The history of hockey is similar to that of golf in that it basically has its roots in any game involving a stick and a ball or stone that have been played for thousands of years. Very crude and crude forms of these games have taken place for thousands of years throughout Europe, Egypt and South America that have shaped the history of hockey.

Hockey began to have clearer roots throughout England in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. These were treacherous games that often pitted the entire village against another village and the teams could often have up to a hundred players and the players often played with serious injuries and endured several days of these games.

The sport we are most familiar with today began to take shape at Eton University in England when they actually started formulating rules around 1860. Then the first Hockey Association. in hockey history it was formed in 1875 which clarified more rules.

Further growth of the sport was brewing in North America as new settlers arrived on the continent. Montreal was credited with the first organized game in hockey history that was played in 1875 by college students. Then the students formed more associations and leagues and created new rules at the same time.

The game continued to grow in popularity and became so popular that Montreal hosted the first Ice Hockey World Championship in 1883. European hockey continued to grow at the university level, while various universities formed fierce rivalries.

Some dramatic rule changes were made that helped the game progress to an eleven-player field, while the hockey team began to evolve as well. The use of safety equipment including pads, helmets, mouthpieces, and eye protectors has dramatically improved since the early days of hockey history. It was not uncommon to not even wear helmets until the last few 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 admitted. Canada was a safe bet to win the gold medal, as they won the first six of seven golds. From the mid-1950s to the 1980s, the Soviet Union ruled. Although the United States won its first gold medal in hockey history in 1960, it was the “Ice Miracle” of 1980, where our college amateur team beat the highly favored Russians, spurring a growth in the American appetite for ice. 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 largest international ice hockey tournaments. These two organizations have helped shape and govern hockey as we know it today. The sport has grown from twigs and balls to a major international activity that generates billions in revenue each year and features some of the most incredible athletes on the planet, so the story of hockey continues.