Hockey is a popular game played all over the world. The exact date of its origin is not known. One belief is that it originated from the English game of field hockey. When the English came to North America, they realized that ice is faster than grass and started playing on ice covered ponds. Today, the term ‘hockey’ in the US is synonymous with ice hockey. The term ‘hockey’ is derived from the French word ‘hoquet’ meaning ‘shepherds crook’ which is similar in shape to a hockey stick.
Modern ice hockey was played for the first time in the United States in 1893. The game became very popular and in a very short time spread to Great Britain and other European countries. It is now played in around 30 countries and mostly in North America, Scandinavia and Russia. It is also the national game of Canada.
Ice hockey is played on natural or artificial ice on an oval shaped rink of 61 m by 25.5 m .Two goal nets, each measuring 1.22 m high and 1.83 m wide are placed at both ends of the rink. Each team consists of six players. The players are divided into one center, two forwards, two defenders and one goaltender or goalie. The game is played with wooden or metal sticks around 152 cm in length. A hard rubber disc called a puck is used to score goals. The players wear padded clothing and gloves to protect themselves. The team scoring the most goals wins.
The National Hockey League was formed in 1917, made up of teams from the United States and Canada. In the early years, almost all hockey players were from Canada, but more recently, there has been an upsurge in players from the United States and European countries, who have started participating in the game. The Stanley Cup, held annually, is the most famous competition for ice hockey.
Interest in ice hockey is on the rise in schools, colleges and universities. More and more youngsters have started playing the game. The live telecast of almost all the professional league matches played in United States proves the popularity of the game, as well.
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Ice Hockey
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Great Britain and France are the origins of Ice Hockey. The first evidence of ice hockey goes back to 500 years. Many people believe that, field hockey players made some adjustments in field hockey, so that they could play during cold and icy winter months....
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Roller Hockey
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
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Roller hockey or inline hockey is played on roller or inline skates, with wheels placed in groups of 3 or 4 in a single line. In the United States of America, it has grown into a significant sport, and indoor roller teams now play on...
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Hockey Jerseys
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Hockey in the United States is played on ice. It is essential for players to protect themselves from the cold of the ice rink. Hockey jerseys are the outer clothing worn by ice hockey players. It is a loose shirt worn above layers of padded...
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College Hockey
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Hockey is a sport in which two teams trying to maneuver a hard round disc called a puck into rival’s net, using a hockey stick. This sport is also played at college-level, and each college or institution may have its own hockey team. Intra-collegiate or...
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History Of Hockey
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Hockey is a game that has existed in some form or the other for several hundred years. Evidence shows that in Ethiopia, it was played almost 4000 years ago. In Greece, there are evidences in the form of table-pictures that show young people playing field...
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Air Hockey
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Air Hockey is a sport played between two players trying to outscore each other by descending puck on opponent’s goal. This game is played on a special table called Air Hockey table. An air hockey table is commonly a platform with a very large and...
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Hockey Tickets
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Hockey tickets are entry tickets to watch hockey games and championships. Earlier, the tickets were made of cheap quality paper but now the tickets are very colorful and made from good quality paper. A range of ticket packages are available on the Internet Many ticket...
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Hockey Equipment
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Hockey is one of the most popular contact games played in the US, probably next only to soccer and rugby. There are several versions of hockey played such as field, inline, rink and ice hockey. All use specialized gear and equipment. The basic equipment of...
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Roller Hockey Equipment
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Roller hockey, also known as inline hockey, is played on roller or inline skates with wheels, which are placed in sets of three or four in a single line. Skates are generally priced at $100 and up. Aluminum sticks are preferred for roller hockey, however,...
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Football Trophies
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American football is the number-one spectator team sport in the U.S.A. Outside of the U.S. and Canada it is called American football, to distinguish it from other football games like soccer or rugby football. American football evolved from rugby football in the late nineteenth century....