英语小短文第 21 课：Ice Hockey 冰球

Since it is played on ice, ice hockey is popular in Canada and the northern parts of the United States. 冰球在冰上举行，因而它在加拿大和美国的北部地方非常受欢迎。

It is a lot like soccer, but because it is played on ice skates and on a smaller playing area, it is much faster and more violent. 它和足球又很多相似之处，但是由于是穿冰鞋进行而且场地范围更小，因此冰球（运动）速度更快也更为暴力。

For example, it is legal to force another player into the wall of the ice rink. 比如说，把对方球员逼入冰场的墙根是不犯规的，

This is called checking. 这就是称之为“阻挡”。

The offense uses a stick with a flat blade one end to try to put a small, hard, rubber disk, called the puck, into the defense's net. 进攻的一方使用一根一端为扁平击球板的棍子将一个橡胶制圆盘击入防守队员的网内，这个圆盘形状小，质地较硬，叫做“冰球”。

Professional hockey players can shoot the puck at over 100 miles per hour, 职业的冰球手击球的速度达到每小时100英里，

so the goalies have to wear heavy pads and a hard plastic mask to prevent injuries. 所以守门员必须身着沉重的衬垫、戴着硬塑胶的面具来避免受伤。

Hockey is a very exciting game to watch and play. 冰球是一项供观赏和参与的非常刺激的运动。