Heritage Fair (Canada’s Effect on International Sports)

Canada has had a very prominent effect on international sports over the years. From creating
basketball and even the hockey, "great one," Wayne Gretzky, to producing some of the world's best
athletes in various sports, Canada's impact on the global sports scene cannot be overlooked. In this
project, we will be delving into the rich history of Canadian sports, looking at the country's
contributions to sports such as hockey, basketball, lacrosse, and even curling. We'll be examining
some of Canada's most famous sports figures, including Gretzky, Sidney Crosby, Steve Nash, and
Christine Sinclair, and discussing how they have helped to shape their respective sports. We'll also
explore some key moments in Canadian sports history, such as the country's first Olympic gold
medals in hockey, the Toronto Raptors' historic NBA championship win in 2019, and Canada's
success on the international stage in various other sports. By the end of this project, you'll have a
newfound appreciation for Canada's rich sports culture and its impact on the world of athletics.

Basketball
In 1891, James Naismith, a physical education instructor, invented basketball as an indoor sport that
could be played during the off-seasons of football and baseball. Naismith created the game's original
rules, which consisted of thirteen guidelines, and spread the word about it throughout the country by
using the YMCA network. Although primarily an educator at the International YMCA Training
School and the University of Kansas, Naismith embraced recreational sports and was not interested in
the fame of competitive athletics. Thanks to sponsorship from the National Association of Basketball
Coaches, Naismith witnessed basketball become an Olympic sport at the 1936 Games held in Berlin,
Germany. Today, basketball is a globally renowned sport enjoyed by millions.

Naismiths 13 Guidelines:
1. The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.
2. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands (never with the fist).
3. A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he catches
it, allowance to be made for a man who catches the ball when running at a good speed if he
tries to stop.
4. The ball must be held in or between the hands; the arms or body must not be used for holding
it.
5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping, or striking in any way the person of an opponent
shall be allowed; the first infringement of this rule by any player shall count as a foul, the
second shall disqualify him until the next goal is made, or, if there was evident intent to injure
the person, for the whole of the game, no substitute allowed.
6. A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violation of Rules 3,4, and such as described in Rule
5.
7. If either side makes three consecutive fouls, it shall count a goal for the opponents
(consecutive means without the opponents in the mean time making a foul).
8. A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket and
stays there, providing those defending the goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball
rests on the edges, and the opponent moves the basket, it shall count as a goal.
9. When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field of play by the person first
touching it. In case of a dispute, the umpire shall throw it straight into the field. The thrower-
 in is allowed five seconds; if he holds it longer, it shall go to the opponent. If any side persists
in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on that side.
10. The umpire shall be the judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee when
three consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have power to disqualify men according to
Rule 5.
11. The referee shall be the judge of the ball and shall decide when the ball is in play, in bounds,
to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has been made,
and keep account of the goals with any other duties that are usually performed by a referee.
12. The time shall be two 15-minute halves, with five minutes' rest between.
13. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner. In case of a draw,
the game may, by agreement of the captains, be continued until another goal is
made.

Canada’s Accomplishments in International Basketball

Professional basketball in Canada has a rich and varied history. The country's first professional
basketball teams took to the courts in the 1946-47 season, with the Toronto Huskies playing as part of
the Basketball Association of America (BAA), a precursor to the National Basketball Association
(NBA). The inaugural game of the BAA was hosted by Toronto on November 1, 1946, with the
Huskies losing to the New York Knickerbockers at the Maple Leaf Gardens. Although the Huskies
folded at the end of the season, the Vancouver Hornets played in the Pacific Coast Professional
Basketball League during 1946-47 and 1947-48 before the league ultimately folded. It was not until
the 1980s that Canadian teams returned to professional basketball, participating in minor professional
leagues such as the Continental Basketball Association and the World Basketball League. However, a
new era in Canadian professional basketball began in 1994, when the NBA awarded franchises to two
Canadian cities: the Toronto Raptors and the Vancouver Grizzlies. Both teams started play in 1995,
bringing significant professional basketball to Canada for the first time. Unfortunately, the Grizzlies
proved unsuccessful and moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 2001, leaving the Raptors as the league's
only Canadian team. In recent years, support for the Raptors has grown considerably, with an
increasing number of fans watching or attending games. Between the 2010-11 and 2014-15 seasons,
TV viewership for the Raptors doubled from 108,000 to 246,000.
Moreover, the average attendance at Raptors home games increased from 17,056 in 2005-06 (ranking
17th of 30 teams in the NBA) to 19,825 in 2015-16 (ranking 4th of 30 teams). Canada has also
produced many talented basketball players who have played on NCAA teams in the United States, as
well as in the NBA and the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Among the notable
Canadian NBA players are Bob Houbregs, Bill Wennington, Rick Fox, Steve Nash, Cory Joseph, and
Andrew Wiggins. In 2005, Nash won the league's MVP award while playing for the Phoenix Suns,
becoming the first Canadian to receive this honour.

Basketball was a demonstration sport for male athletes at the 1904 Olympic Games in St Louis. The
Edmonton Grads, a women's team, played a series of matches in conjunction with the 1924, 1928 and
1936 Olympic Summer Games. In 1936, men’s basketball first appeared as an official Olympic sport.
Canada's team at the 1936 Berlin Olympiad, the Windsor Ford V8s, made up of players primarily
from Windsor, Ontario, and strengthened by players from the West Coast, won the silver medal,
losing in the final to the United States 19 to 8. Women’s basketball became an Olympic sport in 1976.
Neither team has won an Olympic medal in basketball since 1936, but both have reached the podium
at the Pan American Games and the FIBA Americas Championships. The women’s team has also won
bronze medals at the FIBA World Championships. They even beat the United States of America in the
FIBA World Cup bronze medal match in 2023!

