Home » History » Canadian History & Culture » Quick Quiz on Hockey History

Quick Quiz on Hockey History

© J. M. Bridgeman

1. When and where was hockey first played by a set of formalized written rules? 2. Where does the name "hockey" come from? 3. What is the oldest trophy competed for by professional athletes in North America? 4. How did the trophy get its name? 5. Who won the first trophy? 6. What was the first American team to win the Cup? 7. When was the National Hockey League formed? 8. What year did the Cup become an award for NHL professional hockey? 9. What team has won the Cup most often? 10. Where is the home of the Cup?

Key: You can look up the answers in the Canadian Encyclopedia, McClelland & Stewart. Or you can scroll below.

1. McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, in 1875. The rules were written by a student, J. G. A. Creighton. 2. It is believed that "hockey" comes from the French word "hoquet" meaning a curved stick. A hoquet is a shepherd's crook. 3. The Stanley Cup, donated in 1893. 4. The Cup was donated by Sir Frederick Arthur Stanley who was Governor General of Canada at the time. One of the duties of the Governor General is to encourage excellence. 5. The Montreal AAA's, in March, 1893. 6. The Seattle Metropolitans, in the 1916-1917 season. 7. The NHL was established in 1917. 8. The Cup has been awarded to an NHL team since 1927. 9. The Montreal Canadiens. 10. The Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

For other hockey talk and great links (to the NHL Official Site, individual teams, Hall of Fame, and Hockey News) check out Jeff Justiz' Suite 101 column on Ice Hockey. See also David Newman's Life in Canada column.