By Hope Loman

Rowan Public Library

Ice hockey might be an unusual topic for an article in April, but ask any NHL fan and they’ll tell you that this month marks the beginning of the most important part of the hockey season: the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

If you’ve ever been curious about watching hockey, now is a great time to get started — there’s constant action, easy rules, the enthusiasm of the onscreen fans is almost contagious, and, of course, there are always the infamous hockey fights. If any of this piques your interest, continue reading for a brief overview of this beloved sport.

Historically, the word “hockey” has no clear origin, but different versions of field hockey and similar stick-and-ball games existed in some form in England by the early 1770s. British soldiers and immigrants brought these pastimes with them to Canada and America, playing them on the ice during winter.

The first organized indoor game of hockey was played on March 3, 1875, at the Victoria Skating Rink in Montreal, with a flat piece of wood for a puck and goal posts 8 feet wide (modern goal posts are 6 feet apart). Over the next few years, formal rules were established, official positions were named, and an increase in the number of amateur teams led to the first hockey tournaments.

In 1893, the Governor General of Canada, Lord Stanley of Preston, awarded the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup (later known as the Stanley Cup) to the Montreal Hockey Club in recognition of being the best Canadian team. From there, professional hockey leagues began in Canada in 1902 and the National Hockey League as we know it was formed in 1917, expanding into the United States with the creation of the Boston Bruins in 1924.

Today, hockey is typically played on an indoor rink for three, 20-minute periods, with six players for each team on the ice during normal play: the goalie, a center, two wingers and two defensemen. With the exception of the goalie, players take short shifts on the ice before rotating out with other players on the bench.

The object of the game is for players to pass and shoot the puck into their opponent’s goal net, with ties at the end of regulation leading to a five-minute, sudden-death overtime and then a shootout. If a player is called for a penalty, such as tripping a player or high-sticking, the offending player is sent to the penalty box and their team must play with one less player for a certain amount of time, typically two minutes.

If you would like to learn more about the intriguing history of ice hockey, delve into the lives of some of the greatest hockey players, or just familiarize yourself with more of the rules and basics of the game, Rowan Public Library has some great resources for you to look at. Here are some of my recommendations:

“Hockey: A People’s History,” by Michael McKinley — This thorough exploration of hockey’s past and present includes its origins, rise of women’s hockey, sagas of long-lost leagues and the first-ever NHL lockout.

“99: Stories of the Game,” by Wayne Gretzky — This memoir by “The Great One” discusses his career in depth, from his fondest memories to the people who inspired and motivated him.

“The Voices of Hockey: Broadcaster Reflect on the Fastest Game on Earth,” by Kirk McKnight — In this book, 34 play-by-play broadcasters share their fondest experiences of the game and their teams, sharing insights on rivalries, records set and Stanley Cup wins.

“Hockey the NHL Way: The Basics,” by Sean Rossiter — This book is a great resource for anyone who might want to play the game or who just wants to appreciate the athletic skills of the players, with step-by-step instructions and tips from NHL stars.

Friends of RPL and Cheerwine Concert Series: Mark Schimick of Asheville, Headquarters, April 24, 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Free, open to the public, all ages welcome.

Early release movie: East, April 27, 2 p.m. Do you dare play the most dangerous game ever made? See the dangers up close in the 1995 movie “Jumanji” (PG, 104 min.) This is an early release day for Rowan County, so stop by after school with the whole family and enjoy free refreshments. Open to the public, all ages welcome. Questions? Call 704-216-7842.

Photowalk: South, April 24, 6:30-8 p.m. Join us for a walk around the Lake Corriher Wilderness Area (across the street from the South Rowan Regional Library). Bring your digital camera/phone to take photos together. Questions? Contact Paul at Paul.Birkhead@rowancountync.gov or 704-216-7737.

Teen Board: Want to be part of a Teen Advisory Board and make decisions about upcoming teen library programs? Or just want to play some board games? Now you can do both. Headquarters, April 24, 4:30 p.m.