Canadian Active Basketball Players

● Dalano Banton - Boston Celtics
● Oshae Brissett - Boston Celtics
● Tristan Thompson - Cleveland Cavaliers
● AJ Lawson*** - Dallas Mavericks
● Dwight Powell - Dallas Mavericks
● Olivier-Maxence Prosper^** - Dallas Mavericks (Ties to Haiti)
● Jamal Murray** - Denver Nuggets
● Cory Joseph - Golden State Warriors (Ties to Trinidad and Tobago)
● Andrew Wiggins - Golden State Warriors
● Dillon Brooks - Houston Rockets
● Andrew Nembhard** - Indiana Pacers
● Benedict Mathurin^** - Indiana Pacers (Ties to Haiti)
● Joshua Primo*** - LA Clippers
● Brandon Clarke - Memphis Grizzlies
● Lindell Wigginton*** - Milwaukee Bucks
● Nickeil Alexander-Walker - Minnesota Timberwolves
● Leonard Miller - Minnesota Timberwolves
● RJ Barrett** - New York Knicks
 ● Luguentz Dort** - Oklahoma City Thunder
● Caleb Houston - Orlando Magic
● Sharon Sharpe - Portland Trail Blazers
● Trey Lyles - Sacramento Kings
● Charles Bediako*** - San Antonio Spurs (Ties to Ghana)
● Kelly Olynyk** - Utah Jazz
● Shai Gilgeous-Alexander** - Oklahoma City Thunder
● Eugene Omoruyi* - Washington Wizards (Ties to Nigeria)

Canada’s Best

Hall of Famers

Bob Houbregs, 1987

Steve Nash, 2012

Most Valuable Player

Steve Nash, two times, 2005–2006

All-NBA Team

Steve Nash, First Team 3 times (2005–2007), Second Team 2 times (2008, 2010), Third Team 2 times
(2002–2003)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, First Team, 2023

First overall draft pick

Anthony Bennett (Cleveland Cavaliers, UNLV, 2013)

Andrew Wiggins (Cleveland Cavaliers, Kansas, 2014)

Rookie of the Year Award

Andrew Wiggins (Minnesota Timberwolves, 2015)

Defensive Player of the Year

None

Most Improved Player

None

Sixth Man of the Year

None

All-Rookie Team

Rick Fox, Second Team, 1992

Tristan Thompson, Second Team, 2012

Kelly Olynyk, Second Team, 2014

Andrew Wiggins, First Team, 2015

Jamal Murray, Second Team, 2017

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Second Team, 2019

Brandon Clarke, First Team, 2020

Bennedict Mathurin, First Team, 2023

NBA Champions

Mike Smrek, 2 times, 1987–1988

Bill Wennington, three times, 1996–1998

Rick Fox, three times, 2000–2002

Joel Anthony, two times, 2012–2013

Cory Joseph, one time, 2014

Tristan Thompson, one time, 2016

Chris Boucher, 2 times, 2018–2019

Andrew Wiggins, one time, 2022

Jamal Murray, one time, 2023

NBA Finals MVP

None

NBA Citizenship Award

Steve Nash, 2007Samuel Dalembert, 2010

NBA Sportsmanship Award

None

Teammate of the Year

None

All-Star selection

Steve Nash, eight times, 2002–2003, 2005–2008, 2010, 2012

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 2023

Andrew Wiggins, 2022

Jamaal Magloire, 2004

Hockey
Basketball was not the only sport created by Canada, hockey is another. Hockey is Canada's winter
national game. Hockey is a team sport in which players on an ice rink use hockey sticks to move a
rubber puck, often called a puck, into an opponent's goal to score in numbers. Canada’s first official
ice hockey game was held in Montreal in 1875. Since then, the sport has become one of the most
popular sports in the country. The origins of ice hockey have long been debated. In 2008, the
International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) officially declared that the first game of organized ice
hockey was played in Montreal in 1875. Many also consider ice hockey’s first rules published by the
Montreal Gazette in 1877. However, research reveals that organized ice hockey/bandy games were
first played on skates in England and that the earliest rules were also published in England. Canada
made important contributions to the game from the 1870s onward. By the early 20th century,
“Canadian rules” had reshaped the sport. Hockey” is one of several “stick-and-ball games,” the
origins of which may go as far back as the beginning of recorded history. There is evidence that such
games may have been played in ancient Egypt and Greece and that stick-and-ball games were played
by Indigenous peoples in the Americas before the arrival of European settlers. There is also clear
evidence that stick-and-ball games were played in medieval Europe. For example, the Speculum
Maius, a 13th-century encyclopedia compiled by Dominican friar Vincent of Beauvais (France),
includes an illustration of four men playing choule [or soule] à la crosse, a game in which players
used curved sticks to move a ball toward a target.
However, hockey developed from stick-and-ball games played in the British Isles, particularly hurling
(Ireland), shinty (Scotland) and bandy (England). These games shared a very similar basic structure
and have been documented from the 14th century. Hurling was an ancient Irish stick-and-ball game
originally played on the ground and resembled modern field hockey (it later evolved into the aerial
game played today). In Scotland, people played shinty (variations include shinny, schynnie and
chamiare). In England, another similar game was called “bandy” or “bandie-ball.” The name is
believed to have developed either from the verb “to bandy” (to strike back and forth) or from the bent
stick used in the game. The term “bandy” was in use at least by 1610–11, when William Strachey, the
first secretary of the Colony of Virginia, described a similar game played by the Powhatan Indian
tribe. The first reported instance of a stick-and-ball game played on the ice was a game of “chamiare”
(shinty) played on the ice of the Firth of Forth in Scotland in 1608, during what was known as the
“Great Winter.” It is doubtful, however, that the players used skates since iron skates were not
introduced to the British Isles until around 1660. That year, the British royal family returned from
exile in the Netherlands, bringing back a passion for skating. It quickly became a popular pastime in
London, with diarist Samuel Pepys remarking in 1662 that he watched “people sliding with their
skeates” on the canal in St. James’s Park, “which is a very pretty art.” Around the same time, Dutch
drainage workers likely introduced metal-bladed skates to the Fens (a coastal plain in eastern
England), where a vast network of canals provided many opportunities for skating.

Before long, bandy was adapted for playing with ice skates. According to historian Charles Goodman
Tebbutt, people were probably playing bandy on ice in the Fens since the mid-1700s. “Concurrently
with skating races, bandy matches have long been held in the Fens,” wrote Tebbutt in 1892. “It is
certain that during the last [18th] century the game was played and even matches were held on Bury
Fen, and the local tradition that the Bury Fenners (a team made up of players from the twin villages of
Bluntisham and Earith) had not been defeated for a century may not be an idle boast. But it was not
until the great frost of 1813–14 that tradition gives place to certainty.” One of Tebbutt’s sources was
William Leeland, the former captain of the Bury Fenners, who confirmed that bandy had been played
on ice in 1813. He also spoke to Richard Brown, who had been the umpire of a game between
Willingham and Bluntisham-cum-Earith in 1827.

Bandy was also played on ice in other parts of England then. In February 1816, for example, the
Chester Chronicle in Chester, England, reported that people played bandy on the frozen Dee River.

