Get in the game by saving big on hockey equipment

Hockey season is upon us, and not everyone is satisfied with just watching their favorite NHL teams battle it out on TV. Some people like to get in the game and participate, which is a great idea if you're competitive and want to get some exercise. Even if you don't play in a league, shooting a puck around on the ice can be a fun pastime for you and your friends.

Hockey is known for having some pretty expensive equipment, what with all the pads, helmets, sticks, gloves and skates. But luckily a HockeyGiant.com promotion code can help you save on basic equipment - offering a 10 percent discount, in fact. You can be on your way to joining a team or a pick-up game in no time with such great savings on gear!

In case you didn't know, hockey has been around for hundreds of years - since early civilization. Earlier versions of the game didn't take place on ice, but were more like field hockey. According to HistoryofHockey.net, a form of this pastime was played in places like Rome, South America, Scotland and Egypt. It was actually the Irish who coined the name - their word "hockie" was carried down through the generations.

In England in the 17th and 18th centuries, games including hundreds of players were held between neighboring hamlets. The game was a form of proving manhood, so it quickly got dangerous and many players were hurt. Sometimes the game would last for two whole weeks!

Eventually, the game of hockey got more organized and developed more rules. Teams were limited to 30 players. In the 1870s, ice hockey evolved from the field version of the game in Canada. The official rules of the game were created at McGill University in Montreal during that same decade. Ice hockey came to America almost 15 years later.

The NHL actually began as the National Hockey Association (NHA) in Canada in 1910. The league's championship trophy was the O'Brien Trophy, which was also used by the NHL later on.

The first NHL season took place in 1917-1918. It started out with five teams, but the Montreal Wanderers were forced out of the league in January when their rink burned down. A team called the Toronto Arenas won the first Stanley Cup in history against the Vancouver Millionaires. Before the Stanley Cup, teams competed to win the O'Brien Trophy.

Now that you know a little more about the history of hockey, you can get out there and play! Just be sure to use a HockeyGiant.com promotion code to save on gear!