European immigrants brought various versions of hockey to North America, such as the Irish sport of hurling, the closely related Scottish sport of shinty, and versions of field hockey played in England. Where necessary these seem to have been adapted for icy conditions; for example, a colonial Williamsburg newspaper records hockey being played in a snow storm in Virginia. Early paintings show "shinney", an early form of hockey with no standard rules, being played in Nova Scotia. Contrary to popular beliefs, the first "official" game of hockey was played in Windsor, Nova Scotia, not Kingston, Ontario, or Montreal, Quebec.
To this day, shinny is a popular Canadian term for an informal type of hockey, either on ice or as street hockey. These early games may have also absorbed the physically aggressive aspects of what the Aboriginal First Nation in Nova Scotia called lacrosse.
Some Canadians consider hockey a cultural experience........ it is starting to get boring to me and even to Old Man now.... the season goes on too long, just as does football and baseball. They used to be seasonal games but the $ chasers have stretched the seasons too long.
ReplyDeleteYeah Karyn, while I was there...I made a mistake with when the Eagles were going to be there....but Hockey is a sport that is probably something that most all have enjoyed in some way.
ReplyDeleteComing from a non-hockey part of the USA--at least until the San Jose Sharks arrived in my old home town--I have to admit there is much about the game I don't understand. But I do find the balance of grace and combativeness to be an interesting contrast.
ReplyDeleteDoug, it's really fairly simple - I don't watch it much I the speed and endurance that these players have. It's truly an amazing sport. Recently here, there have been many debates within the league with the fighting. But if you ask me, I think the sport like many fast sports does give way to the combativeness. However Hockey is a huge sport I believe that it ranks as the number 2 or 3 sport.
ReplyDeleteRegardless it's a fast one.
Hockey is huge here in Michigan. Go red wings! As for combativeness they all need to get over it. It happens, sports are aggressive and competitive. Ya just gotta luv hockey! Smiles
ReplyDeleteRemember Joe Kocher?
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