The average time for a shift in ice hockey is between 30 and 45 seconds. It begins when a player steps over the bench and takes the ice, charging up and down the rink at full speed. They throw their body at the puck, opponents, and the boards, giving everything they have. When the shift ends, the player returns to the bench, dripping with sweat and exhausted, chest heaving as their lungs work overtime.
An average fan watching a hockey game takes between six and 10 breaths during the length of a hockey shift. A player, however, probably takes closer to 12 to 14 breaths per shift.