Ice Hockey

“He shoots, he scores and the crowd goes wild.” Common phrases used to describe the excitement of a hockey game. Hockey is a fast-paced sport played on ice or in a field, in a parking lot, the street or on any hard surface. Opposing teams vie against each other, their sticks chasing a ball or puck down the surface towards the goalie’s net. This scenario is acted out time-and-time again as children and adults, females and males, professionals and amateurs, don ice skates, roller skates, inline skates and running shoes to play hockey.

There are, essentially, two basic types of hockey: field and ice. All others play according to similar rules, varying only the equipment and the surface. Field hockey plays out on a field, its usually female players using a hard ball and a round-ended stick. It is fast, rough and challenging but lacks the support of its icy equivalent.

Ice hockey is a swift, challenging sport dominated in its formative years by North Americans, particularly Canadians. Although its origins are murky, it is Canada’s national sport (along with Lacrosse). While Americans focus on baseball and the World’s Series, Canadians look forward to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs and the Stanley Cup. Although American and Canadian teams play against each other, their nationality is as mixed as the countries’ own population. Ice hockey is a melding pot.

Rules may vary, but the game has not changed substantially over the past few decades. The game has gone from outdoor ponds and rinks to inside large arenas. In 1904, it turned professional. The International Pro-League formed in Michigan, lasted until 1907. Around 1910, the National Hockey Association emerged, followed by 1914’s Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA). In 1914, the two groups battled it out for Lord Stanley’s Cup. The myth that is hockey had begun.

World War I saw an end to hockey dreams at this high level. After the war, a new organization formed – the NHL (1917). It soon became the dream of many Canadian boys to play in the big leagues like their heroes. There were only five members in the franchise: the Montreal Canadiens, the Montreal Wanderers, the Ottawa Senators, the Quebec Bulldogs and the Toronto Arenas.

The NHL played against the rival PCHA until it folded. Another rival, the Western Canadian Hockey League, entered the fray in 1921 but, after 1926, there were no rivals. The NHL ruled supreme. It has not looked back, adding franchise after franchise.

The NHL is not the only action happening in hockey. People play in the minors and at college and university levels. There are World Championships where the best of North America faces the best of Europe and elsewhere. There are also the Olympics. At this level, men and women, alike play some of the finest hockey.

In the first year as an Olympic sport, 1920, the Winnipeg Falcons defeated the United States for Gold. Canada did so again in the early years, winning in1924, 1928, 1932, 1948 and 1952. The United States won Gold in 1960 and 1980. For a while, the Russians dominated winning eight Gold medals. Since then, Finland, Sweden and other European nations have improved their skills. However, in 2002, Canadian men once again stood atop the podium. The Canadian women’s team joined them defeating the Americans. The Canadian women repeated their victory in 2006. Sadly, the men did not.