Early Evidence of Ice Hockey in Canada

Research by hockey historians Gidén, Houda and Martel, therefore, reveals that ice hockey is not a
Canadian invention, despite competing claims that various Canadian cities and towns are the true
“birthplace” of the game. It is undeniable, however, that important developments in the modern game
stemmed from Canada, with “Canadian rules” eventually dominating the international world of ice
hockey.
There is clear evidence that the game was being played in Canada in the 19th century, even prior to
the famous game played in Montreal on 3 March 1875. This is hardly surprising, given that settlers
from Great Britain or Ireland would have brought with them their folk games, as would members of
the British army and navy who were stationed in Canada.

The claim has been made that Windsor, Nova Scotia, was the birthplace of ice hockey. This is based
largely on an eight-word passage from the book The Attaché, or, Sam Slick in England (second
volume, 1844), which refers to playing “hurley on the long pond on the ice.” Although a work of
fiction, some people argue that the author, Thomas Chandler Haliburton, was reminiscing about his
years spent at King’s Collegiate School in Windsor, from which he graduated in 1810. The passage
does not, however, provide much detail as to how the game was played or whether skates were used.
Similarly, an anonymous letter to the editor, published in the Windsor Mail in 1876, describes the
author’s years (1816–18) at the same school, including a reference to “hurley” as well as skating.
However, the evidence is still debated, and it is unclear whether a game resembling ice hockey was
played on the “long pond” at the time. Even if confirmed, however, it would still have occurred long
after the 1608 game of shinty played on Scotland’s Firth of Forth and likely several decades later than
the earliest bandy matches played with skates on the canals of the English Fens, not to mention also a
few years later than the depiction of ice hockey found in the 1797 Le Petit engraving.

Some of the earliest evidence for ice hockey in Canada was recorded by British officers, who brought
the sport with them. In 2002, for example, researchers discovered two letters written by Sir John
Franklin in 1825, during one of his attempts to find the Northwest Passage. Both letters mention
hockey being played on ice but do not specify that the game was played on skates (although
Franklin’s diary of that expedition indicates that the crew had been equipped with them). This has led
some to argue that Deline, in the Northwest Territories, was the birthplace of hockey in Canada.
However, Franklin was a Royal Navy officer who would have learned about hockey (field and/or ice
versions) in his home country. It is unlikely, therefore, that this was the first game of ice hockey.

There is also evidence that in 1839, games of ice hockey were played by British soldiers on Chippewa
Creek in the Niagara region (although this evidence only came to light in 2008). Sir Richard George
Augustus Levinge, a lieutenant of a light infantry unit stationed in Niagara, wrote in his memoirs,
“Large parties contested games of hockey on the ice, some forty or fifty being ranged on each side.”
He also explicitly mentions the use of skates during the games.
Hockey Team, 1881

McGill University, 1881. The game of hockey as we know it today was developed at McGill in 1875.

(courtesy Library and Archives Canada/C-81739)

Hockey was also played in Kingston, Ontario, in 1843. Sir Arthur Freeling, then a first lieutenant
stationed in Kingston, organized games for his men and wrote about them in his diary. Like Franklin
and Levinge, Freeling was a British officer who would have learned the game in his home country.
Freeling was recalled to England in 1844, and it would be a few decades before ice hockey was
played again in Kingston. Despite this, Kingston was long held to be the birthplace of ice hockey,
owing in large part to efforts by Captain James T. Sutherland. In 1943, Sutherland convinced the
National Hockey League to adopt Kingston as the site for the Hockey Hall of Fame, based on this
claim. The decision was later rescinded, and the Hall opened in Toronto.

While few reports of specific games exist, there is also no doubt that ice hockey was played on a
regular basis in Halifax and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, prior to 1875. Many written sources mention the
activity, although the majority refer to the game as “ricket.” Some of them are detailed enough to
leave no doubt that these games were very similar to ice hockey. It is therefore clear that games
resembling ice hockey were played in Canada in the 19th century, likely brought to the country by
settlers or military personnel from the British Isles.

Organized Hockey in Montreal

According to the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), the first organized ice hockey game was
played on 3 March 1875 in Montreal. On that date, the Montreal Gazette made the following
announcement:

VICTORIA RINK—A game of Hockey will be played at the Victoria Skating Rink this evening,
between two nines chosen from among the members. Good fun may be expected, as some of the
players are reputed to be exceedingly expert at the game. Some fears have been expressed on the part
of intending spectators that accidents were likely to occur through the ball flying about in too lively a
manner, to the imminent danger of lookers on, but we understand that the game will be played with a
flat circular piece of wood, thus preventing all danger of its leaving the surface of the ice. Subscribers
will be admitted on presentation of their tickets.

The game, played between two teams of nine players, ended in a 2–1 win for the team captained by
James George Aylwin Creighton (originally from Nova Scotia) over the team captained by Charles
Edward Torrance.
James George Aylwin Creighton (12 June 1850 – 27 June 1930) was a Canadian lawyer, engineer,
journalist and athlete. He is credited with organizing the first recorded indoor ice hockey match at
Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1875. He helped popularize the sport in Montreal and later in Ottawa,
Ontario, Canada after he moved to Ottawa in 1882 where he served for 48 years as the Law Clerk to
the Canadian Senate. Photo dated March 1902 in Ottawa, Ontario. (photo by Topley Studio, courtesy
Library and Archives Canada / PA-197799)
In 2008, the IIHF officially recognized this as the first game of organized ice hockey. At the same
ceremony, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, on the recommendation of the IIHF,
made James George Aylwin Creighton a “person of national historic significance,” he has widely
been accepted as the instigator and organizer of this game.

Was this indeed the first organized ice hockey game? The game’s sticks were obtained from Halifax,
as were the rules. The rules likely originated with members of the local British garrison, who would
have been using English hockey rules. The use of a “flat circular piece of wood” to avoid injury to the
spectators is often considered the “invention” of the puck (the term itself was first used in Canada in
1876). However, this ignores the use of bungs in England that began in the mid-18th century.

Newspaper reports include a list of all the players but did not provide the identity of the goal scorers,
the duration of the game, or whether there was a referee or umpire, or goalies. It is also known that the
players were not wearing uniforms. In contrast, there exist a few detailed reports of games of ice
hockey (or bandy) from English newspapers in the early 1870s, which often included the names of
goal scorers, and, in at least one case, even the times of the goals. These were clearly well-organized
matches.

