A Study of Ice Hockey
Ice hockey is a very interesting game. Its origins probably stemmed from the game of field hockey, but no one knows for sure when that happened. It is a fast-paced, exciting game which is very popular in North America and parts of Europe. With numerous fights common and high levels of skill shown by the players, it is a great sport for the fans to watch. Ice hockey has come a long way from being a modified version of field hockey, and now commands more fans and viewers than its predecessor. This interesting sport looks all set to branch out from its home in North America and take over the world.
There is no written documentation about the true origins of ice hockey, but many people think it came about as a modified version of field hockey that had been around for centuries. It could be that people in colder climates wanted to play hockey but there was too much snow around and the only flat hard surface to play it on was on a frozen lake and so skates were donned and ice hockey was born. The rules of ice hockey were invented and written down in 1875 by a Canadian named J.G.A. Creighton. The first proper ice hockey game with the new rules used in play took place that same year in Montreal, Canada. This is the reason why the sport is so popular in Canada and North America today; it was invented in the country so many years ago.
The rules of the sport are very simple; the main objective is to score more goals than the opposing team. Teams play on skates and hit a small black puck made of rubber using long curved sticks into the back of a 4 foot by 6 foot net. The net is guarded by a goal tender and these players have to try and stop shots fired at them with intense speed and accuracy. Each team has six members on the ice at one time, five players and one goalie. The interesting thing that separates ice hockey from other games is the fact that substitutions can occur at anytime in the game and do not require a stoppage in play. They are also unlimited and it is not uncommon to see players coming onto the ice while others are leaving throughout the game. The other differentiating factor in the sport is brawling. Ice hockey was known to feature numerous fights in every game but that was changed after a few years to try and bring some order to the game. Major penalties can now be awarded for fighting, but these do not last more than five minutes and substitutions can occur if a player is sent off. For severe infractions, players can be ejected from the game as well.
Over the years, there have been some top quality ice hockey players. Opinions will always be divided as to who is the greatest, but in a list of the top ten players of all time, one name stands out consistently: Wayne Gretzky. This Canadian player was at the top of the sport for the entire time he played it. He has been named as the greatest player of the game in numerous publications and even in Total Hockey: The Official Encyclopaedia of the NHL. This great athlete’s career started in 1978 and he took his team, the Edmonton Oilers, to four Stanley Cup victories and produced numerous scoring records along the way. He was so good that upon his retirement in 1999, the NHL decided to waive the three year required waiting period and inducted him into the NHL Hall of Fame straight upon his retirement. Other greats of the game include Gordon “Gordie” Howe, Mario Lemieux, Robert Gordon “Bobby” Orr and many others.
Ice hockey is a very exciting sport that is also part of the Olympics. It is one of the world’s most popular team sports and ranks as one of North America’s top games. It has become so popular and its players have become so famous that the game is slowly spreading around the world. It is likely that it will be played all over the world soon.
Tags: