"Every four years, the finest athletes from around the world gather for the Winter Olympics. This wonderful event is held at various cities in different nations and features amazing athletic prowess, hard fought competitions, and the skills and artistry that the world’s most gifted athletes can display. There are a host of Olympic events that make up the menu of competitions that receive the most attention from athletes and viewers. Each of these sports, whether they represent team or individual competitions, is supremely challenging. Through diligence, talents, and a commitment to excellence, Olympic athletes accomplish marvelous feats of skill in a tournament that garners attention from people around the world. In this selection from the illustrated “Amazing Winter Olympics” series, readers will learn a bit about ice hockey. Olympic ice hockey has been a sport included in the games since 1920, when it debuted as a Summer Olympics event. Four years later, when the Winter Olympics were initiated, ice hockey found its natural venue in those games. At first, only men could compete in Olympic ice hockey. That changed in 1998, when women’s ice hockey was added as a medal event. Traditionally, nations such as Canada, the Soviet Union or Russia, the United States, Finland, Sweden, and the Czech Republic have been the most successful hockey teams in the Olympic Games. Hockey features speed, toughness, skating skills, and a gritty approach to competition. Every four years, this team sport is one of the more popular competitions in the Winter Olympics. It is this wonderful sport that readers will learn about in this beautifully illustrated book. While the narrative provides introductory information, the numerous color photographs will capture readers’ attention. The camera work is the book’s strong suit and helps to make it a nice addition to libraries serving sports enthusiasts." Children's Literature, January 2022