Ice hockey was invented in the 1850s in Canada.
The game (2) developed from hockey and, like hockey, the object of the game is to score more goals than the opposition.
Ice hockey (3) is played on a large rink by two teams of six players wearing ice skates.
The players (4) use hockey sticks to hit the puck, a sort of flat disk.
Speeds of up to 119 km/h (5) are reached by the puck and players can travel at more than 48 km/h, so they (6) wear helmets at all times.
In addition, players (7) are protected by about 11 kg of body armour.
The National Hockey League (8) was formed in 1917.
Men`s ice hockey (9) was played in the summer Olympic Games in 1920 and it (10) has been included in the winter Olympics since 1924.
The Olympic gold medal (11) has been won most often by Russia and Canada.
Women`s teams (12) were not been allowed to play in the Olympics until 1998