coaches often switch to a more conservative style to conserve energy.
• Power Play and Penalty Kill Chaos – Losing players disrupts special teams, making it harder to compete effectively.
Could a Team Ever Forfeit Due to Running Out of Players?
In extreme cases, yes. If a team falls below the four-skater minimum, the game would be halted, and the result would likely be a forfeit. However, leagues do everything possible to avoid this scenario, from calling up emergency replacements to adjusting rules mid-game if needed.
Final Thoughts
While it’s rare for a hockey team to completely run out of players, it has happened in various forms throughout history. Whether due to injuries, suspensions, salary cap constraints, or bizarre incidents like food poisoning, teams have been forced to adapt and battle through adversity. These moments add to the drama and unpredictability of the sport, proving that in hockey, you always have to be ready for anything—even playing with fewer skaters than expected.