Roller hockey, also called “quad hockey,” “inline hockey,” or “skater hockey,” began as a warm-weather alternative for ice hockey enthusiasts. “Roller hockey” is actually an umbrella term used to refer to three variant forms: roller hockey, inline hockey, and skater hockey. Regardless, the difference between these three forms is based mostly on the equipment used to play the game and whether contact (checking) is allowed (like in ice hockey). By the 1880s, leagues and rules of play developed in cities throughout the U.S. Midwest. Those early games were played on quad skates and the players used curved sticks called “canes,” similar to modern field hockey sticks. Team play consisted of players trying to shoot a roller hockey puck or hockey ball into the goal—the team with the most goals won the game.

Source: Pure Hockey