I went to a Hockey game, in november 2007, in a competition between teams in Vancouver.

I got impressed with the speed, the confrontation, the falls, and also with the 3 judges that really quickly were able to calm down the commotion. I have learned a little bit more about taking pictures.

The Ice hockey is an Olympic sport that is played by two teams of six players.- all the players and judges wear skates.

The players skate on the ice and use clubs (sticks) to hit a disc (puck). The goal of the game is to get the disc into the opponent's goal -that features a point.

The team with the highest number of points at the end of the game wins. The ice hockey is one of the world's fastest sports - both by the quick and constant movement of its players and by the shots . by the players which can reach a speed of more than 160 kilometers per hour.

This is one of the few sports that allows the exchange of players (with no limits) while the game is still happening. It s also very violent and aggressive, although the wearing of heavy protection equipments that decrease the number of injuries Fights between the players - thought against the rules- are very common at the matches.

The Ice hockey was originated in Canadá, where, nowadays, is consider the national sport. Canada is the biggest winner of hockey international competitions- such as the International Cup and the Olympic games. The sport is also very popular in the United States ( at first in the northeast and central-north of the country), Sweden, Russia, Czech Republic, Finland, Slovakia and Slovenia and Latvia. Although less it is also popular in other countries that have a temperate climate. In Canada, United states and Russia Ice hockey, is often referred to simply as hockey. It can be practiced outdoor in a cold day or during the whole year, even in the summer in indoor artificial ice rinks.

Tradução: Marília Garske