Hockey is an adrenaline filled, full contact sport with six players trying to score on the others goal. This 100% action sport is played all around the world, is played like a religion in Northern Europe, and has its own holidays in Canada.                

Game Rules

Hockey is for the most part a simple and fun game.  There are several rules and penalties. The first (and most common) rule is that there is no off-side. Off-side is when a player goes across the opposite blue line without or before the puck gets there. There is no major penalty applying to this rule.

          Icing another very common penalty. Icing is when the puck is passed from one side to the rink to the other by the defense. There is also no major penalty to this rule.

          Now rules that will put you in the penalty box or get you kicked out. One of them is cross-checking. Cross-checking is when someone takes there stick and shoves a person against the boards. One other penalty, Tripping is when someone uses their stick to trip someone.

When you play hockey there will be 12 players on the ice at one time- six on offence, six on defense and two goalies. Defense is played of course, when the puck is in your zone. And offense is when you are trying to score on the other goal. 

          Defense

When playing defense there are only two players playing “deep” in their zone. It is not like football or baseball where the teams bring out different players or stopping the game to switch sides, but the game keeps on going like basketball.

        Offense

Offense is the exact opposite of defense- instead of trying to stop the other team from scoring; now you are trying to score on them. There are three people playing offense, left wing, center, and right wing.

GEAR

Gear for players and goalies differ, they both have skates, but they’re different. Skater skates are taller and have a rocking curve in them fore extra speed, acceleration and maneuverability.  Goalie skates are flat and shorter in height so the goalie can slide across the crease. Goalie skates are lower because it makes it easier for the goalie to make saves. Goalie skates also have a thick peace of plastic in the front reinforced by steal. Goalie sticks are fat to easily stop shots; they are also quite heavy compared to the skater sticks. Now goalie pads and skater pads are different; goalies have massive pads for extra protection against the pucks; that are flying at them sometimes over ninety miles per hour. Skater pads are smaller but hard as a rock. They are smaller because they need more maneuverability.

Now since you have been informed about hockey, I hope that you will support your nearest hockey league. Or maybe if you don’t have any hockey in your area, try to get a rink started!!!