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College Hockey: History of the Game

Professional hockey and college hockey have a solid fan base, and many students try out during college hockey recruiting. . Perhaps ice hockey is the most popular form of the game, and college hockey teams usually play on an ice surface.

Ice hockey, as mentioned, is played in an arena with a large flat area of ice, using a vulcanized rubber disc called a puck. Players wear ice skates specifically designed for the game, and it is played extensively in North America, Europe. It is a major sport in Canada, as well as Finland, the Czech Republic, and in Sweden. Ice hockey uses sticks that are L-shaped, made of wood, graphite, or composites of these with a blade at the bottom.

James Creighton, a native of Halifax, learned the game of hockey and played it often. He had relocated to Montreal in 1873, bringing with him the knowledge and love for the game. Creighton, together with his friends, played the first game of organized hockey on March 3rd, 1875. This game was comprised of nine skaters per side, and it followed what was known as the Halifax Rules, which were written by Creighton himself. Hockey’s debut in Montreal was well received and quickly grew in popularity.

Another account of the origin of the game is that W.F. Robertson, a student at McGill University, witnessed a field hockey game in England. He then decided to adapt the sport in a winter setting, with the objective of keeping the McGill football club in shape during the cold season. In this version of the game, there were fifteen men per side. A lacrosse ball was used, with the edges cut off as the puck. The However, this version reportedly was developed four years after James Creighton’s exhibition of hockey. Many variations of the game experimented with before it became the sport that it is today.

A number of high school students hope to qualify for college hockey teams in order to advance their education, as well as their chances in playing in professional leagues.  Try outs and assessments start in high school, in football as well as in other sports. For all involved in college hockey recruiting, therefore, information on college hockey and other details are important in getting an athletic scholarship.

Fortunately, the Internet has proved to be a useful venue for both athletes and coaches participating in college hockey, as well as other sports. There are many websites and online forums wherein students and scouts can come together and interact about college hockey recruiting and other important information. D1Athletes is an online community wherein athletes and coaches alike can share and exchange information they need. D1Athletes offers them a place to build an online presence and gain important public exposure.

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