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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.
Written By: Nina Nocciolino
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