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The rise and fall of Hockey: From Uncertain Beginnings to International Hype
The road from the pond to the pros has been a bumpy one, but
professional hockey is back in a big way. Fans that endured last
year's NHL lockout are now enjoying the game from the other side
of the glass, as they watch their favorite brawlers on ice
continue a game that started on grass.
The roots of hockey are hard to trace, although some historians
believe that the game started as a summer sport-field hockey- in
the northern parts of Britain and France before moving to the
frozen waters of Holland in the 17th century, in a game called
"Kolven." Still, others believe that a version of hockey was
played by Arabs, Greeks, Romans, Persians, and Ethiopians.
Almost all historians believe the word hockey itself came from
the French word "hocquet," which means "shepherd's crook."
Hockey didn't make its way to Canada until the 1870's, when
British soldiers stationed in Halifax, Nova Scotia reportedly
organized contests on frozen ponds in and around the city.
Around the same time, a group of students from Montreal's McGill
University were challenging each other at another nearby rink.
By 1885, the first Canadian amateur hockey league was formed,
consisting of four teams. Lord Stanley of Preston was so
impressed with the popularity of the game that in 1892 he bought
a silver bowl, declaring it to be given to the best hockey team
in Canada. The award is known today as the Stanley Cup.
In the beginning, gear was limited. According to the book,
"Hockey for Dummies," published by IDG Books Worldwide, players
wore blades attached to their shoes, and used tree branches as
sticks. Goalie knee and shin guards, originally created for the
game of cricket, eventually made their way to the hockey rink.
Some players stuffed newspapers or magazines behind their shin
guards for additional protection in games.
All of the hockey games taking place around the world were
strictly amateur until 1904, when the first professional hockey
league was established in the United States. In the iron-mining
region of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, the International
Professional Hockey League was established and quickly followed
by the National Hockey (NHA) Association and the Pacific Coast
League (PCL).
During World War I, hockey was suspended. Following the war, the
game resumed as the National Hockey League (NHL). The new league
consisted of five franchises: Montreal Canadiens, Montreal
Wanderers, Ottawa Senators, Quebec Bulldogs, and Toronto Arenas.
Eventually the PCL disbanded, and the NHL took control of the
Stanley Cup in 1926.
After losing and gaining a number of
teams, the NHL appointed a
definitive six franchises to the league in 1942: the Montreal
Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins,
Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks. These teams stayed
the same until 1967, when the league expanded, and these teams
were fondly referred to as the "Original Six."
In 1959, goalie Jacques Plante took a puck to the face off a
shot from New York Ranger, Andy Bathgate. Plante wore a mask
after that, but his coach urged him to play without it in later
games. He did. It wasn't until 1973 that goalies reverted to net
keeping with masks for protection.
In 1972, the World Hockey League (WHL) was formed as a direct
rival to the NHL, but the hype it generated eventually died down
and the WHL disbanded in 1979, right around the same time the
infamous Wayne Gretzky took to the ice.
Gretzky played 20 seasons in the NHL and won the scoring title
10 times, MVP nine times, and the Stanley Cup four times. His
name has become synonymous with the game, and fans around the
world wear throwback jerseys and apparel dedicated to "The Great
One."
Mitchell
& Ness Nostalgia Co. makes authentic NHL throwback jerseys
of sports legends. Gretzky, along with Stan Mikita, and Guy
Lafleur are three of Mitchell & Ness's hot ticket hockey items.
The credit is well deserved. Gretzky's career stats alone
include 894 goals, 1,963 assists and 2,857 total points by 1999,
his final season.
By the 2000-01 season, hockey had grown from the "original six,"
to 30 teams, two conferences, and six divisions in the NHL.
Goalies were playing with face masks, and every player in the
NHL was required to wear a helmet on the ice.
The unknown origin and road that hockey has taken from a
favorite in the winter months to an Olympic contender and
professional sport, was a bumpy one filled with rule
adjustments, safety precautions and fights. We can't forget
about the fights. From New England's collegiate Bean Pot to
Canada's professional Battle of Alberta, the game is here to
stay, and fans around the world can look forward to many more
nights on the other side of the glass, rooting on their hometown
heroes.
About the author:
Nina Nocciolino is a copywriter for DMi Partners, an interactive
marketing firm specializing in higher education, retail, real
estate and finance. For more information visit www.dmipartners.com.
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