The Montreal game does not therefore appear to have been the first organized game of ice hockey,
although of course it depends on one’s definition of “organized.” However, the sport quickly
developed in Montreal following the game on 3 March 1875. Another exhibition game was played
two weeks later, this time with uniforms. The identity of the teams was also more specific, with the
Montreal Football Club (wearing its usual colours) facing a team from the Victoria Skating Club.
Early Canadian Innovations
In 1876, the Montreal Gazette announced that games would now be played according to rules set by
England’s Hockey Association (HA). Several of the original English field hockey rules had been
directly adapted from English football (soccer) rules. The offside rule, for example, was exactly the
same — and not inspired by rugby, as is often claimed. Other rules also came from football, including
rules against carrying the ball and how to put the ball back in play after it had gone out of bounds (the
rule being different depending on whether it went off to the side or behind the goal line).

In 1877, the Gazette published the English rules, with slight modifications, including one of the two
instances of the word “ground” being replaced by “ice.” The most notable changes were related to the
logistical difficulties associated with playing on an enclosed rink rather than an open field. In
addition, HA rules stipulated that no charging was allowed, but in the revised Montreal version, the
restriction was limited to “charging from behind,” which may have implied that body checks were
allowed from that point on. The Montreal version also omitted several HA rules, notably those
describing the stick, how goals were scored, the size of the field and the number of players on each
side.
Canadians also brought back the flat disc that had been adopted in the mid-18th century when the
word "hockey" itself came into use. In Europe, cork bungs had been largely abandoned by the 1870s,
and bandy/hockey was played with balls made of vulcanized rubber. (Soft rubber balls lasted longer
than cork bungs and were also less damaging to shins and ankles than wood, the traditional material
of bandy balls). The name “puck” was another Canadian idea — although the term itself is of Irish
origin — as was the decision to produce it using hard rubber.

Canadians made other significant rule changes early on. In 1880, for example, the number of players
was reduced from nine to seven. New techniques and styles of play also arose organically as the game
grew and organized leagues proliferated. In the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes (1895–
1911), for example, techniques such as a goaltender dropping to his knees and what may have been an
early form of the slapshot were displayed prior to their use in professional hockey league play.

Early Hockey Tournaments in Montreal

The first truly competitive ice hockey games were played on 26 and 27 January 1883, when three
teams competed in the first edition of the Montreal Winter Carnival hockey tournament. McGill
University, the Montreal Victorias and the Quebec Hockey Club played a three-game round-robin,
with McGill declared the champion. Over the following six years, four more Carnival ice hockey
tournaments were held.
In 1886, the Carnival was cancelled due to a smallpox epidemic. A replacement tournament was held
in Burlington, Vermont, featuring two Montreal teams and a local team, making it the first
international ice hockey tournament. The same winter, four Montreal-area teams organized a season-
long tournament in the city. This is considered by some to be the first hockey league, although it did
not have a name and its format of direct elimination meant that there were no standings, only a
champion and a finalist. Also on this occasion, the rules were revised and improved for the first time
since being published. This included regulations about puck size and material, with a stipulation that
they should be made of “vulcanized rubber.”

In the fall of 1886, the rules were revised once again. The most significant change affected goal size,
with the dimensions set at six feet wide by four feet high (its current size). Of interest, those
dimensions had already been recommended by two different authors in England in the 1860s. Still in
1886, the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) was formed, becoming the first, or
perhaps second organized league. It lasted twelve seasons, and its 1893 champion, the Montreal
Hockey Club (the hockey team associated with the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association), became
the first Stanley Cup champion, having won the regular-season championship with a record of seven
wins and one loss.

Winnipeg Falcons
The Winnipeg Falcons hockey club, the 1920 gold medallists at the Antwerp Olympics. The Falcons
won Canada's first-ever Olympic medal in ice hockey.

(courtesy Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame & Museum)

Influence of “Canadian Rules”

Canadian rules for ice hockey were gradually adopted overseas. In 1908, the Ligue Internationale de
Hockey sur Glace (LIHG) was founded in Paris by four nations: Belgium, France, Great Britain and
Switzerland. (Bohemia, a region of the present-day Czech Republic, had attended the founding
meeting and joined later in the year.) The first set of rules were largely inspired by those used in
Canadian hockey, and, significantly, mandated the use of a rubber puck, putting an end to the use of
balls in hockey in England and the rest of Europe as national federations joined the LIHG. Bandy
continued to be played in several countries (still with a ball), but its popularity declined considerably,
particularly in comparison to hockey.

In 1911, the National Hockey Association (precursor to the National Hockey League) reduced the
number of players to six by dropping the “rover,” with other leagues and jurisdictions following suit
over approximately a decade. The offside rule was gradually made more permissive and, similarly,
bodychecking went from being tolerated to being encouraged. One difference that has persisted over
the years is the size of the rink. Those in North America are about 4 m narrower than — but about the
same length as — those in Europe and all other countries playing under IIHF rules.

Canadian Dominance
By 1920, Canada had become the dominant power in ice hockey. That year, the first ice hockey world
championship was held during the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. It was won by the Winnipeg
Falcons, representing Canada, who outscored their opponents in three games by a combined total
score of 29–1. Canadian teams dominated Olympic hockey competition for over 30 years, winning six
of seven tournaments between 1920 and 1952 (they settled for silver in 1936, when Britain won the
gold medal with a team largely made up of players who had grown up in Canada). Canada would not
win another gold medal in Olympic hockey until 2002, due in large part to the “amateur” (or
“shamateur”) rules allowing countries from the Eastern bloc to send their best players while
forbidding Canadian professionals to participate. However, the country has continued to be a
powerhouse in international competition and has won the majority of the 12 “best on best”
tournaments held between 1976 and 2014. While it may not be the “birthplace” of the sport, Canada
has been the single biggest contributor to ice hockey’s evolution into the popular fast-action sport that
it is today.
James George Aylwin Creighton (12 June 1850 – 27 June 1930) was a Canadian lawyer, engineer,
journalist and athlete. He is credited with organizing the first recorded indoor ice hockey match at
Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1875. He helped popularize the sport in Montreal and later in Ottawa,
Ontario, Canada after he moved to Ottawa in 1882 where he served for 48 years as the Law Clerk to
the Canadian Senate. Photo dated March 1902 in Ottawa, Ontario. (photo by Topley Studio, courtesy
Library and Archives Canada / PA-197799)
In 2008, the IIHF officially recognized this as the first game of organized ice hockey. At the same
ceremony, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, on the recommendation of the IIHF,
made James George Aylwin Creighton a “person of national historic significance,” he has widely
been accepted as the instigator and organizer of this game.

