Prince George OldTimers Hockey Association
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In Prince George we tend to relate the word hockey with "ice hockey". However, there are other forms of hockey popular in this community - field hockey, roller hockey, and ringette. Forms of hockey, are considered among the earliest sports in the world. They were played by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Persians, Romans, and Arabs. Hurling, a sport similar to hockey, is known to have been played during the first millennium BC in Ireland, and similar sports were adopted by other Europeans in the Middle Ages (5th century to 15th century). In pre-Columbian times (before the 16th century) Native South Americans also played similar sports. The name hockey is thought to have been adapted by the English from the French word hoquet (shepherd´s crook). The use of this word seems to have emerged in the sport in the 18th century but was not in common usage until the 19th century. Some say the name "hockey" originated around 1740 when British explorers along the St. Lawrence Valley in Canada discovered Indians playing "air hockey" or lacrosse as we now call it. Each time a player was clobbered, he would yell "Ho ee!", - which some think to be the origin of the name. Ice Hockey It seems no one really knows the origin of the game of hockey. Most people agree though that the modern game of ice hockey developed in Canada and Northern Europe. Stan Fischler (1993) talks about a game similar to hockey (kolven) being popular in Holland in the 17th century. And in the 1820's the same sport was known to be played in an England community of Bury Fen in the 1820's. Field hockey was a popular sport played over 500 years ago. In Hockey for Dummies (1997), John Davidson links the roots of ice hockey with field hockey which was played in Northern Europe - most likely France and Great Britain. In winter months, die hard enthusiasts were known to play field hockey on frozen ice ponds. Some history books say modern ice hockey originated in the mid-1850´s by British soldiers stationed in Canada. The first recorded game of ice hockey was organized by a McGill University student in Montreal on March 3, 1875, and was played by members of the McGill Football Club. Not long after, the first set of rules for this new sport were established by two McGill students, W.F. Robertson and R. F. Smith about 1879. The first hockey league was organized in Kingston, Ontario, in 1885, and it included four teams. The first game in the United States is believed to have been played in 1893. By the beginning of the 20th century the sport had spread to Great Britain and other parts of Europe. On November 22, 1917, in Montreal, the National Hockey League was formed. Originally composed only of a few Canadian teams, the NHL soon expanded to include teams from Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and New York. Today, the National Hockey League (NHL) is considered the highest professional form of ice hockey attainable. Ice Hockey was added to the Olympic Games in 1920, being one of the most popular events at the Winter Olympics. Youth and adults of both sexes now participate in this game. Field Hockey A sport resembling modern field hockey was played in public schools in England early in the 19th century. By the 1880´s the sport's popularity was well established. Women began to play the sport about this time as well. In 1924 the Fédération International de Hockey (FIH) was founded as the governing body over the game. The sport is popular mainly in Europe, India, Pakistan, and Oceania. Men's field hockey became part of the Olympic Games in 1908; and women's field hockey in 1980. Roller Skate Hockey Roller Hockey was played for the first time in the county of Kent, England at the beginning of the 20th century. The International Federation was created in 1924 and since then this sport has spread over western Europe, some countries in America, and Portuguese colonies (Mozambique, Angola...). It was an exhibition sport at the Barcelona Games. The development of in-line roller skates is likely responsible for the resurgence in this sport. Children are again seen playing ball hockey on the streets with roller blades, and summer leagues are becoming more popular. Ringette (click here for the Prince George Ringette Association) Ringette is a Canadian game that was first introduced in 1963 in North Bay, Ontario. Developed originally for girls, ringette is a fast-paced team sport on ice in which players use a straight stick to pass, carry, and shoot a rubber ring to score goals. For ten years, play centered in Ontario and Quebec, however the sport quickly spread across Canada and is now played in all ten provinces and the Northwest Territories. In fact, the sport has become one of Canada's favourite activities for females, with over 50,000 participants across Canada - a remarkable growth rate for such a young sport. More than 9,000 certified ringette coaches are registered in the National Coaching Certification Program, and 2,866 registered referees trained under Ringette Canada's National Officiating Program. In addition, there are thousands of volunteers who administer clubs, leagues, and tournaments across Canada (information taken from: www.ringette.ca).
References Fischler, S. (1993). Fischler's Illustrated History of Hockey. New York: Warwick. Davidson, J. & , Steinbreder, J. (1997). Hockey For Dummies. New York: Wiley & Sons. |
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