Focus on the puck, learn basic penalties (like tripping, slashing), and don’t worry if it seems fast-paced—familiarity builds over time.

Yes. Many communities have adult leagues, pickup games, and public skating times.

Most players begin in youth leagues or recreational programs offered by local rinks. Equipment and skating lessons are usually required to start.

It can be, due to its high speed and physical contact, but strict rules and protective gear help reduce injury risks.

Players wear helmets, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, padded shorts, shin guards, and skates. Goalies wear specialized equipment including larger leg pads and chest protection.

Icing occurs when a player shoots the puck across both the center red line and the opposing team’s goal line without it being touched. This stops play and results in a faceoff in the offending team’s zone.

A player is offside if they enter the attacking zone (across the opponent’s blue line) before the puck does.

A standard professional game is divided into three 20-minute periods, with intermissions in between. Overtime and shootouts may follow if the game is tied.

Each team has six players on the ice at a time: three forwards (center, left wing, right wing), two defensemen, and one goalie.

Ice hockey is a fast-paced team sport played on an ice rink, where players use sticks to hit a puck into the opposing team’s goal to score points.