Ice Hockey
7,272 ReadsIce Hockey is known as the fastest game on earth. It is a team sport played on ice where skaters use hockey sticks to shoot a rubber disk into their opponent's net.
In the US and Canada, it is simply known as "hockey", while the name "ice hockey" is popular in countries where hockey means "field hockey".
Ice Hockey
Ice Hockey is known as the fastest game on Earth.Origins
There are many examples of games like hockey were played in different parts of the world throughout history. Researchers suggest that people played ice hockey as early as the 5th century.
Equipment
Positions
There are 5 skaters and 1 goalie for each team on the ice at one time.He shot the puck!
Positions
3 ForwardsCenter
The center is involved in many of the face-offs and is usually very good at passing the puck and shooting.
Positions
3 ForwardsRight Wing
The right wing plays mostly on the right side of the ice. He should be able to dig out the puck from the corners and battle in front of the net. He should be a good shooter.
Positions
3 ForwardsLeft Wing
He works the left side of the ice for the most part. He needs to be a physical player who is good along the boards and in the corner.
2 Defensemen - left and right
One of the defenders is usually more creative and offensive-minded; he likes to control the puck and move it forward with passes to his team members.
Goalie
The goalie's job is to protect the goal so that the other team does not score. He has extra padding to prevent injury.
On ice!
Game time
A professional game consists of 3 periods of 20 minutes each.
During a hockey game, the players are moving at about 30 miles per hour.
Game location:
Players play hockey on an ice rink.
The ICE - the hockey rink
The playing area is an iced area that is rectangular with rounded corners. A wall surrounds the ice area and is approximately 40-48 inches high (these are the boards).
Playing by the Rules
Puck
A puck is a smal rubber disk that slides on the ice, and players move it around with a stick. The puck is 3 inches in diameter and 1 inch thick.Stick
A hockey stick is a wooden stick with a curved end. Players use the stick to move the puck along the ice.
Pads
Pads are part of the gear worn by hockey players, to protect various parts of the body (like the shins, the head, and the shoulders).Goal
The goal includes two posts and a back net and is 72 inches wide by 48 inches tall.
Scoring
Each team tries to defend a goal and each team attempts to shoot the puck into the opposing goal. Each time the puck crosses the goal line, the team earns 1 point.Faceoff
The referee drops the puck between each team's center in order to start play at the beginning of each period, and after each goal scored. There are special faceoff spots or dots on the playing surface.
Offside
An offside penalty occurs when player on the attacking team enters the attacking zone before the puck does, unless a defender sent or carried the puck to that location. When there is an offside penalty, the referee restarts the play with a faceoff.Ice the puck or icing
Icing is a penalty that occurs when a player shoots the puck across at least two red lines (including the other team's goal line) without being touched by a player.
Out of play
When the puck leaves the playing area, it is out of play and the referee holds a faceoff to restart play.Body check
Players can body check each other into the boards. This use of the hip and shoulder to bump another player is body checking.
Illegal hockey moves:
What hockey players cannot do:
Players cannot hit another player from behind.
Players cannot use forceful stick-on-body contact.
Players cannot hold the puck.
Players cannot direct the puck into the goal with their hands.
Players cannot kick the puck into the goal.
Penalties after illegal moves
A puck can travel up to 100 miles per hour.
A goalie's chest pad is made of the same material as a bulletproof vest.
Penalty shot
Timeline
5th century to 1648 (Middle Ages & Dutch Golden Age) - Early versions of hockey were played in various places and with different equipment.1875 - First organized hockey game was played in Montreal, Canada.
1877 - Players identified the first 7 hockey rules.
1883 - Montreal, Canada included hockey in their Winter Carnival.
1885 - The Montreal City Hockey League formed.
1893 - There were over 100 hockey teams (just in Montreal, Canada).
Timeline
1910 - The Natioanl Hockey Association formed in Montreal, Canada.
