The game of ice hockey first made an appearance at the Olympics in 1920. It became a permanent part of the Winter Games in 1924. Seven-man teams played the sport until the late 1980s, when a six-player format was adopted. The game’s rules are very similar to those in the NHL; there’s still a trapezoid behind the net and goaltenders must stay inside it to prevent opponents from putting the puck through. Video review and coaches’ challenges are also allowed. However, fighting is still prohibited, and players involved in any incident will be ejected from the game.
From 1920 to 1952, Canada dominated the men’s tournament. But the Soviet Union began winning medals in 1956, and the U.S. surpassed the USSR in 1960 and 1980. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, OAR (Olympic Athletes from Russia) won the gold medal in 2018, and a few future NHL players were part of that team.
Teams consist of six players and one goalie, plus a bench coach and a team trainer. The rink is divided into three zones by blue lines painted on the ice. The area within the blue lines is called the neutral zone, and the red center line marks the area where attacking players may not enter. If a player goes into the goalie’s crease, they’ll be penalized for interference.
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