txt=Ice Hockey's origins have long been disputed.  Its roots can been traced back to Europe, where field hockey enthusiasts weathered the snow and played their game on frozen ponds in the wintertime.  British soldiers stationed in Nova Scotia are believed to be the first to bring ice hockey to North America.  Documents report of teams striking cork balls with tree limbs atop frozen surfaces.

In the 1800's, ice hockey began taking shape.  A major step towards its development came when the Montreal Gazette published the official rules of hockey in 1877, informing readers how the sport is played.  Eventually the popularity of ice hockey lead to the formation of amateur leagues, the first of which was known as the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada and included teams from Quebec, Montreal and Ottawa.  Canada's Governor General at the time, Lord Stanley, donated a lavish trophy to the burgeoning hockey league, which was to be given to the winner of the Dominion Hockey challenge. Lord Stanley's gift would later come to be known simply as The Stanley Cup.

As the game transformed, several innovations were made, such as the addition of blue lines, which divide the ice into zones, the introduction of three, twenty-minute periods, and a net behind the goalie.  Along with innovations came new leagues springing up all across the world.  In 1917, members of the National Hockey Association reorganized to form what we know today as the NHL or National Hockey League.

1920 saw the first Olympic ice hockey game played during the Summer Olympics, with team Canada becoming the first World Ice Hockey Champions.  Four years later, Ice Hockey became a permanent fixture at the Winter Olympics.  The sport continued to evolve and new rules, such as off-sides and icing, added excitement to an already thrilling game.  Franchises popped up across North America during the second half of the 20th century and today there are NHL teams in 30 cities throughout the U.S and Canada.