Can you guess what sport we will be discussing this week? Hint: it is played on ICE!
History
Okay since the weather is getting colder…sort of, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to talk about my favorite sport to watch…HOCKEY! Also yes I can confirm, hockey players are attractive, but that is not the only reason why I love the game. That is just a perk!
The history of this sport is a little ambiguous because there have been many different forms of the game that date back centuries. However, the first on ICE stick and ball game was played in Scotland in the early 1600s. As you can assume, during this time, the game was played using a stick to help move the ball on the ice. This version of the game began to spread throughout countries and eventually made it to Canada.
Canada helped create the modern game that we love today in the 19th century. The first recorded ice hockey game was played on March 3, 1875. The game was played between two teams of nine players each from Montreal’s Victoria Skating Club. This game was played using a wooden flat block (the puck) and sticks.
By the late 19th century, the game had spread and became popular in America. Soon, leagues in Canada and America began to emerge, which eventually led to the creation of the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1917.
Now let's learn the basic game play and rules of ice hockey, so you can become the next biggest hockey fan or even player!
Source: Image taken by Sumedha Shrestha
Game Play
If you have watched even a little snippet of a hockey game, then you know how intense it is. Hockey is a very fast paced and aggressive game with a lot of different rules.
During a hockey game, there are 6 players on the ice for each team. One of the 6 players is the goalie. The hockey rink is 100 feet long and 85 feet wide with rounded corners, and each end of the rink has a goal net too.
A face-off at center ice signals the start of the game. A face-off is when two players from opposite teams line up head-to-head, and the referee releases the hockey puck between them. Following that, each player utilizes their hockey stick to try and pass the puck to their teammate. Face-offs also happen to restart plays after penalties or stoppages of game.
A common stoppage that occurs during a hockey game is icing. Icing happens when a player fires the puck from behind the red line (center red line), and it surpasses the goal line into the offensive zone without being touched by a hockey stick.
Once the game starts, the goal of the game is to score the most goals by shooting the puck into the opposing team’s net. Players will move the puck down the rink to help them and their teammates get into the perfect position to shoot the puck into the net. Players have 3 periods that are each 20 minutes long to score the most goals. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, an overtime period will be played.
Like other sports, hockey also has rules that players must follow so things do not get out of hand and players do not get a penalty. However, if a player decides to bend the rules they will get penalized for it.
Slashing, tripping, hooking, high-sticking, and cross-checking are some minor penalties that can occur during a game. If this happens, then the player who did any of those actions must sit in the penalty box for 2 minutes. This will give the other team an advantage in the game because the penalized team is down a player. This is called a power play.
Those are just some minor penalties, however sometimes players can be penalized for longer minutes in the penalty box or even ejected from the game. This all depends on the level of penalty committed by the player.
Now that you understand the basic rules of the game, it is time to watch and fall in love with the sport!
Why Hockey?
Why should you get into hockey? Why is it such a fun sport? Why is it my favorite sport to watch? Well here are some fun pictures and videos that prove why I love it so much.
1. The intensity at a hockey game is unmatched to any other sport.
2. Making friends and getting to celebrate and watch games together.
3. The mascots are so silly! (Bernie is the best mascot in the NHL.)
4. It is so mezmorizing watching hockey players gliding on the ice.
5. Hockey jerseys are so comfy to wear, and they look so cool and stylish.
6. Hockey players (at least the ones I have met) are kind and humble.
7. This video is kind of embarrassing, but there is no better feeling than when your team wins. (Especially in overtime)
8. Hockey pucks can be used as decorations!
I have so many more pictures and videos, but I hope these were enough to show you why hockey is awesome! Can you tell what my favorite team is?
Source: All images and videos were taken by Sumedha Shrestha
Joke of the Week!
Q: Why did the ice hockey player not perform well?
A: He got cold feet, and read Learn To Sports to help him feel better!
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