Ice Hockey: Speed, Skill, and Frozen Action

Ice hockey is one of the fastest team sports on Earth. Two teams of six players skate across a frozen rink trying to shoot a hard rubber disc called a puck into the opponent's net. Players can reach speeds over 30 kilometers per hour, and pucks can fly at more than 160 km/h! The rink is surrounded by boards (the walls around the ice) and thick glass so fans can watch safely. A standard game has three periods, each 20 minutes long, with breaks in between to resurface the ice using a special machine called a Zamboni.

Skating works because ice is slippery — but why? The blade of a skate is very narrow, so all your body weight presses on a tiny area. This creates pressure that slightly melts the ice just beneath the blade, making a thin film of water that acts like a lubricant (a slippery layer that reduces friction). When you push the blade sideways against the ice, that friction is what actually moves you forward. Hockey skates have a slightly curved blade called a rocker, which helps players turn quickly and change direction in a fraction of a second.

Each player on the ice has a position with a specific job. The three forwards — the center and two wingers — focus on attacking and scoring. The two defensemen protect their own net and try to block opposing players. The goalie (also called the goaltender) guards the net and is the last line of defense. Goalies wear enormous pads on their legs, a large glove called a blocker on one hand, and a catching glove called a trapper on the other. All that gear can weigh over 20 kilograms!