illustration by
Jason Stout

Ice hockey is an offshoot of what is now called field hockey, which was first played in ancient Persia and Greece. Originally called “bandy” and played with a wooden ball instead of a rubber puck, the ice form of the game has been known for at least five centuries in northern Europe — probably longer. The modern ice hockey era began in Great Britain more than 100 years ago and evolved to its current form in Europe and Canada. According to one story, the word “hockey” comes from an Old French word hoquet, which means “shepherd’s staff”; many dictionaries, however, say the origin of the word “hockey” is unknown and define hoquet as the French word for “hiccup.”

During the first part of this century, hockey went through many changes. It became an Olympic sport in the 1920s, several professional leagues were formed and disbanded through the 1930s, and the current National Hockey League (NHL) stabilized some time after World War II. Until 1967, the league consisted only of the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Six additional teams were added in 1967 and six more in 1974. By 1981 the NHL consisted of conferences, divisions, and 21 teams.

Around this time, hockey started to receive increasing international attention — the 1980 Olympics featured the infamous battle between the U.S. and U.S.S.R. and exposed the game to many new fans. During the mid-Eighties, the NHL and International Amateur Hockey League signed agreements that let NHL players play in international amateur events, giving them more exposure. Within the last decade, the NHL finally established national television contracts.

A handful of leagues exist outside the NHL, and bring hockey to smaller, more intimate arenas. Some leagues have official affiliations with the NHL, while others are independent. Professional leagues with teams in the United States include the American Hockey League, the Central Hockey League, the United Hockey League, the International Hockey League, the West Coast Hockey League, the East Coast Hockey League (one of the most successful), and most recently, the Western Professional Hockey League (WPHL), which includes our own Austin Ice Bats. — R.U. Steinberg

This article appears in November 14 • 1997 and November 14 • 1997 (Cover).

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