| Since the creation and foundation of Hockey, this sport | | | | played in the Olympics giving the top players more |
| has crossed from Canada-the birthplace of the sport | | | | opportunity to compete and face off with other |
| and across the pond to Europe and back to the United | | | | professional players from different countries. There |
| States. As far as competition at the worldwide level, | | | | have been 9 women's competitions and women's |
| the international men's ice hockey world championships | | | | hockey has been in the Olympics since 1998 and in the |
| are highly regarded by Europeans and less regarded | | | | wintertime of 2006 marked the world championship or |
| by American citizens because it coincides at the same | | | | Olympic face with Canada and Sweden not Canada |
| time the Stanley cup playoffs happen. Regrettably, | | | | and the US. |
| Canada, United States, and other countries with a huge | | | | Females are coming into the fold on own in this sport |
| concentration of NHL players haven't always been | | | | and are competing just as hard as males. Women |
| able to round their best because many top players are | | | | have quite some distance to go relating to really being |
| playing for the Stanley cup trophy. | | | | there with males at the domestic and international |
| For years professionals were barred from playing at | | | | levels. Hockey was always that sport dominated by |
| the international level, and now that a great many | | | | males and yet females have long just before they're |
| Europeans are playing for the NHL, the world | | | | really taken seriously in the hockey world. Hockey is |
| championships no longer represent the world's top | | | | still enjoyed by countless people in Canada and the US |
| players. Hockey was an incident that's been a piece of | | | | and still to today still breaking attendance records by |
| the Olympic games since 1924 with Canada | | | | the throngs of loyal fans who still love this sport and |
| successful 6 out of 7 gold medals, United States won | | | | has made it a family tradition to go to games and for it |
| the gold medal in 1960, Russia won all, but 2 gold | | | | growing a hobby like Americans treat baseball, football |
| medals between 1956 and 1988, but it was | | | | and basketball. |
| professional U.S citizens, Swedish, Finnish, and | | | | Hockey to some people is like poetry on ice it's got its |
| Canadians that were banned from Olympic | | | | own set of rules and it's a different world altogether |
| competition. U.S. non-pro college students went on to | | | | from any other sport whether its professional or not. |
| beat the Russians and win the gold medal in 1980 in | | | | Hockey to some individuals is such as the air they |
| Lake Placid, New York. | | | | breathe and people really can enter this sport like it's a |
| It was then that a new surge in the interest in the | | | | soap opera. The whole reasoning behind hockey is |
| game that most Americans weren't paying too much | | | | what it is it is people playing a pretty heavy game that |
| attention to. The 1972 and 1974 Summit series had | | | | can very demanding since you have so many unusual |
| solidified Canada and Russia as hockey rivals. The | | | | personalities you're going up against. |
| Canadian Cup where the best of the best nations | | | | Some individuals will spend hours playing hockey well |
| were in a position to play later followed it. The | | | | into the late hours since some rinks will stay ready to |
| Canadian cup later became the World Cup of Hockey | | | | accept accommodate those hockey buffs who want |
| with the United States winning in 1996 and Canada | | | | to pay out 2-3 hours thrashing around a cold rink |
| successful in 2004. Since 1998 NHL professionals have | | | | slapping a hard rubber circle around. |