The history of hockey is similar to that of golf in that it basically has its roots in any game that involved a stick and a ball or a stone that has been played for thousands of years. Very crude and crude forms of these games have been taking place for thousands of years throughout Europe, Egypt and South America which have shaped the history of hockey.
Hockey began to form clearer roots throughout England in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. These were treacherous games that often matched the entire town against another town and teams could often have up to a hundred players and players would often play with serious injuries and endure several days of these games.
The sport we are most familiar with today began to form at Eton University in England when they actually started formulating rules around 1860. Then the first Hockey Association. in hockey history was formed in 1875 which clarified more rules.
Further growth of the sport was generating in North America as new settlers arrived on the continent. Montreal was credited with the first organized game in hockey history which was played in 1875 by college students. The students then formed more associations and leagues and created new rules at the same time.
The game continued to grow in popularity, becoming so popular that Montreal hosted the first Ice Hockey World Championships in 1883. European hockey continued to grow at the collegiate level, as various universities formed fierce rivalries.
Some dramatic rule changes were applied that helped progress the game to an eleven-player field, while the hockey team also began to evolve. The use of safety equipment including pads, helmets, mouthpieces, and eye protectors has improved dramatically since the earliest days of hockey history. It was not unusual to even wear a helmet until recent decades.
The international appeal of hockey grew enormously due to the Olympics. It was first played at the 1924 Games and only men’s teams were allowed. Canada was a safe bet to win the gold medal, having won the first six of seven golds. From the mid-1950s to the 1980s, the Soviet Union dominated. Although the US won its first gold medal in hockey history in 1960, it was the 1980 “Miracle on Ice,” in which our amateur college team beat the Russian favorites, that fueled the growth of American appetite for hockey.
The NHL as we know it today was formed in 1917 and consists of 30 teams, 24 of which are from the United States and the rest from Canada. Most of the players come from Canada, Europe and America. There is also an International Association called the International Hockey Federation which was formed in 1908 and continues today to host some of the biggest international ice hockey tournaments. These two organizations have helped shape and govern hockey as we know it today. The sport has grown from sticks and balls to a major international activity that generates billions in revenue each year and boasts some of the most incredible athletes on the planet, so goes the history of hockey.
