Ice hockey, referred to simply as hockey in Canada and the United States, is a team sport played on ice. The most prominent ice hockey nations are Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden and the United States. While there are 64 total members of the International Ice Hockey Federation, those seven nations have dominated ice hockey. Of the sixty medals awarded in men's competition at the Olympic level from 1920 on, only six did not go to one of those countries (or a former entity thereof, such as Czechoslovakia or the Soviet Union) and only one such medal was awarded above bronze. | accessyear=2006}}

Ice hockey is most popular as a sport in areas that are sufficiently cold for natural, reliable seasonal ice cover. It is one of the four major North American professional sports, represented by the National Hockey League (NHL) at the highest level. It is the official national winter sport of Canada, where the game enjoys immense popularity, and also the most popular sport in Finland. Six of the thirty NHL franchises are based in Canada, but Canadians currently outnumber Americans in the league by a ratio of almost three to one, and about thirty percent of the league's players are non-North Americans. The sport's popularity in the US is concentrated in certain regions, notably the Northeast, the Upper Midwest, and Alaska. However Ice hockey is the least watched sport in the United States, but the most watched in Canada.

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SI.com - NHL

Devils slip past Capitals with Ovechkin sidelined
Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:37:18 -0500
NEWARK, N.J.(AP) The New Jersey Devils got their first break at home this season when the Washington Capitals scratched injured Alex Ovechkin from the lineup.
Sharks' shootout victory extends win streak to six
Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:37:18 -0500
COLUMBUS, Ohio(AP) With the flick of his wrists, San Jose defenseman Dan Boyle kept San Jose's streak alive in a physical game against Ken Hitchcock's Blue Jackets .
Flames force OT in last minute, win on Iginla goal
Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:37:18 -0500
DALLAS(AP) Jarome Iginla scored on a power play at 1:25 of overtime to give the Calgary Flames a 3-2 comeback victory over the Dallas Stars on Wednesday night.
Miller, Sabres pay back Islanders with shutout
Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:37:18 -0500
BUFFALO, N.Y.(AP) After being shut out by the New York Islanders four days ago, Ryan Miller and the Buffalo Sabres returned the favor.
Vokoun gets second straight shutout for Panthers
Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:37:18 -0500
SUNRISE, Fla.(AP) Florida goalie Tomas Vokoun simply wouldn't let the Carolina Hurricanes end their losing streak.
Alberta govt. official fired in Flames' swine flu flap
Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:10:31 -0500
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -- An official for Alberta Health Services has apologized for giving the Calgary Flames swine flu shots while thousands of people waited in line for the vaccine last week.

BBC Sport | Other Sports | Hockey | World Edition

England stun Germans to win title
Sun, 30 Aug 2009 15:11:58 -0000
England's men come from 3-2 down to beat world and Olympic champions Germany 5-3 and claim their first ever EuroHockey Nations crown.
England women win Euro bronze
Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:22:19 -0000
England's women take bronze at the EuroHockey Nations Championships with a 2-1 win over Spain in Amstelveen.
England beat Dutch in Euro semi
Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:45:18 -0000
Ashley Jackson hits a last-gasp golden goal as England beat the Netherlands to reach the EuroHockey Nations Championship final.
German golden goal beats England
Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:55:33 -0000
A golden goal by Germany knocks England's women out of the EuroHockey Nations Championships in the semi final.
England secure semi-final place
Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:54:11 -0000
England reach the semi-finals of the EuroHockey Nations Championships and secure their place at the 2010 World Cup thanks to an 8-2 win over Belgium.
England women reach semi-finals
Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:24:56 -0000
England's women book their place in the semi-finals of the EuroHockey Nations tournament with a 4-1 win over Azerbaijan in the Netherlands.

NYT > Hockey

Resignations Point to New Woes for Players Union
By JEFF Z. KLEIN Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:35:36 -0000
The N.H.L. players union is facing an uncertain future after the resignation of its interim director, outside counsel and six-member advisory board.
N.H.L. Roundup: Devils Win With 2 Quick Power-Play Goals
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:35:37 -0000
Niclas Bergfors scored two power-play goals 3 minutes 13 seconds apart in the third period to break open a tie game and send the host Devils to a 3-2 victory over the Alex Ovechkin-less Washington Capitals on Wednesday night.
N.H.L. Roundup: Fast Start Propels Red Wings
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:29:43 -0000
Henrik Zetterberg and Tomas Holmstrom scored in the first period, then Chris Osgood finished his first shutout of the season to give the host Detroit Red Wings a 2-0 victory against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night.

USCHO.com News

This Week in the ECAC West
Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600
Splitting the Mustangs In a bit of a surprise, Elmira split a home-and-home series with the Morrisville Mustangs this past weekend. Coming off a rough and tumble weekend against Oswego, the Soaring Eagles are a bit dinged up and keenly felt the loss of the missing players against Morrisville. "The games were interesting to say the least," said Elmira head coach Aaron Saul. "We're still a young ...
Tuesday Morning Quarterback: Nov. 3, 2009
Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600
A shootout controversy, series splits and a weekend preview are on the docket as USCHO.com senior writers Jim Connelly and Todd D. Milewski catch up on college hockey.
UNO Joins Top 10 for First Time This Season
Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600
Nebraska-Omaha has joined the top 10 of the USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Division I Men's Poll at No. 10, and fellow undefeated team Bemidji State is knocking at the door. Related link: The full rankings Miami retained the top spot in the poll after a pair of one-goal victories at Northern Michigan. UNO, fresh from a weekend that featured a controversial shootout loss and a victory against ...

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