What is FOW in hockey stats? FOW stands for Faceoffs Won by a player, a key metric in evaluating a player’s skill in taking faceoffs. Alongside FOW, players are also tracked on FOL (Faceoffs Lost) and Faceoff Win Percentage.
Sports are a treasure trove for statistics lovers. There’s an endless array of things to track, each with its own set of abbreviations. One abbreviation you’ll see often, but might not immediately recognize, is FOW.
The Faceoff Win Percentage, or FOW%, is the crown jewel of faceoff stats. But before we dive into that, let’s understand why faceoffs are so crucial in the NHL.
Why Are Faceoff Wins Important In Ice Hockey and What is fow in hockey stats?
NHL coaches, management, and players place huge importance on winning faceoffs. But why is that? Let’s consider another critical stat: possession. This represents the percentage of time your team controls the puck during a game. For example, your team might possess the puck 55% of the time, leaving the other team with 45%.
Possession is vital because there’s a strong correlation between winning games and high possession stats. Essentially, if your team has the puck more than 50% of the time, you’re likely winning more games than you lose.
So, what boosts a team’s possession stats? Several factors, but winning faceoffs is a big one. The more faceoffs you win, the more your team controls the puck. Simple as that.
How Is A Faceoff Win Determined?
A faceoff win isn’t just about who touches the puck first after it’s dropped but about which team gains possession. There’s that word again—possession.
For instance, two centers might tie each other up, neutralizing each other, while a winger swoops in to grab the puck. The winger’s action results in a faceoff win for the team.
This example shows that faceoff wins and losses aren’t solely about the player taking the faceoff but involve the entire team. While the stat is recorded for the player taking the draw, the outcome is influenced by everyone on the ice. Still, some players consistently outperform others in faceoffs.
What Are Good Numbers For Someone Who Is Taking Faceoffs?
When analyzing faceoffs, the most critical number is the Faceoff Win Percentage. No one really focuses on the total number of faceoff wins—knowing a player won 550 faceoffs in a season doesn’t tell us much.
However, knowing a player has a 55% faceoff win rate indicates they’re winning more than they lose, helping their team gain possession.
So, the go-to stat is FOW%—Faceoff Win Percentage. Generally, players aim to win 50% or more of their faceoffs, with top players hitting around 60%.
Engaging with these metrics can make you appreciate the subtle yet crucial aspects of hockey, highlighting how small stats can lead to significant impacts on the game.
