Ice Hockey – The Origins, the Rules, and Women’s Ice Hockey

Whether you are a hockey fan or not, ice hockey is a popular sport that is played by millions of people around the world. In this article, you will learn about the origins of the game, the rules, and even women’s ice hockey.

Inventors

Inventors of ice hockey have varying opinions on the origins of the sport. Some suggest that the game was developed thousands of years ago while others believe that it was invented in Canada during the 18th century. Regardless of where it was developed, the sport remains popular today. It is most popular in Canada and the United States.

The earliest form of ice hockey was played by the woodland Indian tribes of lower Canada. Using carved bone skates and a wooden ball, players bounded down ice in the cold winter months.

Origins

During colonization of Canada, ice hockey was developed by white people. Some claim it was influenced by stick and ball games played by First Nations. Others argue it had antecedents in seventeenth-century Europe.

The first organized indoor game of ice hockey was played on March 3, 1875, in Montreal’s Victoria Skating Rink. The game was played with nine men on each side, on an 80-by-204-foot ice surface. The first indoor game lasted about 60 minutes.

The first championship series was held in 1883 in Montreal. The Aberdeen Pavilion was built in 1898, and used for hockey in the Stanley Cup games of 1904. The Denman Arena in Quebec was demolished in 1925, but the Quebec Skating Rink remains active.

Major leagues

Among the major leagues in ice hockey are the National Hockey League (NHL), the American Hockey League (AHL), the Eastern Canada Hockey Association (ECHA), and the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHL). All leagues feature many players from across the globe. Some of the top players in the world have been graduates of one of these leagues. These graduates include Doug Harvey, Tim Horton, Marty Barry, Bob Goldham, and Fern Flaman.

The first fully professional league was the original International (Pro) Hockey league, which was formed in 1904-05. It had franchises in Calumet, Houghton, and Sault St. Marie, Michigan. The league continued until 1914-15.

Women’s ice hockey

During the first decade of the 21st century, the United States and Canada have dominated the women’s hockey landscape. The Canadians have claimed more than a dozen gold medals and have won the IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship more times than I can count.

Unlike men’s hockey, body checking is forbidden. While the United States and Canada have met in a gold medal game on more than one occasion, the tournament is more of a one-off than a true series.

Rules

Whether you’re playing or watching ice hockey, there are a few rules you should know. You don’t have to be a hockey expert to know what they are. Ice hockey is a fast-paced game, so you have to be aware of what’s going on.

There are three major rules that limit the movement of the puck in ice hockey. These rules include checking, offside, and puck going out of play. If one of these rules is broken, a penalty will be assessed.