Often regarded as the fastest game in the world, Ice Hockey, as the name suggests, is played on ice. It's a team sport played on an ice rink as two teams battle it out to score the most goals. Similar to hockey, the opponents use their ice hockey sticks to shoot a vulcanized, rubber disc called a puck into the goalpost. Each goal gets one point and the team with the most goals wins the competition. Therefore, it is a full-contact sport filled with drama and excitement. The sport features in the Winter Olympics with the US, Canadian and Russian teams often dominating the headlines. Significantly, the International Ice Hockey Federation governs the game. Similarly to ice hockey, many countries play field hockey with rules similar to that of ice hockey.

History of Ice Hockey

Earlier, people believed ice hockey originated in England. However, research suggests, the game was seen throughout Canada by British soldiers in the mid-1800s. At first, the players adopted fundamental techniques like 'bully' (later the face-off), and 'shinning' ( hitting one's opponent on the shins), and later it evolved into a game called shinty. Later on, the game evolved into more than 30 players battling it out against each other. The first-ever public indoor ice hockey game recorded was back in 1875, between two teams at McGill University. By the later 1800s, the sport drew large crowds in Canada and competed with Lacrosse as one of the popular sports.

Always dubbed to be a violent game, soon, the players received protective equipment, and rinks were developed. In 1893, the Stanley Cup came into existence after Frederick Arthur, Lord Stanley of Preston, donated the cup to the top team. Even though Canada popularized the sport, the first professional team recorded was back in 1903 in the United States of America, named Portage Lakes. After that, the year 1910 saw National Hockey Association formed, which was the forerunner of the National Hockey League. It became the most widely recognized sport in hockey associations in North America. Moreover, Montreal Canadiens from Canada became the most successful team with 24 cup victories.

?Rules and Regulations

With the sport accustomed to its physical nature, checking is a body contact that opponents can use to take them out of play. A face-off is held where an official drops the puck for the players to battle it out. 11 players play in a team where six players play on the rink with five subs waiting in the technical area. The goalie never leaves his goal area. In the NHL, there are three periods in the game with over 20 minutes played between both teams. The periods increase during the playoffs as they wait for a team to score the first goal.

Greatest Ice Hockey players

Wayne Gretzky

Regarded as the 'Great One', Wayne Gretzky remains one of the most dominant athletes of all time. The sheer commitment to be the best saw his jersey being retired by the whole league- the famous '99.' He won nine NHL MVPs and a 4x Stanley Cup championships. He scored the most points with 2857, scored 894 goals, and 1963 assists. In fact, no player reached 2000 career points in the NHL as Gretzky stands atop the charts. He has a scoring streak of 51 points which may stand as a record that won't be broken.

Mario Lemieux

The three-time MVP and two-time Stanley Cup winner Mario Lemieux is one of the greatest ice hockey players of all time. Apart from Gretzky, he has the most points in a single season. He also recorded a 46-game point streak that proved to be sensational. Mario holds a unique record of scoring a 'cycle', where he scored a goal in all five variations of ice hockey. Retired from the sport with 1723 points, he is a generational talent.

Gordie Howe

4x Stanley Cup champion, 6x NHL MVP, and a 23x All-Star, Gordie Howe epitomized fitness and determination. He played his last game at the age of 51 playing around 1767 games. Charming but with an inner steel inside, he scored 23 goals in 22 consecutive seasons.

Sidney Crosby

Watching young kids to the fullest of their abilities is a treat to watch. That happened with Sidney Crosby as he became the youngest player to lead his team to a Stanley Cup victory at 21. Affectionately named 'Sid the Kid,' he led his NHL teams well and continues to play.