Was this truly the first organized ice hockey game? The game’s sticks were obtained from Halifax, as
were the rules. It is likely the rules originated with members of the local British garrison, who would
have been using English hockey rules. The use of a “flat circular piece of wood” to avoid injury to the
spectators is often considered the “invention” of the puck (the term itself was first used in Canada in
1876). However, this ignores the use of bungs in England that began in the mid-18th century.

Newspaper reports include a list of all the players but did not provide the identity of the goal scorers,
the duration of the game, or whether there was a referee or umpire, or goalies. It is also known that the
players were not wearing uniforms. In contrast, there exist a few detailed reports of games of ice
hockey (or bandy) from English newspapers in the early 1870s, which often included the names of
goal scorers, and, in at least one case, even the times of the goals. These were clearly well-organized
matches.

The Montreal game does not therefore appear to have been the first organized game of ice hockey,
although of course it depends on one’s definition of “organized.” However, the sport quickly
developed in Montreal following the game on 3 March 1875. Another exhibition game was played
two weeks later, this time with uniforms. The identity of the teams was also more specific, with the
Montreal Football Club (wearing its usual colours) facing a team from the Victoria Skating Club.
Montreal Hockey Club, 1893

The Montreal Hockey Club was the first team to win the Stanley Cup.

(courtesy of Hockey Hall of Fame / Library and Archives Canada / PA-049464)

Early Canadian Innovations

In 1876, the Montreal Gazette announced that games would now be played according to rules set by
England’s Hockey Association (HA). Several of the original English field hockey rules had been
directly adapted from English football (soccer) rules. The offside rule, for example, was exactly the
same — and not inspired by rugby, as is often claimed. Other rules also came from football, including
rules against carrying the ball and how to put the ball back in play after it had gone out of bounds (the
rule being different depending on whether it went off to the side or behind the goal line).

In 1877, the Gazette published the English rules, with slight modifications, including one of the two
instances of the word “ground” being replaced by “ice.” The most notable changes were related to the
logistical difficulties associated with playing on an enclosed rink rather than an open field. In
addition, HA rules stipulated that no charging was allowed, but in the revised Montreal version, the
restriction was limited to “charging from behind,” which may have implied that body checks were
allowed from that point on. The Montreal version also omitted several HA rules, notably those
describing the stick, how goals were scored, the size of the field and the number of players on each
side.

Canadians also brought back the flat disc that had been adopted in the mid-18th century when the
word "hockey" itself came into use. In Europe, cork bungs had been largely abandoned by the 1870s,
and bandy/hockey was played with balls made of vulcanized rubber. (Soft rubber balls lasted longer
than cork bungs and were also less damaging to shins and ankles than wood, the traditional material
of bandy balls). The name “puck” was another Canadian idea — although the term itself is of Irish
origin — as was the decision to produce it using hard rubber.

Canadians made other significant rule changes early on. In 1880, for example, the number of players
was reduced from nine to seven. New techniques and styles of play also arose organically as the game
grew and organized leagues proliferated. In the Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes (1895–
1911), for example, techniques such as a goaltender dropping to his knees and what may have been an
early form of the slapshot were displayed prior to their use in professional hockey league play.

Colored Hockey League

The Colored Hockey League was an all-Black league featuring teams from across the Maritimes that
played from 1895 into the 1930s.

(via Wikimedia Commons)

Early Hockey Tournaments in Montreal

The first truly competitive ice hockey games were played on 26 and 27 January 1883, when three
teams competed in the first edition of the Montreal Winter Carnival hockey tournament. McGill
University, the Montreal Victorias and the Quebec Hockey Club played a three-game round-robin,
with McGill declared the champion. Over the following six years, four more Carnival ice hockey
tournaments were held.

In 1886, the Carnival was cancelled due to a smallpox epidemic. A replacement tournament was held
in Burlington, Vermont, featuring two Montreal teams and a local team, making it the first
international ice hockey tournament. The same winter, four Montreal-area teams organized a season-
long tournament in the city. This is considered by some to be the first hockey league, although it did
not have a name and its format of direct elimination meant that there were no standings, only a
champion and a finalist. Also on this occasion, the rules were revised and improved for the first time
since being published. This included regulations about puck size and material, with a stipulation that
they should be made of “vulcanized rubber.”

In the fall of 1886, the rules were revised once again. The most significant change affected goal size,
with the dimensions set at six feet wide by four feet high (its current size). Of interest, those
dimensions had already been recommended by two different authors in England in the 1860s. Still in
1886, the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) was formed, becoming the first, or
perhaps second organized league. It lasted twelve seasons, and its 1893 champion, the Montreal
Hockey Club (the hockey team associated with the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association), became
the first Stanley Cup champion, having won the regular-season championship with a record of seven
wins and one loss.

Winnipeg Falcons
The Winnipeg Falcons hockey club, the 1920 gold medallists at the Antwerp Olympics. The Falcons
won Canada's first-ever Olympic medal in ice hockey.

(courtesy Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame & Museum)

Influence of “Canadian Rules”

Canadian rules for ice hockey were gradually adopted overseas. In 1908, the Ligue Internationale de
Hockey sur Glace (LIHG) was founded in Paris by four nations: Belgium, France, Great Britain and
Switzerland. (Bohemia, a region of the present-day Czech Republic, had attended the founding
meeting and joined later in the year.) The first set of rules were largely inspired by those used in
Canadian hockey, and, significantly, mandated the use of a rubber puck, putting an end to the use of
balls in hockey in England and the rest of Europe as national federations joined the LIHG. Bandy
continued to be played in several countries (still with a ball), but its popularity declined considerably,
particularly in comparison to hockey.

In 1911, the National Hockey Association (precursor to the National Hockey League) reduced the
number of players to six by dropping the “rover,” with other leagues and jurisdictions following suit
over approximately a decade. The offside rule was gradually made more permissive and, similarly,
bodychecking went from being tolerated to being encouraged. One difference that has persisted over
the years is the size of the rink. Those in North America are about 4 m narrower than — but about the
same length as — those in Europe and all other countries playing under IIHF rules.

