Ice hockey is a lightning-fast, hard-hitting team sport where being tough is a must! This Olympic sport includes both men's and women's events.

The Rules of the Game
Each team consists of 18-22 players, with only five players and one goalie allowed on the ice per team. The players must use their long hockey sticks to hit or slap the puck, a small, hard rubber disc, into their opponents' goal net. The goalie must guard the net and wear extra-thick padding and a face mask as protection from all those swinging sticks and flying pucks.

The team scoring the most goals into their opponents' net over the course of three 20-minute periods is the winner. In the event of a tie at the end of regulation play, a 10-minute overtime period will be played. If the game still is tied after the overtime period, penalty shots will determine a winner.

By Sara Huberty