Ice hockey is an extremely demanding sport. A lot is demanded of the players here. And the following 7 facts confirm that ice hockey is also an extraordinary sport. Even ice hockey fans will not have known many of the facts.
The Puck Reaches Speeds of Over 175 km/h
First, a fun fact: The first puck designed for the game of ice hockey was square, not round. The puck was also placed on the ice and not thrown until the 20th century. It was only because of the increase in injuries that the judges decided that the puck would be thrown onto the ice.
The puck shoots across the ice – in the truest sense of the word. The puck can reach speeds of over 175 km/h.
No. 2: The Body Is Always Running at Full Speed
The fans are excited and cheering on their boys on the ice. The pulse goes up. But it’s not just the fans’ pulse that is high. During a game, an ice hockey player has a pulse of around 200 beats/minute. In rest mode, the human pulse is between 70 beats and 80 beats/minute. The physical strain is extreme and should not be underestimated.
No. 3: The 400 Kilogram Load
A puck can hit the goalkeeper at up to 175 km/h. But which force does the goalie have to fend off? The puck itself weighs 170 grams. But the high speed releases enormous force – up to 400 kilograms. So it’s no wonder that the goalkeeper’s chest protector is 10 centimeters thick.
No. 4: The Teeth of the Ice Hockey Players
Over 50 percent of active ice hockey players lose at least one tooth during their sports career. At the end of the season, an ice hockey team can lose between 5 and 10 teeth. Even if the head is protected with special protective clothing, it cannot protect against complete tooth loss.
By the way, George Owen was the first ice hockey player to wear protective equipment – that was in 1928. Only since 1997 have helmetless players been no longer allowed on the field – helmets are mandatory.
No. 5: The Body Check & the G-forces It Releases
Checks are allowed in ice hockey. But only if they are exercised against the player carrying the puck in accordance with the rules. In fact, the G-forces released during a body check should not be underestimated. If the player stands about an arm’s length away from the boards and is “checked” by an 80 kilogram opponent at 20 km/h, then he hits the plexiglass pane with 3.6 G a>. An airbag is deployed at an impact force of 2 G.
No. 6: Why Ice Hockey Players Like to Eat Bananas
It’s no secret that professional athletes eat tons of bananas. This is because bananas contain important nutrients and vitamins. In addition, a banana is also delicious and provides something to eat if you lose another tooth. Professional ice hockey teams eat around 500 kilograms of bananas per season.
No. 7: Cognitive Training
Goalkeepers and field players need good concentration skills. This means that whoever is on the field has to be 100 percent focused on the matter at hand. It’s also about quick reactions. A goaltender actually has less than half a second to save a puck shot from 18 meters. But it’s not just the puck that you have to keep an eye on – it’s also about knowing where the team players and opponents are. The player has to train quick observation with cognitive tasks.
Conclusion
Ice hockey is ultimately a very entertaining sport. Above all, the players have to prove themselves again and again and master sometimes inhumane tasks. Not only do goalkeepers have to withstand an impact load of 400 kilograms, the field players run after the puck at maximum heart rate and can look forward to around 3.6 G during body checks.