Ice Hockey is a fast, physical form of hockey played on skates, on a sheet of ice. Players advance a small, rubber puck up the ice with the intention of putting it in the opposing team's goal.

Canada's finest export? No, not Molson. It's ice hockey: the hard-hitting game where two teams skate on an oval-shaped sheet of ice while controlling a small, rubber disk called a puck. Physical contact is common (and usually encouraged), but is controlled by referees who discipline players by removing them from the ice for short periods of time. Games consist of three 20-minute periods, with overtimes and shootouts in place to break ties. The team with the most goals at the end of the game is the winner.

Score goals by shooting the puck into the opponent's goal.

Ice hockey games consist of three 20-minute periods. Play begins with a faceoff. Teams consist of five players and one goaltender. Players control the puck using a long stick with a curved blade on one end. The puck may be redirected with any part of a player's body, but cannot be kicked or batted into the goal with their hands or feet. The five players other than the goaltender are typically divided into three forwards and two defensemen. The forwards consist of a center and two wingers. Alternate sets of players can be substituted at any time during the game. Players who commit penalties are sent to the penalty box for a designated period of time. Minor penalties such as tripping, elbowing or high-sticking result in 2 minutes spent in the penalty box, while major penalties result in 5 minutes. These are usually violent infractions that result in intentional injury to an opponent. Goals are scored by putting the puck in the opponent's goal. The team with the most goals at the end of the game is the winner.

Evidence of games between teams hitting an object with curved sticks dates back over 4000 years. The first instances of playing on ice appeared in 17th century Dutch paintings. These games spread throughout Europe, and eventually to North America. The first recorded ice hockey games were played in Eastern Canada in the mid 1850's. The first known set of rules was written in Montreal in the early 1870's. These rules established the number of players per side and the use of a square puck instead of a ball. The first "modern" game was played in Montreal in 1875. By the 1890's ice hockey had spread to the United States and Europe. In 1908 the Ligue Internationale de Hockey sur Glace was founded as the governing body for all international competition. By the middle of the 20th century, professional hockey leagues had formed in Canada and the United States. Today hockey is an extremely popular sport, played in many countries throughout the world. The ice hockey competition at the Winter Olympics is considered the biggest ice hockey event in the world.

Gloves
Goals
Helmet
Padding
Puck
Skates
Stick

Ice hockey is a dangerous sport due to the amount of contact allowed and the speed in which the puck travels. Common injuries include breaks, sprains and concussions. A helmet and padding should be worn at all times.

Ice hockey requires players to possess a mix of speed, agility, strength and endurance on ice skates. These can be attained through weight training and various skating drills.

Breakaway - when a player with the puck has no defending players, except for the goaltender, between himself and the opposing goal

Checking - attempting to take the puck from an opponent or to remove the opponent from play

Faceoff - method of starting play, where the puck is dropped between two opposing players on a designated spot on the ice

Icing - shooting the puck from one's own end of the rink to the other, but not into the goal; results in a face-off on one's own side

Line Change - strategically substituting an entire unit of players for another; can be done at any point during a game

Penalty Box - area where a player sits to serve the time of a given penalty

Power Play - a numerical advantage gained by one team when at least one member of the opposing team is in the penalty box

Puck - a black disk made of hard rubber

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey