This page discusses the hierarchy of categories that relate to ice hockey.

The goal of the categorization structure is such that any ice hockey related page can be navigated to from Category:Ice hockey.

This page is set up so that the categories tree can be seen in the table of contents. There is some pretty good overlap in the categories.

Suggestions on improving the categorization system are welcome and should be left on the talk page.

Category:Ice hockey

This is the root ice hockey category. It is a sub category of Category:Team sports and Category:Winter sports.

There are many articles directly in this category. Specifically articles about aspects of the game like Goal (ice hockey) and Hockey puck.

Category:Ice hockey rules

Category containing articles about and relating to rules.

Category:Ice hockey terminology

Category containing articles about jargon and phrases commonly used when discussing ice hockey.

Category:Ice hockey statistics

Category containing articles about and relating to statistics.

National Ice Hockey (ex. Category:Ice hockey in Canada)

There should be a national ice hockey category for each nation that needs one (Brazil will probably never have one).

There can be any number of different articles under the national ice hockey category relating to hockey in that country. Typically though most articles will be in a further sub category.

National Ice Hockey Players (ex. Category:Canadian ice hockey players)

Any player who is from this country should have their article included in this category.

This is a sub category of Category:Ice hockey that is used to track ice hockey leagues. Non-major leagues can simply have their articles in this category, while more significant leagues (or leagues that are likely to have their information expanded) can have their own sub category.

Category:Defunct ice hockey leagues

This is a special sub category of Category:Ice hockey leagues that has the same parameter as Category:Ice hockey leagues except the leagues are defunct.

Leagues (ex. Category:National Hockey League)

This is a category for a single league. It may only have articles pertinent to the league, or it may also have sub categories.

League Assistant Coaches (ex. Category:National Hockey League assistant coaches)

Articles about people who have been an assistant (or associate) coach in this league would be in this category.

League Head Coaches (ex. Category:American Hockey League head coaches)

Articles about people who have been a head coach in this league would be in this category.

League Players (ex. Category:National Hockey League players)

This is the category for the players in the league. If it's a very minor league where there is little likelihood that there will be many players listed, their articles could go directly in the league player's category. If however, there are many people who have articles, then there should be a sub category for each team (see next section).

Team Players (ex. Category:Nashville Predators players)

This is a category for each person who has ever played even one game for the team. If a player has played for the team, add them to the category.

Major Junior Team Alumni (ex. Category:Kitchener Rangers alumni)

This is a category for each person who has ever played even one game for a major junior team. If a player has played for the major junior team, add them to the category. Take heed with the QMJHL teams, as some are in French and some are in English depending on its usage. If not sure, check the Category:Quebec Major Junior Hockey League alumni.

League Teams (ex. Category:National Hockey League teams)

This contains the articles about the teams in the league (there is also a sub category for defunct teams).

League Trophies and Awards (ex. Category:National Hockey League trophies and awards)

Articles about Trophies and awards given by the league would go in this category. This category should also be a child of Category:Ice hockey trophies and awards.

Tournaments (ex. Category:World Cup of Hockey)

Articles about specific instances of tournaments go in this category (ex. 1996 World Cup of Hockey). The main article about the tournament should go in this category, not the top level ice hockey category, and should be alphabetized under * (ex. in World Cup of Hockey, use [[Category:World Cup of Hockey|*]]). If there's only one article about a tournament (current ex. Canada Cup (hockey)), there's no need for a separate category.

Specific years of tournaments (ex. Category:1996 World Cup of Hockey)

If there are multiple articles relating to a single instance of a tournament, create a subcategory. Otherwise, just place the single article into the tournament category.