Ice hockey is a game between two teams who wear skates and compete on an ice rink. Each team usually has six players. The object is to propel the puck past a goal line and into a net guarded by a goaltender. Ice hockey is popular for its speed and frequent physical contact.Read a brief summary of this topic. field hockey, also called hockey, outdoor game played by two opposing teams of 11 players each who use sticks curved at the striking end to hit a small, hard ball into their opponent’s goal. It is called field hockey to distinguish it from the similar game played on ice. field hockey.What’s so unique about ice hockey compared to other sports such as soccer, basketball, and football is that a competitor wears skates and glides around the ice, rather than running on a court or field in a pair of cleats or shoes. It takes time and proper training to become a skilled hockey player. The objective of hockey is simple: score more goals than the opposing team. Players are not allowed to kick the puck into the net or purposely direct it in with any part of their body.