Pucks are the round, flat projectiles that hockey players shoot into the net to score points. Made of hard rubber to exacting dimensions established by the National Hockey League, hockey pucks can withstand the rigors of being hit with sticks at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. Hockey pucks are among the most durable pieces of sports equipment.
History
In the 1870s, students at McGill University in Montréal drew up the first hockey rules. These included rules calling for the use of a puck, rather than a ball. At that time, pucks were often square and made of wood. Eventually, round hockey pucks became the norm. The first vulcanized rubber hockey pucks appeared in the 1880s; by the 20th century, round hockey pucks were well-established. In 1940, hockey player Art Ross designed the first NHL-style hockey pucks. The NHL established an official hockey puck in 1990.
Description
Hockey pucks are black and round with a flat surface on either side, often with markings in the flat surface. A puck is 1 inch thick and 3 inches across, with a total weight ranging from 5-1/2 to 6 ounces. Youth or junior hockey players often use lighter blue pucks weighing 4 ounces.
Manufacture
The vulcanized rubber used in hockey pucks is made of natural rubber, carbon black, sulfur, calcium carbonate, antioxidants and other ingredients. The manufacturer first blends then extrudes and cuts the rubber into blanks, and places the blanks in a special form to bake under pressure. After the puck finishes baking, the manufacturer trims off any excess rubber and silkscreens logos or other designs onto the surface of the puck.
Use
The home team is responsible for providing the pucks. Pucks are kept frozen to reduce the bounce. During a hockey game, officials put a new puck into play when a puck becomes used or damaged.
High-Tech Pucks
In the mid-1990s, Fox Sports won the rights to broadcast professional ice hockey. In an attempt to widen the market for hockey, Fox decided to incorporate a three-dimensional electronic puck-tracking system. The puck contained infrared transmitters, and sensors around the hockey rink picked up signals from the puck. The tracking system then superimposed a blue glow over the broadcast image of the hockey puck during game play. When the hockey puck moved over certain speed, a red streak appeared behind it. Diehard hockey fans considered this high-tech puck an affront, however. Eventually, Fox lost the contract, and the use of the high-tech puck ended.
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