The history of hockey goes back to the times of the first civilizations. Studies have found indications of the origins of this sport up to four thousand years ago. This common sport known as “ball and stick” has been played in the ancient civilizations of Rome, Egypt, and Scotland under various names. The general play of the game was similar between each civilization. The Irish called the game “Hockie”. This term has made its way down to the present day and is now the common name for this historical game. In those days it was not played on ice but on a field. The rules and game of hockey today originated in Canada with the help of JG Creighton. Its particular rules of the game were used in the first ice hockey game played in 1875. In the early days of hockey, two frozen stones at each end of the ice were used as goals. In 1879, the official rules of the game were drawn up. It was not until 1893 that hockey became a known and practiced sport in the United States. In the 1900s, the sport grew in popularity throughout Europe.
Most of the game of hockey resided in Canada and other countries until the early 1900s. Montreal, Canada is the true father of modern ice hockey. This is where the first organized game in hockey history began. The first official season of the NHL took place between 1917 and 1918 in Montreal. Only five teams were part of the league at the beginning. One had to quit because his ice rink caught fire. The obstacles were many in the early development phase of the NHL and slowed the advancement of this sport that so many people love today. The O’Brien Trophy was the original league championship trophy awarded for the championship game. As the popularity of the games increased, so did the number of teams in the league.
Professional hockey originated in the early 20th century. The Western Pennsylvania Hockey League began paying players openly for the sport. This particular league joined the Michigan and Ontario teams to form the first professional international league in 1904. This league openly paid many players, which was later dissolved in 1907. By then, many major hockey leagues were they were running in Canada. The National Hockey Association or NHA was formed in 1910 in Montreal, Canada and was followed by a reorganization in 1917 that created the National Hockey League (NHL). The expansion of the league in the United States began in 1924. Many rules were instilled throughout this time, including twenty-minute periods and various penalties.
Currently, professional hockey is played in various countries around the world. It is the defining sport of Canada and a renowned game in the United States and other countries. Fans love the toughness of the game. They gather in the stands each season to watch their favorite team fight for the ultimate victory and the ever so famous Stanley Cup. This championship trophy has been a symbol of hard work and perseverance for years and is the end result desired by all teams.
