1. Pick
Build your squad
Choose players from the available RinkDraft player pool and fill the positions shown in the Squad Builder.
HELP & HOW TO PLAY
New to RinkDraft? Start here.
Fantasy hockey is simple: build your own squad from real NIHL players, stay inside the game rules and budget, then score fantasy points from what those players do in real matches.
You do not need to be a hockey expert. Pick a squad, follow the gameweek, make changes when allowed and see how your team performs against other RinkDraft managers.
Your squad12 players
Squad budget£250k
Import limit3
Your aimScore points
FANTASY HOCKEY IN 30 SECONDS
You manage the fantasy team. Real players earn the points.
RinkDraft turns real NIHL match performances into a fantasy competition. You choose eligible players for your squad, but there is a catch: you cannot simply pick every star. Your squad has to fit inside the available budget and any squad restrictions shown by the game.
2. Watch
Real games happen
Your selected players play their normal NIHL fixtures. Their real match statistics are used by RinkDraft.
3. Score
Climb the table
Those performances become fantasy points. Add up your squad's points and compete against the other managers.
The important bit
You are not predicting match scores and you are not controlling the real players. Your job is to build the best fantasy squad you can from the players available to you.
GETTING STARTED
Your first RinkDraft squad, step by step
Open your squad
Go to the Squad area. Empty positions show you exactly which slots still need filling.
Choose a position
Select an empty squad slot to see players who can be used in that position.
Compare players
Look at the player's team, position and RinkDraft value. A higher price does not guarantee more points in the next gameweek.
Watch your budget
Your whole 12-player squad must fit inside the current £250k squad budget. Spending big in one area means finding value elsewhere.
Check restrictions
Make sure the squad passes the rules shown on screen, including the current import limit of 3.
Be ready for the deadline
The gameweek countdown tells you when changes lock. Make your selections before the displayed deadline so they count for that gameweek.
USING THE SITE
What the main areas are for
01
Dashboard
Your starting point. Use it to see the important information for your team, the current gameweek and anything that needs your attention.
02
Squad
This is where you build and manage your fantasy team. Fill every required position and keep an eye on your remaining budget.
03
Player Pool
Browse the eligible players. Use position, team, price and available performance information to help decide who belongs in your squad.
04
Gameweek
The gameweek groups the fixtures and fantasy scoring period together. The countdown shows when squad changes stop counting for the upcoming games.
05
League Table
See how your fantasy points compare with the other managers. The objective is simple: finish with more points than they do.
06
Rules & Player Values
Use the dedicated pages when you want the full scoring breakdown or want to understand why a player has been given a particular fantasy value.
GAMEWEEK BASICS
What happens around a match weekend?
A
Before the deadline
Review your squad, check the countdown and make any permitted changes while the gameweek is still open.
B
At the deadline
Your selection for that gameweek is effectively set. The site will show when squad changes are locked or when they will apply later.
C
During the fixtures
Your RinkDraft players earn fantasy points from their real NIHL performances according to the current scoring rules.
D
After results are processed
Your team total and the competition standings update as match data is recorded and processed by RinkDraft.
Do not leave changes until the final seconds.
If you want a player to count for the coming gameweek, use the countdown on the site and complete your squad changes before it expires.
POINTS & PLAYER PRICES
Two things that are easy to mix up
Fantasy points = what your team scores
Points come from real player performances and the RinkDraft scoring rules. Goals, assists and other eligible match statistics can contribute depending on the player's position and the current rules.
Player value = what the player costs
The £ value is the fantasy price used when building your squad. It is not the player's salary or real-world value and it is not the same thing as fantasy points.
For the exact scoring system, use the Scoring & Rules page. For the full explanation of the pricing model, see How Player Values Work.
USEFUL TERMS
RinkDraft language without the jargon
SquadYour full fantasy team of 12 selected players.
BudgetThe maximum combined fantasy value you can spend on your squad.
Player valueThe fantasy-game price attached to a player for squad-building purposes.
ImportA player designated by RinkDraft as an import. Your squad can contain up to the competition's current import limit.
GameweekThe scoring period containing the relevant NIHL fixtures for that round.
Deadline / LockThe point after which squad changes cannot be made for, or may no longer count toward, the current gameweek.
Fantasy pointsThe points your selected players earn from eligible real-match statistics.
Player PoolThe list of players currently available for selection in RinkDraft.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Still not sure how something works?
Do I need to know loads about ice hockey?
No. Knowing the league and players can help, but RinkDraft is designed so you can learn as you go. Start with the player pool, values and recent information available on the site and build from there.
Why can't I just pick all the most expensive players?
Because your whole squad has to stay inside the budget. The challenge is deciding where to spend heavily and where to find lower-priced players who can still return useful fantasy points.
Does a more expensive player always score more?
No. Value is a squad-building price, not a promise. Real matches are unpredictable, which is exactly what makes fantasy sport interesting.
Why can't I select another import?
Your squad is limited to 3 imports under the current competition settings. If you are already at that limit, you will need to remove an import before adding another one.
What happens if one of my players does not play?
Fantasy scoring is based on the match data RinkDraft receives. Check the current Rules page for the scoring treatment that applies to appearances and player statistics.
Can I change my squad?
Use the Squad area and the gameweek countdown as your guide. When changes are available, make them before the displayed deadline. The site will indicate when a gameweek is locked.
Why did my points not update immediately?
Fantasy totals depend on match data being recorded and processed. Scores may therefore change as game information is completed, checked or corrected.
Why is a player worth a particular amount?
RinkDraft has a separate Player Values page explaining the valuation method, positional ranking, import premium and how new players are handled.
The easiest way to learn? Build a squad.
You do not need to memorise every rule before you start. Fill the positions shown in your Squad Builder, stay inside the budget and restrictions, keep an eye on the gameweek deadline and then follow your players through the weekend.