History Of Hockey

The History Of Hockey

Canadians would like to take credit for the beginning of hockey. After all don’t we call it our sport? But hockey actually dates back to ancient times.

Games involving balls and sticks date back well over a thousand years to Egypt, Greek, Rome, Ireland, and Scotland.

Historical records show that over 4000 years ago in Egypt a very crude form of hockey was enjoyed by many. There are also historical records from around 1000 BC depicting a similar game played in Ethiopia. The Aztec Indians of South America also enjoyed an early version of hockey. Sorry Canada hockey dates back long before your birth.

This hockey came was called keritizin and it was very popular in ancient Greece. Romans called this same game paganica, the Irish called it hurling and the Scots called it shinty.

There is historical records dating to 1527 in Ireland where the game is referred to as hockie. It would seem this is our first connection to the modern day name of hockey.

During the 17th and 18th centuries in England entire villages would play the game. Two nearby village would play against each other and the object was to hit the ball into the opposition’s village.

Teams were large back then consisting of up to 100 players and the games could last for days. Injuries such as broken legs were very common.

In 1852 the sports master of an English school decided that there would be no more than 30 players on the field at any time. Teams could be larger but only 30 of the players could play. Teams of this era usually had more forwards than defensemen and this practice continued until the early 1900s.

The game as we know it emerged in England in 1860 at the Eton College, so perhaps Canada can make an attachment to its roots. Later in 1875 new rules were implemented and the first Hockey Association was formed.

The game was played on a field that was almost 200 meters long with all the players chasing the ball for the entire game. Talk about exhausting!

In 1886 the British Hockey Association was form and with this association game some new rules which incorporated a circle for hitting goals, often referred to as the striking circle.

By 1893 the rules had changed a lot. There were now 5 forwards, 2 backs, 3 halves, and a goaltender.

In 1890 The Welsh, Irish, and English Hockey Associations formed the first International Rule Board complete with umpires. Today both field hockey and ice hockey are played in most every country of the world.

The modern hockey game is played mainly during the winter months. It consists of two teams, each with 10 players plus 1 goaltender. The object of the game is to score goals in the opposing teams net.

The hockey game has three periods that are 20 minutes each, and in the course of a game a player can actually skate several kilometers. It is suppose to be a non body contact games but sometimes that’s really hard to believe.

Canadians are without a doubt some of the best hockey people on the planet. It is traditional that at an early age children are tested for their ability to play what is known as our national sport.

If we don’t make it as a hockey player we certainly make it as a spectator. Hockey is the most watched sport in all of Canada!