Canadian Dominance
By 1920, Canada had become the dominant power in ice hockey. That year, the first ice hockey world
championship was held during the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. It was won by the Winnipeg
Falcons, representing Canada, who outscored their opponents in three games by a combined total
score of 29–1. Canadian teams dominated Olympic hockey competition for over 30 years, winning six
of seven tournaments between 1920 and 1952 (they settled for silver in 1936, when Britain won the
gold medal with a team largely made up of players who had grown up in Canada). Canada would not
win another gold medal in Olympic hockey until 2002, due in large part to the “amateur” (or
“shamateur”) rules allowing countries from the Eastern bloc to send their best players while
forbidding Canadian professionals from participating. However, the country has continued to be a
powerhouse in international competition and has won most of the 12 “best on best” tournaments held
between 1976 and 2014. While it may not be the “birthplace” of the sport, Canada has been the single
biggest contributor to ice hockey’s evolution into the popular fast-action sport that it is today.

Wayne Gretzky (born January 26, 1961, in Brantford, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian ice hockey
player considered by many to be the greatest in the history of the National Hockey League (NHL).

“The Great One”

Wayne Gretzky began skating at the ripe age of two and a half and was first taught hockey by his
father. By age 6, he was playing as an all-star in novice hockey with boys 10 and 11. He progressed
through organized age-group hockey, and in 1977, at the Junior World Cup competition, he was the
youngest player and the leading scorer. Gretzky turned professional for the 1978–79 season, playing
for the Indianapolis Racers in the World Hockey Association (WHA). His contract soon was sold to
the Edmonton Oilers, who joined the NHL at the beginning of the 1979–80 season. As centre and
team captain, Gretzky led the Oilers to four Stanley Cup victories (in the 1983–84, 1984–85, 1986–
87, and 1987–88 seasons). Following the 1987–88 season, he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings.

Gretzky’s finesse and speed revolutionized the sport, which had been known for its physical play. In
his first season with the Oilers, he scored 51 goals and 86 assists (137 total points). In the 1980–81
season, he became the first player in NHL history to average more than two points a game. In the
1981–82 season, he set NHL regular-season scoring records for goals (92), assists (120), and total
points (212). (He broke the latter two records in the 1985–86 season with 163 assists and 215 total
points.) Gretzky won the Art Ross Memorial Trophy (leading NHL scorer) for seven consecutive
years, from 1980–81 to the 1986–87 season, and won it again in 1989–90, 1990–91, and 1993–94. He
was the first player to win the Hart Memorial Trophy, given to the most valuable player each season,
for eight consecutive years (from 1979–80 through the 1986–87 season), and he received it again in
1988–89.

Wayne Gretzky
Early in the 1989–90 season, Gretzky broke Gordie Howe’s NHL all-time scoring record of 1,850
points (the total number of goals and assists), and late in the 1993–94 season, he broke Howe’s record
for career goals (801). In 1996, Gretzky was traded by the Kings to the St. Louis Blues. Later that
year, he signed with the New York Rangers. With his 1,851st assist, scored in a 1997 game against
the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Gretzky broke yet another record, scoring more assists than any player
had scored points in an NHL career.
Gretzky retired from professional play after the 1998–99 season and was inducted into the Hockey
Hall of Fame in 1999. His career totals include 2,857 points and 894 goals. The NHL retired his jersey
number (99) after his final game. Gretzky became a minority owner of the NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes in
2000, and he was named the Coyotes’ head coach in 2005. The Coyotes struggled during Gretzky’s
tenure, and he resigned as head coach in 2009, which was the same year in which he lost his
ownership stake when the team filed for bankruptcy and was subsequently purchased by the NHL. In
2016 he returned to the Oilers franchise as a partner and vice chairman. However, he stepped down in
2021 and subsequently became a TV analyst.
Lacrosse

Lacrosse is a sport that has a unique history in Canada. It is a symbol of the new Canadian nation, as it
combines the religious and social rituals of the First Nations with the European concepts of structure
and rules. The game has been played for centuries by the First Nations, and it is considered a spiritual
game that is played for the Creator. Lacrosse was also played to acknowledge the presence of
esteemed members of the community, such as elders or medicine people. When European settlers
arrived in Canada, they were fascinated by Lacrosse and quickly started playing it themselves. Today,
Lacrosse is played in almost every province in Canada and has become a thriving sport. Originally,
the game had a spiritual significance, but over time rules were established for the number of players
on each side and the playing area to be covered. Lacrosse is known as Canada's National Game
throughout the world. It is one of the rare examples of the culture of the First Nations being accepted
and embraced by Canadian society. The Algonquin and the Iroquois Nation both had names for the
game before the French settlers introduced the word "La Crosse" - which is the name everyone is
familiar with now.In the early days, Lacrosse was played to settle disputes between tribes. Leaders
and elders would arrange a game, and the winner would be considered the one with the correct
viewpoint, sanctioned by the Great Spirit. The game of Lacrosse is an important contribution of the
Native people in Canada, and it has been shared with the world. It continues to be a significant part of
Canadian culture, connecting different parts of Canadian society.History of lacrosse and canada

Lacrosse is a sport that originated in Southern Ontario, Canada in the late 1600s. It was observed by
Jean de Brebeuf and is one of the few aspects of Native culture that has survived and prospered under
the settlers' guidance. The sport has deep roots in North American society and the life and culture of
the Natives of Ontario and Quebec. Lacrosse was a gift given to the Native people from the
Creator.many centuries before the arrival of the white man on the continent. Despite the different
variations in the game played by each tribe, the philosophy, the spirit, and the relation of the game to
the Creator was the same; each tribal group held Lacrosse in high esteem.In the early 1800s, the
Montreal townspeople became interested in Lacrosse after seeing it played by the Mohawk tribes. In
the 1840s, the first games of Lacrosse were played between the townsfolk and the Natives. The locals
were impressed with the skill and action of the game. Though it was many years before any
significant wins were logged against the Natives, the game of Lacrosse quickly won the loyalty and
interest of the newest North Americans. By the late 1850s and early 1860s, Lacrosse had become a
popular sport, and non-native Lacrosse clubs were being formed, leading to inter-city rivalries and
challenges. The competitive base of the sport of Lacrosse was born, thanks to the Montreal athletes
and organizers who took the Native game with all its beauty, skill, and dedication of spirit and molded
it into a competitive sport that won the hearts and minds of the early Canadians.Lacrosse was first
declared the National Game of Canada in 1859. The game was granted this status not only because of
its popularity or economics but because it has made significant and lasting contributions to the
society. Many sources cite this event, including renowned encyclopedias, books on Canada's history,
government communications, and educational textbooks, as well as newspaper and other media
accounts dating back in history. One such reference occurs in Scribner's Monthly, Volume 14, May-
October 1877.the history and development of this nation, its people, and the sport community.
Canada at the Olympics
Olympic Games are an international sports competition, held every four years. Although winter events
were included in the 1908 and 1920 Olympic Games, the first separate Olympic Winter Games were
held in 1924 in Chamonix, France. Canada has hosted two Olympic Winter Games: in Calgary in
1988 and in Vancouver in 2010. In total, Canada has won 199 medals at the Olympic Winter Games:
73 gold, 64 silver and 62 bronze medals. This does not include the gold medal in ice hockey won by
Canada at the 1920 Olympic Games; while considered the first Olympic medal in ice hockey, it
preceded the establishment of the Olympic Winter Games. The country ranks fifth in the total number
of medals won at the Olympic Winter Games.Snowboarder Maëlle Ricker won the gold medal in the
women's snowboard cross event on 16 Feb 2010. It was the first medal in the sport for a Canadian
woman at an Olympic Games (courtesy Canadian Press Images).
Prev
Next

