Ice hockey is played on a rectangular sheet of ice that is marked with circles (faceoff areas) and goal markings. There are two teams of six players, and the game is governed by rules set forth by the International Ice Hockey Federation. The rules differ somewhat from those of the NHL, and the game is very fast-paced. The sport also has strict rules regarding performance-enhancing drugs and maintains a Registered Testing Pool of top players who are subject to regular in-competition testing.
In the early years of Olympic ice hockey, Canada was super strong, winning six of seven gold medals from 1924 to 1952. But in 1956, the Soviet Union entered the tournament and quickly became dominant, winning seven of nine events until 1980 when the U.S. pulled off a stunning victory known as the “Miracle on Ice.”
For many years, professional NHL players were banned from participating in the Olympics, but that changed in 1976 when the IIHF allowed NHL-eligible players to compete. Since then, the tournament has been very competitive.
The IIHF introduced playoffs in 1992, and the tournament format was changed again in 1998 to fit the NHL schedule. Now the first round is a round-robin without NHL players, followed by a final round that includes them. The game is incredibly fast and very physical, and the defenses use a lot of body checking to keep the puck away from their own goal. The players also wear padded uniforms to protect themselves.