Ice hockey is played between two teams, each with six players, aiming to score by getting a puck into the opponent's goal. The game features physical contact, allowing fighting under certain circumstances without immediate penalties, unlike most sports. Key rules include the offside rule, which states that an offensive player must not enter the opposing team's zone before the puck, and icing, which occurs when a puck is shot from behind the center line and crosses the opponent's goal line without being touched. The discussion highlights a perception of hockey as a rough sport, with varying opinions on the regulation of physical play and officiating consistency compared to other sports like basketball. Overall, the rules are seen as straightforward once understood, despite the game's physical nature.
