Hockey is a sport that involves shooting pucks on ice and competing against other players. The game consists of a lot of hard work and fast pace that requires lots of energy and physical strength. This helps in developing the cardiovascular system and burns fat and calories as well.
This is a popular activity for both children and adults across the world. It is also an excellent way to exercise and socialize with other people.
There are many different types of hockey leagues to choose from, including the NHL. This is the most popular and competitive of all the leagues.
The NHL is a professional ice hockey league that has been around since the 1960s. It is based in the United States and Canada. It is one of the four major professional sports in the United States along with the NFL, NBA and MLB.
It has an impressive international presence with players from over 20 countries.
Most of the teams in the NHL are located in the United States or Canada. The NHL is the primary ice hockey league in these countries, and the Stanley Cup is awarded to the team that wins the championship.
During the regular season, the NHL teams play each other 4 or 5 times in their division (either 26 games in the Western Conference or 28 games in the Eastern Conference) as well as playing all non-divisional teams in their own conference thrice.
The NHL playoffs are a series of round-robin style playoffs. Each round of the playoffs sees one team from each division advance to the next round. The winner of the playoffs advances to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they will compete for the coveted title.
A number of players who have gone on to become successful NHL players started their careers in college or university hockey. This is a great place to start for young hockey players, as they can make new friends and learn important life skills.
They may also have the opportunity to travel and experience different cultures while playing the sport they love. There are also a number of hockey tournaments held each year for kids to participate in, as well as many social events after the games.
There are a variety of different teams in the WHL, which is the largest youth hockey league in the world. This league has a strong following and produces many NHL draft picks each year, especially in the Canadian National Hockey League.
The NCAA is another collegiate league that is thriving and producing some great results for the league and its players. There are many former NCAA players in the NHL, including Jonathan Toews and Jack Eichel.
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league that is a division below the NHL. The ECHL is a good opportunity for talented junior hockey players to gain experience and improve their chances of being drafted to the NHL.