The history of hockey dates back to the times of the earliest civilizations. Studies have found evidence of the origins of this sport up to four thousand years ago. This sport commonly known as “ball and stick” has been played in the ancient civilizations of Rome, Egypt and Scotland under various names. The general gameplay of the game was similar between each civilization. The Irish called the game “Hockie”. This term has made its way to the present day and is now the common name for this age-old game. In those days it was not played on ice but on a field. The rules and game of modern hockey originated in Canada with the help of JG Creighton. His particular rules of play were used in the first ice hockey game played in 1875. Two frozen stones at each end of the ice were used in the early days of hockey as goals. In 1879, the official rules of the game were written. It wasn’t until 1893 that hockey became a well-known and played 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 20th century. 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 give up because their ice rink burned down. There were many obstacles in the early development phase of the NHL and they delayed 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 openly paying players for the sport. This particular league joined teams from Michigan and Ontario to form the first professional international league in the year of 1904. Many players were openly paid by this league which was later disbanded in 1907. At that time, many major hockey leagues they were working in Canada. The National Hockey Association or NHA was formed in 1910 in Montreal, Canada and was followed by a 1917 reorganization that created the National Hockey League (NHL). The league’s expansion to the United States began in 1924. Many rules were instilled during this time, including twenty-minute periods and various penalties.
Currently, professional hockey is played in several countries around the world. It is Canada’s defining sport and a renowned game in the United States and other countries. Fans love the robustness of the game. They gather in the stands each season to watch their favorite team battle it out for ultimate victory and the ever-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.