Ice Hockey History

Ice Hockey as we all know, is hockey, played on ice with roller skates. There is a puck, instead of the ball used in the field of hockey. As it is ice hockey, it is pretty clear that the roots of the game laid in a region where snowing and formation of ice beds was a regular happening. Thus, the history of ice hockey starts from Canada, which has a regular amount of snowing and ice beds. The precursor to the modern-day ice hockey was played there.

Timeline of Ice Hockey History

March 3, 1875
Montreal, Canada was the place where the first time ice hockey was played as an indoor game. James Creighton, and several other McGill University students were a part of this game having 2 nine player teams.

1876
An artificial ice hockey rink was built in Chelsea, London, England. It was named Glaciarium and it was mechanically refrigerated.

1877
The initial rules of modern form of ice hockey were laid down by J G A Creighton and then eventually they were published in Montreal Gazette.

1888 to 1892
There were two important things which happened in this period. First, Amateur Hockey Association of Canada was formed and second, the first ever women's hockey game was played in Ottawa.

1893
Dominion Hockey Challenge was introduced, later commonly known as Stanley Cup. This was a trophy donated by Frederick Arthur, Lord Stanley of Preston and Governor-General of Canada.

1894
This was the year when the first artificial ice rink was opened in Baltimore.

1904
International Hockey League was formed by 5 teams in the USA and Ontario. This was the ever hockey league and it lasted 3 seasons.

1911
Earlier a 60 minute game, it was now segregated in three 20 minute sessions.

1920
Ice hockey tournament was played at the Summer Olympics. It was later declared as the first World Ice Hockey Championship. It was won by Canada. Ice hockey history in Olympics starts from this event.

1923
The first hockey broadcast for radio was proposed for a game between teams from Toronto and Kitchener.

1924
Ice Hockey gains a place where it rightly deserved, in the Winter Olympics. This was a major landmark in the history of ice hockey.

1952
In Canada, broadcast of hockey makes its television debut in the television show Hockey Night produced by CBC television.

1960,
This was the first time a goalie mask was introduced in ice hockey.

1979
Edmonton Oilers, Quebec Nordiques, Hartford Whalers and Winnipeg Jets join the National Hockey League, leaving the National Hockey Association in doldrums.

1980
USA beat USSR in the semifinal and then went on to beat Finland in the final for the Olympic gold medal. This has been touted as a "Miracle on Ice" and is one of the most memorable facts about the history of ice hockey, especially for USA.

1990
Women power was experienced as the first Women's World Hockey Championship was won by the team of Canada (once again, it was Canada!).

2004
The World Junior Hockey Championship was won by USA for the first time. To add another feather in their Ice Hockey cap, Canada won yet another World Hockey Champions title. They beat Finland.

2007
California based Anaheim Ducks become the first to have won the Stanley Cup. Again a significant juncture in ice hockey history.

There were basically quite a few more landmarks, but these consisted the cream of major happenings in the history of ice hockey. This is where I sign off!