The Playbook

Before the first Puck Drop there are a few game time decisions that need to be made.

The Coach shuffles the deck and deals 3 cards to every player.

Once the hockey game starts, everybody should keep an eye on the game for one or more of the events on their cards to occur. If you miss a play, don’t fret, there’s likely going to be an armchair ref in the crowd shouting calls as the game goes on.

OMG! One of the events on the cards occurred in the live hockey game! Now what?

The classic way of playing Hat Trick by Puck Drop is simple. When an event happens that matches a card in someone’s hand, they get one point. Everyone continues to collect points from the 3 cards in their hand for the remainder of the period.

During intermission, this is after each period in the hockey game ends, the 3 cards in your hand are handed back to the Coach, and new cards are dealt. The player with the most points at the end of the game wins.

Of course, there are other great ways to play:

• When an event happens that matches a card in someone’s hand, they set that card aside and the Coach deals them another card. The person with the most cards at the end of the period wins that round.
• When an event happens that matches a card in someone’s hand, they get a reward. You can use a sweet treat, or any beverage of your choice. “You do you” as they say. How ever you choose to play, always play in a safe and responsible manner, and follow all laws in force where you are located.
• Want to add some extra excitement? The Coach can also choose to deal an ‘Always in Play’ hand that is visible to all players. If one of the events on these extra cards occurs, all Players earn a point, perhaps lose a point, or follow whatever house rules you have all agreed to.

A Watch Party challenge for players who like to strategize and ramp up the competitiveness of the game. We recommend there be no more than 8 people playing per deck when playing Face Off.

All players start with 20 tokens. Use poker chips, mini chocolate bars or any token of your choosing to play.

Before the first period starts, each player must ante up with 5 tokens (add 5 tokens to the pot). The Coach then deals 5 cards to each player.

Like the poker game ‘Five Card Draw’, players have the opportunity to discard any number of cards and receive new ones from the Coach before the period begins. However, each new card will cost them another token and they only get one opportunity per hand to make the trade.

Once the hockey game starts, everybody should keep an eye on the game for one or more of the events on their cards to occur. When an event happens that matches a card in someone’s hand, they lay that card down. In this variation of the game, duplicates are a good thing; when the event happens, both cards get played.

At the end of the period, all Players that have played all 5 of their cards wins and the pot is split evenly between them. If you’re not into sharing, you can also play where the first Player to play all five cards wins the pot.

What happens if the period has ended, and no one has played all five of their cards? Follow whatever house rules you have all agreed to. Here are some suggestions:

• The person(s) with the most cards played wins and the pot is split evenly as required.
• Everyone turns in their cards and the pot carries over into the next period.
• Everyone keeps their cards, and you carry the hand into the next period.

Whatever you decide, do it before the puck drops at the start of the game so friends stay friends.

After the period ends, each Players ante’s up again, hands are redealt, and another round begins!

Watch Party fun for smaller crowds. We recommend no more than 5 players per deck.

The Coach shuffles the deck and deals 9 cards to each player. Players arrange their cards face up in a 3x3 grid.

Once the hockey game starts, everybody should keep an eye on the game for one or more of the events on their cards to occur. When an event happens that matches a card in someone’s grid, they turn that card over. In this variation of the game, duplicates are a good thing; when the event happens, both cards get turned over.

The first Player to get all 9 cards flipped over wins!

The Coach can always choose to add on extra challenges like:

• First to get a full row
• First to get a full column
• First to get a diagonal line

It’s like Bingo, but no dabbers needed.