Hockey: A People's History

The origins of hockey can be traced back to the ancient pyramids, but when the puck is dropped on a strange new game one winter's night in 1875, a young country has a new passion that explodes across class and gender. At first it's played by the wealthy. It's in these circles that hockey finds its first great patron - Lord Stanley of Preston, who gives the sport its Holy Grail. The game eventually breaks out across the country, played by women, plumber's helpers, university students and countless other groups. As the game struggles to deal with its growing reputation for violence, it faces its greatest challenge: the onset of professionalism.

As the new century begins, millionaires and mercenaries team up to create professional hockey. Farm boys and factory hands like Cyclone Taylor get rich playing for pay, and the schemes of Senator M. J. O'Brien create the legendary Montreal Canadiens and lead to the creation of the NHL. Frank and Lester Patrick bring hockey across Canada and for 13 years it's truly the Canadian game. In 1915, Frank and the Vancouver Millionaires demolish the Ottawa Senators and the Stanley Cup comes to the west for the first time. But their greatest legacy is the creation of the modern game of hockey. The blue line, froward passing, line substitutions, post schedule play offs, points for assists - the Patricks are responsible for the game as we know it today.

Hockey goes to war. Young men fight overseas and women take their place in pro hockey. The Maple Leaf goes from the battlefield to the rink ans Conn Smythe returns from war to build a hockey empire in Toronto. As a nation comes of age, hockey takes its place on the international stage at the Olympics in Belgium and the new Madison Square Gardens in New York.

In the depths of the Depression, the NHL is on the brink of collapse but radio carries the magic of hockey across the country. Through the years of the Great Depression, hockey becomes the national pastime. The advent of radio provides a reach for the games as never before. Foster Hewitt describing the antics of the Maple Leafs creates heroes and household names - the Conacher brothers, King Clancy and Ace Bailey. The Alkali Lake Braves are an aboriginal team from Alberta that travels west challenging opponents in established amateur leagues. They experience racism and are often unwelcome in the communities they play in - but they find success, and demonstrate the skill and determination of native players of the game.

Television meets hockey and a Saturday night tradition is born. In Quebec, everyone's watching Maurice Richard. In addition, to scoring goals, he is a fearsome player who fights as hard as he plays. When he is suspended by NHL President Clarence Campbell for hitting a referee, riots break out in Montreal. English Canadian fans are watching the exploits of a tough-as-nails kid from Saskatchewan, Gordie Howe. Playing for the Detroit Red Wings, Howe almost dies in 1951 following an on-ice collision with Teeter Kennedy. He recovers and goes on to enjoy the longest career in professional hockey.

A tale of two cities, as Montreal and Toronto are fierce rivals, on and off the ice. The two cities couldn't be more different. The Maple Leafs build a tough, defensive team that reflects the character of the city. Players like Tim Horton personify this team. He is strong, plays defence and is from the railway and mining towns of the Canadian Shield. Montreal has style and finesse, as personified by their captain, Jean Beliveau. As part of the 1967 Centennial celebrations, a large number of Canadian towns and neighbourhoods build arenas. These are places for Baby Boomers to play hockey and a sign of the democratization of the game. The arenas also become meeting places important to town life.