While the game of hockey has been around for centuries, it was only in the early 1900s that it became popular enough to be included in the Winter Olympics. And even then, the sport was only played by upper class sportsmen in Europe and Canada. But today, it’s an every man’s game, and everyone is playing it! You might know someone who plays hockey – if you are an avid reader of our blog, you might even know that we’ve covered the topic before. But what exactly is a dasher board in hockey?
In the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, the men’s hockey competition was one of the most watched events. And I assume that many of you out there have also seen the viral videos of people playing hockey in the streets or in tiny backyards. Well, those are certainly inspiring sights! But aside from being a source of creativity, why is hockey growing in popularity all of a sudden?
Although the sport has been around for a while, it’s only recently that it’s hit the mainstream. And I think that the 2018 Winter Olympics played an important role in making the sport more accessible to the average person. The truth is that hockey is a bit complicated and requires a bit of an investment to learn how to play. But once you do, it’s quite addictive! And for those of you who love to create art and imagine yourself on the other end of the stick, playing hockey is a great way to fulfill these creative impulses. It’s also a great way to work on your coordination and muscle memory, which can only improve your gameplay.
So, if you’re curious about what a dasher board is and want to know more about the game of hockey, keep reading. Here we go…
Table of Contents
The Basics
Nowadays, most people who play hockey do so professionally. In the NHL (the “National Hockey League”), teams are made up of professional players who compete against each other for championships. At least part of the season is spent on the road, so the players need to be able to prepare themselves physically for the rigors of the season. This is where a dasher board comes in. A dasher board improves your skating ability and consistency, especially in speed. It does this by amplifying your movements, helping you become more efficient and effective at moving around the ice.
One of the things that makes hockey so popular is that it’s easy to learn and fun to play. Anyone can pick it up and play, and most hockey players were actually introduced to the sport by their parents or older siblings who played the game themselves. When they were young, they probably watched their favorite hockey players skated around the ice, inspiring them to follow in the footsteps of the greats. Thanks to the accessibility of the internet and social media, children can also learn to play hockey without ever having taken a skating class or knowing anyone who plays the game. Instead, they can simply watch gameplay videos and follow the progress of their favorite players wherever they go. Thanks to this combination of simplicity and popularity, hockey is now a global game and will be represented at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China!
Technology In Advance Of The Game
At least part of the reason why hockey is so popular now is because of the technology that aids and enhances the gameplay. In the past, players had to rely solely on their talent and physical ability to score, but these days it’s all about technology! There are lots of gadgets and tools that can help you improve your gameplay, and the best part is that most of them are totally affordable. These days, the cost of entry into the world of hockey is quite low, especially compared to other sports. It’s almost as if the technology available for hockey players is a sort of finishing school for the wealthy! (Sort of like the MIT Physics department!)
Dasher Board
In the last decade, hockey has definitely adopted a more technological approach to the game, and one of the mainstays of this innovation is the dasher board. Just like the name implies, a dasher board is used to “dasher” the ice ahead of you as you speed along. If you’re playing on an ice surface that’s not frozen over, you can use an electric ice scraper to clear away any loose ice. The best part about a dasher board is that it doesn’t take up much space on the ice, leaving enough room for the players to maneuver around each other. This is especially beneficial for families and small hockey teams, who may not want to invest in a whole lot of expensive equipment. A dasher board also helps you maintain your speed as you navigate the ice, preventing you from slowing down or stopping completely due to friction.
Fun
Just because you’re playing a “serious” game does not mean that it has to be a “stiff” game. Lots of people have fun playing hockey, even though they might get frustrated sometimes (like when their friends play “Halo” and the like, and they can’t get the puck because it keeps going into oblivion). Lots of people also have fun watching hockey, so the sport can be a lot of fun when you know how to have fun with it! That’s why we like to play hockey, because it’s a sport that can be both entertaining and educational. Also, it can be a great way to relieve stress, especially if you’re a professional hockey player and have had a tough day on the ice. You might want to check out this hilarious new meme that perfectly captures the essence of what it means to be a hockey player:
Title]: You’re Going To Need These In The World Of Hockey
While reading, you might have thought to yourself “this is an interesting article, but I’m not quite sure I see the connection to dasher boards.” And you’re right, there isn’t a direct connection, but it is worth mentioning that the equipment that is used in hockey has changed over the years to adapt to technological advancements.
In the earliest days of the sport, players used to skate on the ice as it came from the ice manufacturer. This was made of natural ice, and the only equipment available for players was their skates and the ice surface itself. Since then, artificial ice has become a common sight at hockey arenas around the world, first appearing at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. And in line with this new trend, early 20th century hockey players used wood boards to practice on, later transitioning to aluminum and fibreglass sheets. (And let’s not forget about the birth of the goalie mask, which was first used in the NHL in the 1920s!)
Final Takeaway
So, what did we learn about dasher boards in hockey? We already established that they’re used to “dasher” the ice, but what does that mean? Well, when you hit the “dasher” button on a traditional paddle-style hockey controller, the blades that are in front of you will start spinning quickly, causing the ice to become marred with a pattern of ridges that resemble the teeth of a jackalope (the “jackalope effect”). This pattern of ridges helps the skater maintain their balance while also increasing their speed, helping them move around the ice more effectively. If you’re interested in learning more, check out this informative guide to the structure of Ice, the building material of the ice surface.