Required Reading

A History of Hockey

He shoots, he scores!

Just hearing that phrase is enough to get most Canadians excited. Hockey is a part of
Canada's national identity, and is definitely one of the most popular sports throughout
Canada. In fact, many Canadians treat hockey like they own it! However, hockey is
actually older than Canada itself.

Records of people playing hockey date back over 4000 years. Obviously ancient
civilizations didn't have access to high-tech hockey sticks, pucks or even skates. The
hockey they played was more like field hockey. Many different civilizations played
hockey, and while there were some differences, the general goals stayed the same.
Canadians have been debating who brought hockey here for a long time. To this day,
no one knows. However, in 1886 the first organization that administered hockey was
the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC). Since then, hockey has grown
into our national past-time!

Surprisingly, hockey didn't become Canada's official national sport until 1994. Before
that lacrosse was the National Sport of Canada. The decision was so controversial that
the government decided to have two national sports: lacrosse in the summer and
hockey in the winter!

So the next time you lace up your skates, remember that there is a huge about of
history behind the game you are about to play!

Questions:
1. What gets Canadians excited?
Canadians get excited just hearing the phrase “He shoots, he scores!”. It's a phrase used in
hockey, one the most popular sports in Canada.

2. How long has hockey been played?

Hockey has been played for over 4000 years, just not with the same material used
nowadays.

3. What does AHAC stand for?

It stands for Amateur Hockey Association of Canada, the first organization that administered
hockey .

4. What is Canada's summer time national sport?

Canada’s summer time national sport is lacrosse.

5. How would ancient people play hockey?

Ancient people didn’t have access to sticks, pucks or skates. Moreover it was played like
field hockey. However, even if there were some differences, the general goals are still the
same.
6. Has hockey grown more popular? How do you know?
It has, right after AHAC was founded. It is actually mentioned in the third paragraph of the
text.

7. Why was changing Canada's National Sport controversial?

It was controversial because before hockey, there was lacrosse which was Canada’s
National Sport. So when hockey became so popular just to make it a National Sport, people
started complaining. So in the end, the government decided to choose both of them as
National Sports.

8. Why do you think hockey is so important to Canada?

Hockey is Canada’s National Sport so that means it's really important for them. For example
in Spain, I would say soccer is the most popular sport and it is really important for people. It
is because if your team wins everyone is happy and everyone feels okay with everyone. In
my opinion, hockey happens the same. It’s a characteristic sport of the country and people
should be proud of it.