How to Read Hockey Cards

Reading a hockey card requires basic knowledge of the game to decipher the abbreviations for statistical categories. The statistics found on the back of a player's card will be grouped based on the player's position. Goaltenders do not have scoring statistics listed while offensive players do not have saves and save percentage listed in their stats. While players have scores of statistics to detail their accomplishments, there are only a relative few represented on the reverse off their card.

Instructions

    • 1

      Look at the top of the backside of the card. The backside is the side of the card opposite the main photo. Look for a team name and/or logo under the player's name.

    • 2

      Identify the player's physical statistics by reading the values next to height and weight (commonly abbreviated "Ht." and "Wt.") Look below the to find the player's shot side. The shooting side is usually represented by "Shoots:" and then "Right" or "Left."

    • 3

      Read the date next to "Born" to learn the player's birth date. Evaluate the date against the current date to learn the payer's current age. The player's hometown will often be listed under his birth date.

    • 4

      Look below the player's personal information for the listing of his playing statistics. Each season the player has been a part of the league will be represented independently. The seasons will be listed by year, commonly spanning 2 calendar years.

    • 5

      Look to the immediate right of each season to find the team for which the player played during that season. Next will be a number under the heading "GP." GP stands for games played and shows the number of games the player played during the season.

    • 6

      Read the values under the following headings. For offensive players, the card's statistics will show number of goals scored (under "G"), number of assists for which the player was credited (under "A") and the total number of points (under "PTS"). The points are the combination of goals and assists. "PIM" is the abbreviation for penalty minutes. It is the total sum of game minutes the player spent in the penalty box for a rules infraction during the game.

    • 7

      Read the back of a goaltender's card the same way as an offensive player until you reach the season by season stats. Goals, assists, points and penalty minutes are not displayed as part of a goalie's statistics. Instead, games played (GP), wins (W), losses (L) and goals against average (GAA) are listed. Wins are games in which the player played and the team won. Loses are games played by the player resulting in a team loss. Goals against average is the number of goals the player allowed divided by the number of games he played.