Playing Hockey Underwater

Have you heard of Underwater Hockey?

Yes, it's probably been a joke about what happens in hockey when the ice melts.  Seriously though, underwater hockey is actually a thing.

Underwater hockey - also called "Octopush" - is a breath-hold underwater team sport played by two teams of six players on the bottom of a swimming pool. Players wear a mask, snorkel, fins, and a glove with a short, one-handed stick to push a weighted puck into the opposing team's goal. It is a non-contact sport that requires significant physical conditioning and breath-holding ability, as players must surface for air while teammates continue play.  

The objective is to score by pushing or "flicking" the weighted puck into the opponent's goal at the bottom of the pool. The puck is about the size of an ice hockey puck but is significantly heavier, weighing around three pounds, so it stays on the bottom of the pool. Players use a mask, fins, snorkel, a padded glove, and a short, 10-12 inch stick. Unlike ice hockey, there is no goalie in underwater hockey. Players hold their breath while actively playing, coming to the surface to breathe and observe the game before diving back down. 

Watch this video on how to play underwater hockey:  https://youtu.be/1Rt0NbdWcKw?si=Zv0HA-gDicLRU9AQ

While there are no professional underwater hockey leagues, the Confederation Modiale des Activities Subaquatiques (CMAS) which is the worldwide governing body of the sport.  In addition, there are thousands of club teams which participate in various tournaments.

Underwater hockey was invented by Alan Blake in 1954 in Portsmouth, England. He created the game, originally called "Octopush," for members of the Southsea Sub-Aqua Club to keep them active during the cold winter months when open-water diving was not possible. 

Underwater hockey teams exist worldwide, with notable clubs found in the US like the Orange County Octopush and San Francisco Sea Lions, and at universities such as Illinois and Michigan State. Other clubs operate in countries including Canada, Hong Kong, Hungary, and France.