Ice hockey began as a sport bandy. Bandy was played on a grass field. Ice hockey started as early as 1820 in England. Hockey began in the United States in 1893. The game was between a team from Yale University and John Hopkins University.

    Canada’s league began in 1890. It was the Ontario Hockey Association. The first professional team, the International Hockey League, however began in 1904. This league only lasted three years though. In 1917, two professional leagues joined to form the National Hockey League, also known as the NHL. The Boston Bruins were the first team to join the league.

    The first Stanley Cup was awarded in1893. It was given to the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association. Lord Stanley of Preston, the Governor General of Canada, presented this award. The Stanley Cup was named after Lord Stanley and has been presented to the champions of the NHL ever since.

    Ice hockey was introduced to the Winter Olympics in 1920. Until 1956, Canada won the gold medal almost every year. From then until 1992, the USSR won most of the gold medals. The USA has won the gold medals in 1960 and 1980; USA won the silver medal seven times. Since 1992, the gold medal has been won by different teams every year. Women’s ice hockey was introduced in 1998. In 1998 the USA women’s team won the gold medal. In 2002, the Canadian team won the gold.

    There are thirty teams in the NHL today. Most of the teams were founded around or before 1970. However, seven teams began after 1995. They are the Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, Atlanta Thrashers, Nashville Predators, Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, and Phoenix Coyotes.