Hockey is very popular in the United States and Europe today, but it got its start in Canada. The Stanley cup playoffs make a larger number of Americans uninterested in international men’s ice hockey world championships, though Europeans are very fond of it. The NHL often draws away top players, so in many countries the best players are off playing for the Stanley cup.
For years, professionals were not permitted to play at the international level, but now that many Europeans play in the NHL, the world championships no longer are comprised of the world’s best players. Since 1924, hockey has been part of the Olympics; Canada won 6 out of 7 gold medals. The years between 1956 and 1988 were particularly good for Russia, as the Russians took home all the gold medals but two during those years; in 1960 the U.S.A won the gold medal, but professional Americans, Swedish, Canadian, and Finish players were banned from playing. In 1980, U.S.Non-pro college students beat the Russians and won the gold medal in Lake Placid, New York.
Most Americans weren’t paying much attention to the sport at the time, but this began to change. The 1972 and 1974 Summit series had solidified Canada and Russia as hockey rivals. The Canadian Cup grew out of this competition; this is where the best nations came together to play. The Canadian cup later became the World Cup of Hockey with the United States winning in 1996 and Canada winning in 2004. Since 1998 NHL professionals have played in the Olympics giving the top players more opportunity to compete and face off with other professional players from different countries. Beginning in 1998, the women’s game became a prime feature of the Olympics; this would later go on to spawn nine women’s competitions.
Women usually compete just as hard as males in this sport and are really coming into their own. Although they still have a way to go in terms of really being there with males at the domestic and international levels. Hockey was always that sport dominated by males and yet women still have long way before they’re really taken seriously. This sport today continues to attract the love and devotion of many; attendance records are regularly broken by the many loyal fans who love the sport. This sport is seen as the kind of family tradition, an past time that many Americans view the sports of baseball, football, or basketball.
Hockey has its own sets of rules and a separate world entirely, whether professional or not. This sport is viewed as important as the air they breath by many, and people can get very wrapped up in it. Late night game practices are common among fans of the sport, and rinks frequently hold special hours to stay open and accommodate fans who spend 2-3 hours on the ice.
