Pub & Scrim
There are two types of matches available to players in hockey zone: Public games & Scrim games.
Each of these can be started by the players themselves and doesn't require any type of admin or ref volunteer to create them. Knowing the differences between these two types of matches is important as you will come across them often.
What is Pub?
Pub (short for Public Game) is the default mode you'll encounter when you first join the zone. It's an open, casual environment where anyone can join and play. Make sure you are in the correct arena (the default arena). You can make sure you are on the starting arena by entering ?go 0 in the chat.
In order to join pub, you simply have to use the Selection Menu to pick a ship. The game will automatically throw you into a pub match if there is a spot available.
Pub matches are characterized by:
- 🟢 No strict teams – players are automatically put in a team when they enter and choose their ship.
- 🟢 Great for warmups – many players use Pub to get loose before a league match.
Pub is perfect for:
- Practicing ship movement and shooting
- Learning game mechanics and controls
- Meeting the Hockey Zone community
Pub Queue
If the public match is full, you can enter this into the chat: ?next pub
This will tell the bot to place you in a queue for the next available pub spot. If someone leaves the match, the bot will send you a direct ping to you in-game to let you know that there is a spot available.
What is Scrim?
Scrim (short for Scrimmage) is a more structured, competitive match used for practice between coordinated teams. It mimics the format of official league games. The difference between pub and scrim is that scrim allows two players to act as captains and decide who gets to join their team and play.
- 🔵 Captain-managed – Scrims are started when players take roles as Captains using
?next scrim - 🔵 Selective teams – Captains pick their players and add them using
?add playername - 🔵 More serious gameplay – Players often treat Scrims like a rehearsal for real matches.
Scrims are useful for:
- Practicing with a fixed lineup or strategy
- Testing team chemistry
- Improving coordination, passing, and defensive play
- If you want to play with a selected group of players rather than randoms
Key Differences Between Scrim & Pub
| Feature | Pub | Scrim |
|---|---|---|
| Game Style → | Casual / Open | Competitive |
| Type of Entry → | Join anytime | Requires you to be added by a captain |
| Team Selection → | Auto-assigned | Hand-picked |
| Skill Level → | Mixed | Generally higher |
How to Join a Scrim
- Ask in chat – If a scrim is happening, you can ask to be added by the captain using the in-game chat.
- Watch for pms – Captains may message you if they need players for their team.
- Be active in Pub – Performing well in Pub can lead to scrim invites from captains.
- Use
?next scrim– This will put you next in line to be captain of the next scrim.
Goal Voting
In both Pub and Scrim games, players will need to vote whenever a goal is scored. Voting is important because players can allow or disallow goals depending on if they saw a legal play or not.
Type ?g cl to vote a goal as clean. You can also vote a goal as lag by typing ?g lag.
If no one votes, the goal will simply go unvoted and not count on the scoreboard. So make sure you (or a teammate) are voting!