While hokey may not be one of the most decorated and celebrated games, many sports enthusiasts are intrigued by the game. Hockey was conceptualized in the late 19th century and has received considerable changes ever since. There are numerous variations of the sport, but perhaps the most popular variant is ice hockey, which is quite prevalent in the United States and Canada.
What’s more, the sport has been such a success in America that pundits have started getting in on the action. Avid gamblers in the country make the most of NHL odds to stand a chance of winning big.
There are plenty of games that derive from the original hockey game. Some of these hockey variants include table hockey, air hockey, skater hockey, and polo. Still, the two conventional variants of hockey include ice hockey and field hockey. Depending on where you’re from, you may have experienced any of these types of hockey. This article explores these two main types of hockey and highlights their similarities and differences.
Field Hockey
Although field hockey may not be very popular in the United States, it is arguably the most prevalent variety in other parts of the world. Field hockey takes place on turfs, gravel, natural grass, or water and sand-based synthetic turfs.
In a typical field hockey game, two teams of eleven players try to maneuver the ball to their opponent’s side and score. Players use J-shaped sticks made of wood composite, glass fiber, or carbon fiber to move the ball around.
While the sport is popular among males and females, it is predominantly played by females in the United States. The first field hockey club was founded in the mid-1800s, and the sport was introduced to the Olympics in 1908. While field hockey is yet to attain worldwide dominance, it is widespread in England, South Asia, India, Pakistani, and South Africa.
Ice Hockey
Another famous variation of hockey is ice hockey. As the name suggests, the sport takes place on an ice rink between two teams of six players. A rubber puck is used in ice hockey instead of a ball, and players move around on bladed skates. Furthermore, ice hockey involves L-shaped sticks made from wood, composite, or graphite and have a blade that can lay flat on the ice surface. While the sport is most popular among males, there are also plenty of female ice hockey teams.
One of the most distinctive features of the sport, apart from the ice arenas, is the protective equipment that every player must wear. Unlike other hockey variations where only the goalie adorns protective gear, every participating ice hockey player must wear head and face protection.
The sport first originated in Canada, back in 1875, and quickly gained a worldwide audience. It became part of the Olympic Games in 1924. Although the National Hockey League (NHL) of the United States is the most popular ice hockey league, many other countries also enjoy the sport.
Conclusion
Hockey is one of the oldest games in human history, with records indicating people have played it ever since ancient Egypt. Although there have been many variations of the sport, the two listed above are the most prevalent ones.
