Ice hockey (hockey in countries where it is the most popular form of
hockey) is a team sport played
on ice, in which skaters use
sticks to direct a puck
into the opposing team's goal. It is a fast-paced physical sport. Ice hockey is
most popular in areas that are sufficiently cold for natural reliable seasonal
ice cover, such as Canada and
the, United States,
With the advent of indoor artificial
ice rinks it has become a
year-round pastime in these areas. Ice hockey is one of the four
major North American professional sports. Worldwide the
National Hockey
League (NHL) is the highest level for men and both the
Canadian
Women's Hockey League (CWHL) and the
Western
Women's Hockey League (WWHL) are the highest levels for women. It is the
official national winter
sport of Canada, where the game enjoys immense popularity.