An evening of Tilburg Trappers

Tilburg is known for many different things; the sausage rolls, the Tilburg fair, Jug City and Textile City. But something that should not be missing from this list is the ice hockey team the Tilburg Trappers.

In 1938 the IJs Sport Club was officially opened. It took a while for the team to get used to each other and win prizes. But from the 70's they were unstoppable. They won one match to another and managed to win the competition six times in a row. In 2014 it was therefore decided that they would finish the season in the Dutch league but would look for a new challenge the following year. In Germany there was the possibility to play at a higher level, the third division or also the German Oberliga Nord. Also in this competition the Tilburg Trappers score a lot of points and take home several prizes.

Last Friday the 2019-2020 season was officially opened. The Tilburg Trappers won with 4-3 the first home game against Essen. The start was difficult, the first period they closed with a 0-2 deficit. During the second period this had to change. The Tilburg Trappers managed to turn the tide and put the opponents under pressure. After playing for three periods, they managed to gain an advantage and score enough points to win the game.

Don't you want to go to a game as a rookie? Here are some important rules to understand the game. Ice hockey is played on an ice surface of about 60 by 30 meters. The playing field has rounded corners and is surrounded by a high 'boarding' which the players can use. Along the playing field there are two long player benches with two penalty benches on the opposite side. Each team may consist of a maximum of twenty players and two goalkeepers. The game goes very fast, this is mainly because there are teams of six players on the ice each time. These small teams change continuously with the players sitting on the bench.

During an ice hockey game it's rough. The players skate hard, collide with each other, and push each other against the boarding. However, the referees keep it in the gate that the game remains safe. Offences are punished with a bench-minor penalty. The player then receives a two-minute time penalty on the bench. For more serious offences, heavier penalties will also be given.

The playing time of an ice hockey match is different from a football match. The match is divided into three periods of twenty minutes pure time each. This means that the clock is stopped at every interruption of the game. Between each period there is a fifteen-minute pause.

In addition to these official rules, it is very cool to go and have a look. It seems as if you're not in Tilburg yet; a big fan club, Bucky the mascot, a show that welcomes both teams, and the professionalism of the teams and all employees. This shows how good our Tilburg team is. Even if you're not very familiar with the sport, it's a fun and sporty evening out.

Would you like to get more information or visit a match? Then take a look at the website: www.trappers.nl