NCAA Hockey – An Important Role in Hockey Development
Hockey is a sport that’s enjoyed by many both as a spectator and as a player. In North America often players become involved in the game before they ever start school. It’s a culture! And it’s a culture that goes back to ancient times. Although historians might not be able to decide where it’s roots really do begin. One thing is for certain the NCAA hockey has played an important role in hockey development.
Historians debate where hockey’s roots really lay. Many believe that the popular field hockey game of France and Great Britain that dates back 500 years is the beginning of hockey. It was a summer game then, but when the lakes froze over in the winter it became an ice game.
In fact in the 17th century Holland played an ice game that was called kolven. It was a game played on a frozen lake where at each end you would find a pole. A 2 pound ball the size of a grapefruit and a club were the tools of the game and the purpose was to hit the opponents pole with the club using the minimum number of strokes.
Another very rudimentary version of the hockey game was called bandy and it became very popular in Bury Fen England around 1820. Players would use the frozen meadows to swat a wooden ball they called a cat with wooden sticks. Perhaps where the saying kick at the cat originated?
The earliest North American games that resembled hockey were found in Canada. Now why doesn’t that surprise anyone? Halifax Nova Scotia was where many British soldiers were stationed and they would have contests on the frozen lakes. During the same era Montreal’s McGill University students began to face off on ice rinks within the city.
Kingston Ontario however takes credit for the first hockey league which was made up of 4 teams and formed in 1885. It was so popular it didn’t take long before the game was being played around the country. In fact Lord Stanley the English Governor General was so impressed he purchased a silver bowl with a gold finish that was to be awarded to the best team each year. Thus the Stanley Cup we still have today.
The first men’s NCAA hockey championship was in Colorado Springs, Colorado back in 1948. The University of Michigan defeated Dartmouth University and sewed up the first of 9 championships.
The University of Denver and the University of Dakota have each taken home 7 crowns with Denver remaining champs for 2004 and 2005. And Minnesota and Wisconsin follow closely behind with each holding 5 titles.
Over the years tournament honorees like Ed Belfour, Paul Karvia, Chris Chelios, and Adam Oates have all gone on to have very successful careers in the NHL.
There are more than 2000 students that participate in the 3 divisions of ice hockey played each year.
And since women’s hockey debuted in Nagano Olympic Games in 1998 its popularity has grown and thus NCAA has created a women’s ice hockey championship as well. The Golden Gophers from the University of Minnesota have taken the championship home both in 2004 and 2005. There are over 70 divisions and more than 1000 women students participating in the women’s ice hockey.
Hockey often begins as a young child. It’s our culture! And for many it continues onto college or university where the NCAA hockey has played an important role in hockey and seeing players move onto professional careers.
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