A hockey puck is a small, flat, circular object used in the sport of ice hockey. It is typically made of rubber and measures about 3 inches in diameter and 1 inch thick. The puck is designed to slide smoothly on the ice, allowing players to pass, shoot, and score during a game. Hockey pucks are usually black, which helps them stand out against the white ice surface. They are frozen before games to reduce bouncing and improve performance. The puck is a crucial element of the game, as it is the object that players aim to control and score goals with.