You’ve probably heard of ‘puck’ (or ‘poh-kee’) hockey. If not, it’s probably time you should have – the timeless game is credited with creating the World Hockey Association in 1972 and spawned the National Hockey League the following year. The name ‘puck’ comes from the early days of the game, when wooden sticks were used and players had to slide around on the ice to block passing shots.
Though traditionally played by children in Canada and the United States, hockey is now a popular sport among adults, too. Thanks to the creation of the NHL’s Golden State Warriors in 2019, its popularity will only continue to grow.
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The Evolution Of Hockey
Hockey has changed a lot since the early days – for one, there are now blue and yellow jerseys instead of the traditional red and white. Another major difference: The NHL, the organization that brought us the puck and made it popular, no longer exists. The players are now in the NHLPA (Professional Athletes’ Association) and the AHL (American Hockey League). The NHL and the AHL merged in 2021 to create the National Hockey League (NHL).
There have been significant rule changes, too. Back in the day, players would just about try to keep the puck out of their net for as long as possible. These days, offense is highly encouraged, so much so that coaches even give out assists (statistically, these are worth just as much as a goal),
There are also fewer face-offs, more power plays, and more penalty minutes. A hybrid of ice hockey and soccer, face-offs used to be a point of pride for goaltenders back in the day. They’d stand in front of the net and meet the approaching puck with their faces. Many still do it, but the technique has been nerfed – today’s goalies rarely need to get in the face of the opposing team’s forward to block a shot.
Hockey Players’ Ages
Since its inception, hockey has largely been the domain of children. While it is still considered a ‘kids’ game’, that’s certainly not accurate. According to the National Hockey League, the average age of an NHL player is now 34 years old. That’s compared to the average age of 31 years old in the NHL Prior to 2020.
This is mainly due to the fact that today’s NHL is much more about scoring goals and preventing them than it is about playing defense. The number of players over 30 grew from 223 in 2019 to 225 in 2020. There are currently 24 active NHL players who are over 40 years old.
While the NHL is becoming ‘mature’, the sport continues to grow among young players. In 2019, the average age of an NHL player was 31.9 years old. The average age of an NHL player in 2020 is now 32.3 years old. Even in the WHA (World Hockey Association), founded in 1972, the average age of a player is 38.4 years old. The WHA, of course, no longer exists either. It merged with the NHL in 2021.
The Evolution Of Pee Wee Hockey
Over the years, hockey has evolved – literally. Pee Wee hockey, which is what children play today, is now different from what was played in the 1940s. Back in those days, the goal was simply to keep the puck in the net as long as possible. There were no face-offs, no power plays, and no goalies. Today, players use equipment that is literally headed for the future – laser-sighted shooting devices and helmets that track their head motion.
The evolution of the game has helped make it popular among all ages – a 2019 study from the Harvard T. Chan School of Public Health found that people who play sports, especially hockey, are less likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. There are even tools on the market that can tell you how old your pee wee hockey player is by analyzing his or her play.
The Top Five Ages Of Pee Wee Hockey Players
Though the sport has evolved over the years, there are still some playing styles and skills that make them special. Each peewee hockey player is a unique talent and there are five ages that you should know about – from baby hockey to senior hockey. Here are the top five.
Newborns
For the first few months of their lives, babies are completely dependent on their parents for everything – even the most basic of actions, like sleeping and feeding – and they can’t yet play any sport. So with parental guidance, teaching classes, and some hand-me-down equipment, you may be able to get your tiny helmet and chest protectors ready for the coming season.
3-To-4 Year Olds
By the time your kid turns three, he or she already has a pretty good idea of how to play hockey. Your child will love to stick his or her head in the net and block pucks with a combination of skill and pluck. That being said, it’s not yet time to put him or her in a serious hockey skills class. You can get your kid some ice hockey skills at home with a little bit of practical skills and coaching from a parents’ perspective – like showing them how to give the right glance at a face off, or how to pass a puck up the ice. Once your kid turns four, it’s time to get him or her in a skills class or game. At this point, your kid is ready for more experience and it’s a great time to start pushing his or her interest in the sport. If you feed his or her curiosity with books on hockey in English and French, you may see your kid grow up to be a national tournament-level hockey player. Still, at this point, it’s more of an academic interest than a sport one.