grass hockey

The Canadian and American informal term for field hockey — the version of hockey played on grass (or artificial turf) rather than ice. In countries where ice hockey dominates, saying 'hockey' automatically means the ice version, so 'grass hockey' became the clarifying term for the outdoor stick-and-ball game. It's the same sport that's simply called 'hockey' across most of Europe and Asia. The label is practical, descriptive, and a small reminder of just how much ice hockey dominates North American sports culture.