By Ron Judd


Hockey, an original Winter Games sport, has also traditionally been among its most popular. One reason: Unlike most other Winter Olympic sports, it’s played professionally around the world, making it easy to understand by even the most casual fan of the Winter Olympics.


Field of Play


Traditionally, Olympic hockey has been played on an ice rink that’s 4.1 meters (13.5 feet) wider than its modern counterpart in the National Hockey League and most other pro leagues. The larger, 61- by 30-meter (200- by 98.5-foot) rink created a faster and, many would argue, purer form of the game, which made Olympic competitions unique, even after the rules were changed to allow professional hockey players in 1988.


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