Ice hockeyI. HistoryAround 1820 the sport began to gain traction among visitors to the frozen lakes. In Europe, people had played field hockey and another game for years, but this new version of the old sport required players to wear skates. Using metal blades that could be attached to their boots, players cut branches from trees to use as sticks; for records they used round pieces of cork or wooden balls. In 1870, each team consisted of nine players skating at the same time, and body checking was not permitted. There were no substitutions, so players were expected to play the full 60 minutes of the match. By 1880, the game had begun to grow into the game we know today; the squads were reduced to seven-man units. The puck replaced the ball and the sticks were flattened on both sides to allow players to handle the puck better. Pads and gloves used by players in cricket and baseball were used to protect the legs and hands of hockey players. Before that, players had used anything they could get their hands on to protect themselves. The exact origin of formal hockey is unknown. Some historians report that the first official game was played in Kingston, Ontario, in 1867.II. The aim of the game Hockey is a simple game. The offense tries to get the puck into the net and the defense tries to stop it. Each player carries a stick, usually wooden, and wears protective clothing. Goalies, or keepers, carry heavily...