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The Game of Hockey 

By Government decree, lacrosse
Is Canada’s national sport,
But in the hearts and minds of Canadians,
Hockey rules supreme.
Hockey is a winter sport enjoyed by Canadians since 1875,
When the game was first played, on frozen ponds, rivers,
Lakes, and in streets, and later, indoors in buildings.
Officially, the game is conducted on a frozen sheet of ice:
Two hundred feet long by eighty-five feet wide and one inch thick,
Surrounded by boards four feet high with plexiglass on top
To protect the spectators from flying pucks, inside an arena.
And divided into three main areas as follows:
The defending and attacking zones, both sixty-four feet wide,
And the neutral zone between the blue lines.
The ice surface is divided in half
By a painted red line in the middle,
And a blue line twenty-five feet
On each side from the centre; with face-off circles.
One at centre ice to start the game and for goals;
And one on the left and one on the right
Between the red and blue lines, for offsides;
And one on each side of the goal net at the ends.
Eleven feet from the boards, another strip is drawn,
Called the goal line and for icing the puck.
An area just behind the net marked by hash tags,
Is used to protect the goalie from body contact,
Between the goal net and boards.

The game is played between
The ‘Visitors’ and the ‘Home’ team,
Consisting of three periods of twenty minute spans
And longer, if overtime is required.
It’s usually a snarly bunch that sits in the ‘stands,’
Of the enclosure that houses the ice rink.
With the shriek of a whistle the game commences;
While coaches, bark out orders,
At players soaked in sweat sitting on benches.
On their feet are metal blades clamped to boots,
To propel themselves across the skating surface.
The players are well-protected in armour:
Shin pads, elbow pads, shoulder pads,
Hockey pants, and a jock,
And padded gloves on the hands
With a visor to cover the eyes,
Attached to a helmet on top.
And teeth protected by a mouth guard.
The goalies wear extra equipment to compensate.
As well as a ‘face-mask’ designed with intimidating images;
To stop the piece of vulcanized rubber,
(One inch thick and three inches in diameter weighing 6 ounces),
From entering the net and scoring a goal.
For whoever scores the most (i.e. pucks in the net) wins!
A curved stick is used to accomplish this feat;
(A ‘L’ shaped device comprised of a shaft and blade,
Made of wood, aluminum, or composite materials).

The game consists of five players per side:
Three forwards and a pair of defensemen;
Who race up and down the ice surface,
Fore-checking and back checking;
Trying to shoot the rubber past the netminder.
There’s the wrist shot, slap shot, snap shot, and backhand;
Or shoulder deke, followed by soft hands that flick the puck,
Or just a deflection; whatever the case.
Stay out of the goal crease!
Skate and stick passes occur quickly and play transitions,
As players maneuver to jockey for positions,
Applying their skills learned from an early age;
To dance on the edges of the skate blades,
And pivot like ballerinas dodging body checks.
(That is to say, the deliberates hitting
Of one’s body against another).
Its ‘heads up’ hockey at all times,
And knowing where your teammates
And the opposing team’s players are.
Watching and circling, always moving, never standing still,
Ready to rush down in unison on a break out pass.
Over the boards players jump on and off as the game progresses,
Celebrating when a teammate scores,
(And downcast faces of gloom when the opposing team does the same)
To the cheers and elation of the ‘Home’ team fans,
Followed by the crowd’s subdued reaction, and team disappointed
When the ‘Visitors,’ chalk a point on the scoreboard.
Hockey is considered the fastest game in the world.

The game is officiated by four people wearing sweaters;
Designed with black stripes on white, with matching black pants.
A red band is placed is on the arms of the two referees;
And the others two officials on the ice are known as linesmen.
Armed with whistles they officiate the game
Enforcing the rules: calling penalties, offsides, and icings;
And other violations all written in a ‘Rule Book’ that’s kept up to date.
The speed is lightning fast; the roars are deafening,
And the officials eyes are all over the place,
Focused,—following the play, and player shenanigans.
Arms are raised to indicate delayed whistles;
And flopped around side to side to wave them off;
And pointed at individuals who have incurred a rule book infraction.
Once a penalty is called the player heads over to the penalty box,
And not allowed ‘to step on’ the ice for a short time duration,
While the penalized team, plays shorthanded.
Then there’s the referee circle which means ‘Stay out!’
Where sometimes, players can be seen mewling about.
Skirmishes occur frequently, combatants crash to the ice:
Tripped, off balance or simply just too exhausted to skate:
Changing shifts, screaming, and shorting the bench.
Rivalries are created, and playoffs fought;
In the quest for the  Stanley Cup, the Holy Grail
Of the National Hockey League, the ‘NHL.’
The oldest sport trophy awarded
To a franchise team in professional sports;
For success.
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