Wherever you look, it seems that there is always some sort of hockey happening – and not just in Canada! As an international sport, hockey is truly cosmopolitan, with fans throughout the world. The sport itself originated in Canada in the 1800s, before spreading to the United States, and then to the rest of the world.
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The Huge Popularity In The Northern HemiSphere
It’s undeniable that hockey is a popular sport in the northern half of North America, notably in Canada. The hockey world cup final is always a sell-out in Canada, and many other major sporting events are regularly well-attended as well. Locals in the cities where the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs play often go a lot of effort into supporting their teams. And as Canadians make up the largest population in the United States – and vice versa – the culture clash between the countries is manifested in their respective hockey arenas. But that’s not all there is to Canada’s hockey popularity. In fact, the entire country is quite a hub for the sport.
Hockey Is Popular Worldwide You Just Have To Go Looking For It
The popularity of hockey transcends national boundaries. Many people in other parts of the world have tried to implement the sport into their country’s culture. Unfortunately, not all have had the same success as Canada. You’ll often hear Europeans say that they don’t understand the attraction of hockey, since they’ve never seen a game – and they often attribute the sport’s popularity to American influence. Although there is some truth to that, you have to go back to the 1800s in Canada to find the real inspiration for the sport’s worldwide appeal.
Origins Of Hockey
While the exact origins of hockey are unclear, there are several plausible theories. One of the earliest forms of hockey was “skating hockey,” which was first played in the United Kingdom in the 1800s. It was a game that combined aspects of polka dancing and ice hockey. The rules were simple – two teams of eight players each had to avoid hitting one another while skating towards a common goal. Since the 1800s, hockey has been played on ice, and it was originally seen as a way for the working class to stay fit and have fun in the winter.
Hockey Spreads To The Middle East
One of the fascinating things about hockey is how far and wide it has spread, especially since the sport was first introduced to the Middle East. In fact, the game itself inspired the creation of the national game of Qatar, which is played on a field that is larger than a regulation hockey rink. In the 1920s, a hockey tournament was held in the tiny desert territory of Qatar, and the country’s national team has won the Middle East Championship six times since then. Since then, it’s been played on sandcourts in Doha, with the occasional indoor game as well. Despite the lack of natural ice, the country has maintained a competitive sport scene, largely thanks to the efforts of the Qatari Ski and Sports Club.
The Growth Of Hockey Worldwide In The 20th Century
The growth of hockey in the 20th century was truly exponential. The Toronto Maple Leafs – one of the most successful teams in North American history – were formed in 1917, making the city (and country) proud to boast a hockey team at all. One of the greatest hockey players of all time, Wayne Gretzky, was born in nearby Brantford, and the town has since become synonymous with excellence on the ice.
Other North American cities also have sports teams that are famous for their hockey prowess. The Boston Bruins, for example, have been a mainstay in the NHL since its founding in 1924, and are one of the most popular and supported teams in all of professional sports. Another Canadian team, the Vancouver Canucks, made their name as one of the best and most popular hockey teams in the world, as they became the first European-based team to win the Stanley Cup, in 1979. (The trophy is named after the patron saint of hockey, St. Patrick.)
More Than Two Centuries Of Excellence
In addition to being one of the most popular sports in North America, hockey also has a long and storied history all around the world. In Europe, especially in the United Kingdom and Germany, the game has been particularly popular. The British governing body for hockey, the Ice Hockey Association, was established in 1873, and the English Premier League (the top flight of soccer in the UK) was founded in 1888. (The German Bundesliga was founded in 1895 and is considered one of the most competitive leagues in the world.)
As well as establishing one of the greatest sporting rivalries in history, the “English” and “Scottish” Championships, the First World War saw a huge rise in popularity of hockey in Europe. The British and French governments even passed laws making it compulsory for schoolboys to play hockey (and cricket, which had been a compulsory sport since the 1870s). During the war, many outdoor hockey games were played on military bases across Europe, and the rules were modified to be more physical. The combination of increased participation and rule changes had a huge impact on the growth of hockey during and after the war.
Hockey Is The National Sport Of Many Countries
Even beyond Europe, hockey is immensely popular in many other parts of the world as well. Most notable is probably the country that gave the world the game itself: Canada. Other places where the sport is popular include Russia, Ukraine, and Latvia. (The most populous country in the world, China, doesn’t have a professional league, but the sport is popularized through cultural influence and in urban areas through recreational play.)
Hockey is probably most popular in the under-15s to under-17s range, but it’s definitely not just a childhood pastime. Many professional leagues around the world feature some of the biggest names in the sport as well as some of the best up-and-coming young players. It’s a sport that truly deserves to be called “The National Sport Of Many Countries,” and one that continues to grow in popularity around the world every year.