Winter Sports at the Olympic Games

The idea of including winter sports in the Olympic Games dates back to 1900, when organizers
planned to include figure skating as part of the 1900 Games in Paris. Although it did not happen at the
1900 Games, figure skating exhibitions were held in October 1908 at the Olympic Games in London,
won by Swedish skater Ulrich Salchow, the originator of the jump that now bears his name.

In 1911, an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member suggested that winter events be included
in the 1912 Games to be held in Stockholm, but failed to persuade the Swedish organizing committee,
who saw this as a threat to their own Nordic Games. The Nordic Games dated back to 1901 and were
held at different intervals until 1926. Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics, also had
reservations about the inclusion of winter sports in the Olympics.

Figure skating and ice hockey were included in the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium. The
events were staged in April, several months before the regular (summer) events, in the Antwerp Ice
Palace. The ice hockey tournament was won by the Canadian team, the Winnipeg Falcons, which was
made up almost solely of players of Icelandic heritage. The team defeated Czechoslovakia 15–0, the
United States 2–0, and Sweden 12–1 in the single-knockout tournament. The Falcons’ victory is the
first Olympic gold medal in ice hockey.
Winnipeg Falcons

The Winnipeg Falcons hockey club, the 1920 gold medallists at the Antwerp Olympics. The Falcons
won Canada's first-ever Olympic medal in ice hockey.

(courtesy Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame & Museum)

Birth of the Olympic Winter Games

In 1921, despite the reservations of Pierre de Coubertin, the Olympic Congress voted that the IOC
should arrange winter sports competitions in conjunction with the Olympic Games. In 1924, a
separate "International Sports Week" was held during the winter in Chamonix, France, in celebration
of the Paris Olympic Games later that year. The competitions were a great success and were
retroactively named the first Olympic Winter Games.

Until 1992 the Olympic Summer Games and the Olympic Winter Games were held in the same year,
but beginning in 1994 they were rescheduled to be held in alternate even-numbered years. For
example, the Winter Games at Nagano, Japan, were held in 1998, and the Summer Games in 2000 in
Sydney, Australia.

The Olympic Winter Games have grown significantly since 1924. While the 1924 Games in
Chamonix featured 258 athletes from 16 nations competing in 16 events, the 2014 Games in Sochi,
Russia, featured 2,781 athletes from 88 NOCs (National Olympics Committees) competing in 98
events. Team Canada has grown as well, from 12 athletes in 1924 to 222 athletes in 2014. Female
participation has increased dramatically as more women’s events have been added to the Olympic
Winter Games. While only one Canadian woman competed at the 1924 Games in Chamonix, 99
women vied for medals at the 2014 Games in Sochi — comprising nearly half the Canadian Olympic
team.

Canada has won 199 medals at the Olympic Winter Games since 1924 and ranks fifth in the total
number of medals won since 1924.

Canada’s most accomplished athletes (list)

#1 Wayne Gretzky
BRANTFORD, ONT.
Holds 61 NHL records, including career goals (894) and assists
(1,963); MVP nine times; won four Stanley Cups.

#2 Gordie Howe
FLORAL, SASKATCHEWAN
Six-time NHL MVP with Red Wings; scored 975 goals and had 1,383
assists over 32 seasons (including six in WHA).

#3 Bobby Orr
PARRY SOUND, ONT.
Eight-time Norris Trophy winner changed the role of defensemen;
NHL MVP three consecutive seasons (1969-70 to '71-72).

#4 Lionel Conacher
TORONTO
Voted Canada's greatest athlete of the half century; named the
best player in CFL history and won Stanley Cups with two teams.

#5 Mario Lemieux
MONTREAL
Six-time NHL scoring champ, three-time MVP; most points per game
(2.0) in history.

#6 Maurice (Rocket) Richard

MONTREAL
First NHL player to score 50 goals in 50 games; had 544 goals in
978 regular-season games; led Canadiens to eight Stanley Cups.

#7 Terry Sawchuk
WINNIPEG
Four-time Vezina Trophy winner; more victories (447), shutouts
(103) and games played (971) than any other NHL goaltender.

#8 Donovan Bailey
OAKVILLE, ONT.
Set 100-meter world record (9.84) in winning gold medal at 1996
Olympics.

#9 Ferguson Jenkins
CHATHAM, ONT.
Cy Young winner in 1971; won 20 or more games six consecutive
years ('67-72) for the Cubs.

#10 Nancy Greene

ROSSLAND, B.C.
Won gold medal in giant slalom and earned silver at
1968 Olympics.

#11 Jean Beliveau

TROIS-RIVIERES, QUE.
Elegant Canadiens center scored 507 goals and had 712 assists in
20 seasons; first-team All-Star six times.

#12 Bobby Hull

POINTE ANNE, ONT.
Slap shot clocked at 118 mph; NHL's seventh alltime goal scorer,
with 610; son Brett is approaching 600 NHL goals.

#13 Larry Walker

MAPLE RIDGE, B.C.
First native Canadian to win National League MVP, in 1997; .363
average won '98 NL batting championship.

#14 Doug Harvey

MONTREAL
Ten-time first-team All-Star and seven-time Norris Trophy winner;
played 19 seasons and won six Stanley Cups.

#15 Gaetan Boucher

CHARLESBOURG, QUE.
Speed skater won gold in 1,000- and 1,500-meter races and took
bronze in 500 at 1984 Olympics.

