Sociogenesis of Hockey

Hockey has always been my favorite sport to watch. I specifically like ice hockey. I like that it is fast-paced, and I have always been passionate about following the Colorado Avalanche.

According to Wikipedia, ice hockey has developed from other games involving "hitting a ball on an ice-covered surface" such as "Ijisgolf", a popular game in the Middle Ages that resembled colf. Other similar games were played by the Vikings. Modern ice hockey, however developed from "outdoor stick-and-ball games adapted to the icy conditions of Canada during the 19th century". There are different theories as to who is credited with the invention of ice hockey; some credit British immigrants to Canada, and others think that it was the Icelandic immigrants to North America. The early form of hockey, referred to as "shinney", was played on the St. Lawrence River in Quebec and provided entertainment and recreation for British soldiers. The word "hockey" has been used since the 1300's and has been used interchangeably with other stick-and-ball games over the centuries.

Montreal is widely considered the hub of the development of modern ice hockey. "On March 3, 1875, the first organized indoor game was played at Montreal's Victoria Skating Rink between two nine-player teams". The first hockey club, the "McGill University Hockey Club" was founded in 1877 by McGill students and faculty. The sport's popularity exploded and the first "world championship" of hockey was featured in Montreal's annual Winter Carnival in 1883. The origin of the Stanley Cup comes from Governor General of Canada Lord Stanley of Preston when he purchased a bowl-like trophy in 1893 in order to serve as the prize for the best hockey team in Canada. It was first referred to as the "Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup" and was first awarded to Montreal Hockey Club in 1893.

Professional ice hockey has occurred since the early 20th century. The National Hockey Association (NHA) was formed in Montreal in 1910 and was later re-organized as The National Hockey League in 1917. The league expanded into the US in 1924 with the addition of the Boston Bruins. Ice hockey is also popular today in Europe thanks to Lord Stanley's five sons introducing the sport. Hockey is the official winter sport of Canada. Women's leagues also became popular and today, hockey is "one of the fastest growing women's sports in the world".

A hockey team consists of "four lines of three forwards, three pairs of defensemen, and two goalies". Five members skate and attempt to score a goal (by shooting the puck into the opposing team's net). Games consist of three periods consisting of 20 minutes. There is the possibility of both an over-time and a "shoot-out" to decide the winner of the game if it is tied after the three periods.

Hockey is often associated with injury; players are often depicted as missing teeth. It is an extremely physical game and players often fight each other during the game. The problems that hockey face today include the theory that it is "racist"; it is commonly known that mostly white, upper-class men play hockey. The equipment is expensive and the sport requires a great deal of travel. It is a sport that is considered "privileged".

Hockey is a popular sport in Canada, Europe, and North America.