Ice Hockey Guide: Health Benefits, Rules and Gear Care

Ice hockey offers intense cardiovascular benefits and tones muscles in the legs, core, and arms. Learn the rules for faceoffs and how to properly cut or recurve a composite hockey stick.

hockey goalie

What Are the Health Benefits of Playing Hockey?

Hockey, whether played on ice or on a field, is a sport that offers a total-body workout that includes both aerobic and anaerobic elements. The fast-paced nature of the sport provides aerobic exercise, while the reliance on all of the body’s major muscle groups also makes it an anaerobic activity.

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Ice hockey player

Body Characteristics of Hockey Players

Hockey players are known for their physical toughness, willingness to battle through injuries, skating ability and talent with the puck. Players who can take the hits and keep on going forward need strong and resilient bodies.

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Playing roller in-line hockey in Washington

How to Cut a Composite Hockey Stick

A hockey stick is frequently customized to meet the specific needs of each player. Blade curve and size, manufacturing materials, stick flex and taping methods will all vary from player to player. Stick length varies too, and sticks are often cut down to accommodate a player's height and reach.

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Ice Hockey players on rink

How to Recurve a Composite Hockey Stick

For most hockey players, choosing the proper stick is a personal decision. Selecting the right height, weight and flexibility can be the difference between a game-winning goal and missing the net completely. One of the most important factors when choosing a hockey stick is the curve of its blade.

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Ice hockey game

What Muscles Are Used While Playing Hockey?

Hockey demands speed, quickness, agility and balance, plus the ability to absorb and dish out impacts. You often perform these simultaneously -- such as when you get checked into the boards and try to remain on your skates while fighting for the puck.

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Player skating towards goal

What Is a Fight Strap on a Hockey Jersey?

The fight strap on a hockey jersey attaches the player’s jersey to his pants, ensuring that his jersey cannot come off during a fight. Players who fight without a fight strap run the risk of receiving an extra penalty as a result.

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Hockey players at face-off

Why Do Players Get Kicked Out in Faceoffs in Hockey?

In hockey, the whistle blows, but play doesn't start until the linesman drops the puck. The centers of the two opposing teams quickly line up for a faceoff to start the play. Winning the faceoff is key to gaining possession of the puck.

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Why Can't Hockey Players Pick Up Their Stick?

Ice hockey is a game of skating speed, aggressiveness, stickhandling, shooting and passing. In the hands of the right player, a hockey stick can pass a puck 60 feet right on to the tape of another player's stick blade.

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Ice hockey stick and puck on rink

The Length of a Professional Hockey Game

Although hockey features rules concerning the length of each game, certain things can happen that will extend the game significantly. Overtime, injuries and the fact that the clock stops on every whistle cause games to last much longer than their 60-minute time limits.

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What Happens in a Tie Game in Hockey?

Hockey is 60 minutes of intense skating, shooting, blocking, checking and penalties. Sixty minutes is not always enough to decide the outcome of a National Hockey League game. Sixty minutes may also not be enough for the hockey fan as Forbes.com reports a drastic increase in hockey revenue and popularity.

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Female ice hockey player skating during a game

How Many Calories Are Burned in a Game of Hockey?

A sport for highly skilled athletes, ice hockey requires a combination of aerobic and anaerobic fitness. The game is split into 3 periods of 20 minutes each, with frequent moments of high intensity. A study in the December 2014 issue of the "Journal of Human Kinetics"

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Figure Skates Vs. Hockey Skates

Figure skates and hockey skates differ from one another in several ways, including the shape and features of the blade and the composition of the boot. These differences adapt each skate to its particular sport. Understanding the differences can help recreational skaters decide which type of skate is right for them.

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