#16 Myriam Bedard

LORETTEVILLE, QUE.
Only Canadian woman to win two gold medals at a Winter Games
(1994, in 7.5- and 15-kilometer biathlons).

#17 Guy Lafleur

THURSO, QUE.
Two-time NHL MVP; led the league in scoring three times, 1975-76
to '77-78; won five Stanley Cups with Canadiens.
#18 Mark Messier
EDMONTON
Active points leader; two-time league MVP; renowned, fearsome
leader has won six Stanley Cups.

#19 Scotty Bowman

MONTREAL
Winningest coach in NHL history led Canadiens to five Stanley
Cups in eight years; won total of three more with Penguins and
Red Wings.

#20 Percy Williams

VANCOUVER
Sprinter won gold medal in 100 and 200 meters at the 1928
Olympics.

#21 Eddie Shore

FORT QU'APPELLE, SASKATCHEWAN
Only NHL defenseman to win Hart Trophy four times; led Boston to
Stanley Cup victories in 1929 and '39.

#22 Lennox Lewis

KITCHENER, ONT.
Boxer won 1988 Olympic gold as super heavyweight and became
the undisputed world heavyweight champion in October.

#23 Jacques Plante

SHAWINIGAN FALLS, QUE.
First goalie to wear mask; seven-time Vezina winner was NHL MVP
in 1961-62.

#24 Alex Baumann

SUDBURY, ONT.
Won Olympic gold medals and set world records in 200-meter and
400 individual medley at the 1984 Games.

#25 Ray Bourque

MONTREAL
Five-time Norris Trophy winner and 12-time first-team All-Star;
has scored more goals than any defenseman in NHL history.

#26 Barbara Ann Scott

OTTAWA
In 1948 became the first North American to win an Olympic gold
medal in women's singles skating.
#27 Ken Dryden
HAMILTON, ONT.
Five-time Vezina winner won six Stanley Cups in eight seasons
with Canadiens; had 46 shutouts in 397 games.

#28 Sandy Hawley

OSHAWA, ONT.
First jockey to win 500 races in a year (1973); in '86 became the
seventh jockey to win 5,000 career races.

#29 Paul Henderson

KINCARDINE, ONT.
Scored most memorable goal in the country's history, against the
Soviet Union to win the 1972 Summit Series.

#30 Kurt Browning

CALGARY
Four-time world figure skating champ first to execute quadruple
toe loop in competition.

#31 Paul and Gary Gait

BRENTWOOD BAY, B.C.
Identical twins led Syracuse to three NCAA lacrosse titles (1988
to '90); each was a first-team All-America three times.

#32 Bobbie Rosenfeld

TORONTO
Won gold on record-setting 4X100 relay team, silver in 100 meters
at 1928 Olympics.

#33 Jacques Villeneuve

CHAMBLY, QUE.
In 1997 became first North American to win Formula One driving
title since Mario Andretti in '78; won Indy 500 and CART
championship in '95.

#34 Silken Laumann

VICTORIA, B.C.
Three months after lower leg was shattered took bronze in single
sculls at 1992 Olympics; was singles world champion the year
before injury.

#35 Red Kelly

SIMCOE, ONT.
Rushing defenseman was among the NHL's top 10 scorers three
times; won four Stanley Cups with Maple Leafs.
#36 Frank Mahovlich
TIMMINS, ONT.
Six-time Stanley Cup winner; one of best left wings in NHL
history (533 goals, 570 assists).

#37 Terry Fox

PORT COQUITLAM, B.C.
After losing his right leg to bone cancer, completed cross-Canada
Marathon of Hope to raise money for cancer research.

#38 Howie Morenz

STRATFORD, ONT.
The Babe Ruth of hockey in his day was a three-time NHL MVP; led
league in scoring in 1927-28 and '30-31.

#39 Syl Apps

KINGSTON, ONT.
Two-time first-team All-Star won four Stanley Cups with Maple
Leafs.

#40 Victor Davis

GUELPH, ONT.
Won a gold medal and set the world record (2:13.34) in 200-meter
breaststroke at 1984 Olympics.

#41 Dickie Moore

MONTREAL
Two-time first-team All-Star left wing led the NHL with 96 points
in 1958-59.

#42 Harry Jerome

VANCOUVER
Three-time Olympic sprinter earned a bronze medal in the
100-meters in 1964; was '64 NCAA 100-meter champion at Oregon.

#43 Steve Podborski

TORONTO
Two-time World Cup downhill champion; earned bronze medal in 1980
Olympic downhill.

#44 Tommy Burns

HANOVER, ONT.
World heavyweight boxing champion from 1906 to '08; was 11-1-1 in
title fights.

#45 Marilyn Bell

TORONTO
In 1954 became the first person to swim across Lake Ontario, 32
miles from Youngstown, N.Y., to Toronto; in 20:58.

#46 Sandra Post

OAKVILLE, ONT.
Won Ontario Junior golf title from 1964 to '66; first Canadian to
play on LPGA tour, won LPGA championship in '68.

#47 Patrick Roy

QUEBEC CITY
Clutch goaltender won three Stanley Cups, two with the Canadians, one
with the Avalanche; is the fifth NHL netminder to win 400 career
games.

#48 Glenn Hall

HUMBOLDT, SASKATCHEWAN
NHL goaltender, played in a record 502 consecutive games from 1955
to '62; third alltime with 84 shutouts.

#49 Russ Jackson

HAMILTON, ONT.
Quarterback led Rough Riders to Grey Cup title game four times,
winning three.

#50 Ben Johnson

TORONTO
Earned Olympic 100-meter bronze in 1984; set world records in 100
at 9.83 and 9.79; suspended after testing positive for steroids
at '88 Games.

Bibliography

● https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/james-naismith/
● https://app.grammarly.com/?
transaction_id=1021abf8ec98af08ac9eda6900e094&affiliateNetwork=ho&affiliateID=
142042
● https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=2035
● https://www.gretzky.com/
● https://springfield.edu/where-basketball-was-invented-the-birthplace-of-basketball
● https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/james-naismith
● https://www.biography.com/athlete/wayne-gretzky
● https://www.lacrosse.ca/
● https://www.britannica.com/sports/lacrosse
● https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/n-16.7/page-1.html
● https://olympic.ca/
● https://www.basketball.ca/
● https://basketball.realgm.com/national/teams/23/Canada/nba_players
● https://olympic.ca/2023/11/05/by-the-numbers-team-canada-success-at-the-santiago-
2023-pan-am-games/
●