Ice Hockey History and Legends

The Story of the Game and the People Who Made It

Hockey’s roots run through 19th-century Canada, where versions of stick-and-ball games on ice were formalized into the sport we know today. Within a few decades came the Stanley Cup, organized professional leagues and, in 1917, the National Hockey League.

This hub traces that history and profiles some of the most influential players in the sport. Historical accounts sometimes differ, especially for the game’s earliest years, so our guides note where historians disagree and rely on established sources such as the Hockey Hall of Fame.

What You’ll Learn in This Hub

• The origins of ice hockey and the 1875 Montreal game
• The history of the Stanley Cup
• The history of the NHL from 1917
• Wayne Gretzky’s impact on hockey
• Gordie Howe’s remarkable career
• Bobby Orr and the modern defenseman
• Maurice “Rocket” Richard and the first 50-goal season
• Mario Lemieux’s talent and comebacks
• The evolution of the goalie mask
• The Hockey Hall of Fame

Related reading: relive the greatest nights in Famous NHL Games and Records, and discover the history of the women’s game in Women’s Ice Hockey.