“The Great War,” a reader’s theatre production by the Phoenix Readers: April 23, 6:30 p.m., headquarters. This will feature short stories, personal letters, songs and remembrances from Michael Morpurgo’s “Only Remembered.” This free event is open to the public. Contact Gretchen Witt at 704-216-8232 for more information. The Phoenix Readers is a volunteer readers’ theatre company comprised of people aged 55 and older and is part of the Center for Faith and the Arts (CFA) in Salisbury. Learn more about CFA by visiting www.faithart.org.

NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources Traveling Exhibit: North Carolina in World War I (HQ). In honor of the centennial of World War I, this traveling exhibit contains panels with information on both the soldiers abroad and the home front here in North Carolina. It shares information on the various military installations in the state, discusses U-boat activity off the coast, and seeks to put the war in context. View the exhibit in headquarters’ lobby, during business hours through May 20.

Chapter Chats: Weekly book club for teens 14-17, primarily for participants with developmental or intellectual disabilities, though all are welcome. Mondays, 5 p.m. at East Branch, Rockwell. Contact Tammie Foster at 704-216-7842.

PJ Storytime: Headquarters, April 23, 6:30 p.m. Put on your pajamas, grab a blanket and your favorite stuffed animal, and join us for a special evening storytime. Recommended for children 3-11 years old, though all children are welcome.

Legos and Robots Party: Headquarters, April 28, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Love Legos? Love robots? What happens when Legos and robots come together? Hands-on activities with newly acquired Lego We Do 2.0, Dash Robot, Ozo Bit and many more. Recommended for children 5-11 years old, though all children are welcome.

Book Bites Club: South, April 24, 6 p.m. Open to the public. A free book club where we discuss a different book each month and serve refreshments. “The Boys in the Boat,” by Daniel James Brown. Questions? Contact Jennifer at Jennifer.Hubbard@rowancountync.gov.

Hats off to you, Earth: South, April 23, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Celebrate Earth Day, Lorax style! Complete crafts and activities and watch “The Lorax” (PG, 95 min.). Recommended for children 5-11 years old, though all children are welcome.

Displays: Headquarters, Sexual Assault Awareness Month presented by Rowan Crisis Council and Robotics – Found Art presented by John Michael Deal; East, the Process of Making Honey presented by Lee Williams; South, Anyone out there? Looking for life in the universe, by RPL staff.

Literacy: Call the Rowan County Literacy Council at 704-216-8266 for more information on teaching or receiving literacy tutoring for English speakers or for those for whom English is a second language.

Tail Waggin’ Tutors: 7 to 9 years old. Children can practice reading skills in a relaxed, dog-friendly atmosphere. Canine listeners provided by Therapy Dogs International. Headquarters, selected Tuesdays, 4 p.m. Call 704-216-8234 for details. East, selected Mondays, 3:30 p.m., Call 704-216-7842 for details.

Baby Time: Birth-23 months. Highly interactive 30-minute program for children and their adult caregivers. Headquarters, Wednesdays, 10 a.m.; East, Mondays, 10 a.m.; South, Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.

Toddler Time: 18 to 35 months. Highly interactive 30-minute program for children and their adult caregivers. Headquarters, Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.; East, Mondays, 11 a.m.; South, Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.

Preschoolers: 3-5 years. Highly interactive 30-minute program for children and their adult caregivers. Headquarters, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.; East, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.; South, Mondays, 10 a.m.

Noodlehead Storytime: Pre-K to fifth grade. Interactive storytime. Headquarters, Thursday, 4 p.m.; East, Tuesdays 3:30 p.m.; South Wednesdays, 3:30 p.m.

Art programs: Pre-K to fifth grade. Learn art terms, techniques and work on art projects; 30-45 minutes. Art in the Afternoon, headquarters, Thursdays, 4:30 p.m.; Bethany’s Brushes, East, Tuesdays, 4 p.m.; Canvas Kids, South, Wednesdays, 4 p.m.