DEFINITION:
Competitive Ice Hockey – A fast-paced team sport played on ice, utilizing a small rubber puck and hockey sticks. Two teams of six players each, including a goaltender, compete to score goals against each other by shooting the puck into the opponent’s net while simultaneously defending their own.
FAQs:
1. What equipment is required to play competitive ice hockey?
Answer: To play competitive ice hockey, players typically wear skates, helmets, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, shin guards, and a protective cup. Goaltenders also wear specialized equipment, including leg pads and a chest protector.
2. How long does a competitive ice hockey game last?
Answer: A regular competitive ice hockey game consists of three periods, each lasting 20 minutes. However, stoppages in play, such as penalties or time-outs, can extend the game’s total duration.
3. How is a winner determined in competitive ice hockey games?
Answer: The team that scores the most goals during the game is declared the winner. In case of a tie after three periods, additional overtime periods may be played, depending on the league’s rules, until a winner is determined.
4. Are there any restrictions on player movements in competitive ice hockey?
Answer: There are several rules in competitive ice hockey to regulate player movements. For example, players cannot trip, hold, or interfere with opponents using their hands, feet, stick, or body. Checking from behind, hitting an opponent in the head, and other dangerous maneuvers are strictly prohibited.
5. How are penalties enforced in competitive ice hockey?
Answer: When a player violates the rules, they may receive a penalty, resulting in a time designated for them to spend off the ice. Penalties can range from minor offenses with a two-minute penalty to major infractions resulting in a five-minute penalty or even a game misconduct expulsion.
