Spoiler warning: The information in the article below contains spoilers for both the original series and the reboot itself. So, please consider watching the episode(s) in question if you haven't seen them already. |
Ice Hockey (sometimes known as Pingu Plays Ice Hockey) is the eleventh episode of the first season.
Summary[]
Pingu, Robby and Pongi are dawdling around one day, when they see a hockey team practising for a game. One of the strikers, named Snow Dog Hugo, sees the three young friends and asks if they would like to join in as their rival team. As Pingu, Pongi and Robby get kitted out, the professional team feel sure they will crush their new rivals easily. The referee blows his whistle and the game begins.
At first the Professionals get two goals at once, so Robby turns the goal over to make it more difficult, but the referee disapproves of this and makes him put it back the way it was. Then suddenly, Pingu manages to outwit the Professional's goal keeper and gets a goal and they woop for joy over their small success.
Snow Dog Hugo's team all become annoyed at the other team's victory celebration. One of their teammates is so annoyed that he rams into Pingu with rage to shut them up. Then on the next try, the team take this move to the point where they all play aggressively by knocking them with their putts, forcing them into the corners and sides, and so on to ensure they do not win. Pingu and his friends are so cross at being pushed around that they throw down their gear and storm off. After Robby's tail heals, Snow Dog Hugo and the others question themselves if they went too far, and when they see Robby performing some moves, they decide to discard their hockey equipment too and join Pingu, Robby and Pongi, which eventually culminates into them figure skating and they have the most fun they have had all day together.
Characters[]
- Pingu
- Robby
- Pongi (debut)
- The Strikers (debut)
- The Referee (debut)
Trivia[]
- The original version of this episode featured the song "Hand in Hand" from Koreana (the official theme song of the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games Opening Ceremony) at the end. The redubbed version replaces this with a synthesized piece instead.
- Pongi is introduced in this episode.
- Snow Dog Hugo's name could be a reference to what Pingu was going to be named in the first pilot test film.
- In the remastered version of the episode, a fade out is added when the Professionals go to see Pingu instead of cutting to them having fun.
- The strikers on the professional hockey team look like Pingo and Pingg.
- The piece of music that plays when Robby is performing tricks in the original version was later remixed for the "Pingris" minigame in Pingu: The Most Cheerful Penguin in the World
- During the restored version of the episode, organ music can be heard along with a sports commentator speaking english and a cheering audience. It is most likely that this audio was taken from an actual hockey game.
Goofs[]
- The referee doesn't have a white chest.
- When Robby gets rammed into the side of the court, his nose disappears.