1917 - NHA became the National Hockey League and expanded into the U.S.
1924 - The Winter Olympics inluded hockey for the first time.
1952 - Canada won 6 of the first 7 Olympic gold medals (between 1924-1952).
Timeline
1969 - Karen Koch became the first professional female hockey player.
Timeline
1990 - Hockey Super Skill championships began with competitions for the fastest skater, the hardest shot, breakaway challenges, and goalkeeper skills.
1994 - There was a player lockout where owners and the NHL argued with players about salaries and other work issues.
1998 - Women's ice hockey became a medal sport at the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.
Timeline
2004 - There was a lockout and disputes over player salaries. As a result, the entire season was cancelled.
2005 - The NHL created stricter rules about body checking to keep play moving and increase scoring opportunities.
2012 - There was another lockout, which was a labor dispute over player salaries. As a result, 510 regular season games were cancelled.
Legends
Bobby Orr - Canadian
Orr started playing hockey at the age of 5. When he joined the Boston Bruins in 1966, he became the highest paid rookie in NHL history. He was the Boston Bruins' star player from the end of the 1960s to mid-1970s.
He played for 9 seasons (1966-1975) in the NHL. He helped the Bruins win 2 Stanley Cup Championships. Bobby Orr is one of the greatest hockey players of all time.
Legends
Gordie Howe - Canadian
Nickname: Mr. Hockey
Howe entered the National Hockey League in 1946 at the age of 18. He scored a goal in his first game then went on to score 1,070 more goals in his career.
Howe played for the Detroit Red Wings, Houston Aeros, New England Whalers, and Hartford Whalers. As a Detroit Red Wing, Howe led the team to 4 Stanley Cup Championships.
Legends
Gordie Howe - Canadian
Nickname: Mr. Hockey
Howe set the record for the most records by any athlete ever in any sport. He had the all-time record for goals (1,071), assists (1518), points (2,589) games played (2,421), All Star appearances (29) most MVP's (7), most scoring titles (6) and most seasons played (32).
Howe had his best years when he was 41 and 48 years old! He was a tough player, so he had many injuries during his career. Over time, he had to have 500 stitches in his face!
Legends
Mario Lemieux - Canadian
Lemieux started playing professionally at the age of 15. He was a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins from 1984-2006. He was the Rookie of the Year, and he was the first rookie named as All Star MVP.
Lemieux was a fast skater, he was good at faking out the defense, and was a key playmaker. Despite many health problems that limited his play, he led the Pittsburgh Penguins to 2 Stanley Cup Championships.
In 1988, Lemieux scored 8 points and became the only player in NHL history to score a goal in all 5 possible game situations in the same game: even-strength, power-play, shorthanded, penalty shot, and empty-net.
Legends
Mario Lemieux - Canadian
He tied the NHL record for most goals and points in a postseason game, most goals in a postseason period (4 goals in the first period), and most assists in a postseason period (three assists in the second period).
Aside from being an amazing hockey player, Lemieux created the Mario Lemieux Foundation to raise money for medical research. He was diagnosed with cancer in 1993, he was Knighted in 2009, and he was given the Order of Canada from the Governor-General in 2010.
Legends
Wayne Gretzky – Canada
Nickname: The Great One
Gretzky started skating and playing hockey when he was 6 years old. Gretzky played the position of center. He had a unique strategy of passing the puck to oncoming players, and he worked to surprise the defense with his moves and tricks.
Gretzky played for several different teams, including the Edmonton Oilers. He led the Oilers to 4 Stanley Cup championships. Gretzky played in the NHL's All-Star Game every year he was in the league and was the first player to be named the game MVP with three different teams.
Legends
Wayne Gretzky – Canada
Nickname: The Great One
Off the rink and after he retired from playing in 1999, Gretzky has been in many advertisements for different companies (like Pepsi), he works to raise money for several different charities, he started a winery, and he served as the executive director of the men's Olympic hockey team.
