Hockey Clipart
Hockey refers to a family of fast-paced sports played on ice or roller skates where teams pass a small hard disc (puck) with curved sticks aiming to score goals by shooting into the opponent’s net. Ice hockey variants date from early 19th century Canada with written rules codified by 1879. Now a major global sport enthralling fans at games and on TV, hockey emphasizes skating skill, stick handling, passing, and hard shots.
Hockey Leagues
Major leagues that play ice hockey include:
- NHL – The top pro league with 32 franchises across the US and Canada
- AHL – Minor league NHL feeder sanctioned across Eastern states
- KHL – Russia/Eastern Europe continental league attracting European talent
- CWHL – Women’s hockey leagues gaining popularity
Recreational hockey spans youth, high school, college, adult amateur teams, and grassroots pond pickup games. International tournaments include annual World Junior Championships and the Winter Olympic Games held every four years.
Hockey Positions
Hockey positions include:
- Center – Offensive leader directing plays, passing, and scoring attempts
- Wing – Forwards flanking left and right sides working with centers
- Defensemen – Defenders with size and strength guarding the zone
- Goalie – Specialist player blocking shots attempting to score
Hockey Equipment
Safety gear for hockey’s speed and contact includes:
- Skates – Shoe-blades hybrids allowing athletic ice mobility
- Stick – Short curved handles manipulating the puck
- Pads – Quilted leg guards, chest protectors, gloves and helmets
- Puck – Small hard rubber discs replaced once damaged
- Nets – Rectangular steel cage goals with mesh catching shots
Hockey Terms and Concepts
Key hockey terms and plays involve:
- Icing – Clearing puck across both blue lines toward opponent’s goal
- Powerplay – Penalized team plays short-handed as opponents press an advantage
- Line Changes – Swapping tired players for fresh legs and specialized roles
- Faceoffs – Referee dropping puck to start play contests between opponents
- Hat Trick – Single player scoring three goals in one game
Hockey Venues
Regulation hockey facilities feature:
- Indoor Arenas – Large enclosed cold artificially icy rinks where most hockey happens
- Stadiums – Some pro teams in warmer climates play outdoors in multipurpose venues
- Backyard Rinks – Passionate players create small handmade rinks at home by freezing backyard flooding
Notable Hockey Players
Greats include Gordie Howe dominating scoring records for decades, Bobby Orr revolutionizing offensive defensemen, Wayne Gretzky shattering assists and goals totals despite small stature. Contemporaries like Sidney Crosby display acute vision and playmaking skill while Alexander Ovechkin boasts heavyweight sniping.
Hockey In Popular Culture
As a cultural touchstone hockey features across media from movies like “Slap Shot” and “The Mighty Ducks” franchise to video games like EA Sports hit series. Wayne Gretzky’s celebrity transcended sports recognition in 1980s Hollywood. Hockey jerseys and gear provide casual wear signaling hip status linked to music and fashion trends thanks to prominent rap and skateboarding crossover.
Hockey Clipart and Images
Stylized hockey graphics turn players intolean masked silhouettes erupting horizontal motion smears bursting behind forceful stick swings launching jagged speed lines hurtling pucks past desperate goalies unable to intercept blistering shots aimed top shelf just under the crossbar.
Hockey’s Impact And Popularity
Beyond entertainment for fans, hockey culture bonds community identities and kickstarts careers for generations of young athletes learning discipline, strategy, and hard work necessary to compete while having wholesome fun during long frozen winters and building lasting social memories with teammates. Grassroots local hockey genuinely transforms lives.
In this page clipartix present 67 hockey clipart images free for designing activities. Lets download Hockey Clipart that you want to use for works or personal uses.
