Read More About International Hockey
The birthplace of hockey was Canada; since its conception, the sport crossed over to experience popularity in Europe and the United States. The international men’s ice hockey world championships are highly regarded by Europeans and less regarded by Americans because it coincides at the same time the Stanley cup playoffs happen. In countries such as the U.S., Canada, and others with a large concentration of NHL players, the countries are at a loss to round up their best players because those players have joined the NHL and will be competing for the Stanley cup.
There was a time in which professional players could not play internationally; with many Europeans now playing in the NHL, the world championships do not reflect the best players in the world any more. In 1924, hockey became a mainstay of the Olympics; unsurprisingly, Canada won the majority of the gold medals that year, with 6 out of 7 going to the sport’s country of origin. In 1960, the U.S.won the gold medal and between 1956 and 1988, Russia won all but two gold medals; professional American, Swedish, Finnish, and Canadians were banned from Olympic competition. But in 1980, the United States sent college students - non-pro ones - to Lake Placid; there they beat the Russians for Olympic gold.
It was also then that the game experienced a new surge in popularity in a game most Americans weren’t previously paying much attention to. By the 1972 and 1974 Summit series, Canada and Russia were definite hockey rivals. The Canadian Cup where the best of the best nations were able to play later followed it. The name of this organization was changed from the Canadian Cup to the World Cup of Hockey, and it was for this organization that the United States played and won in 1996, and Canada in 2004. The Olympic sport became even more interesting in 1998, as NHL professionals were allowed to compete against other top players around the world. Beginning in 1998, the women’s game became a prime feature of the Olympics; this would later go on to spawn nine women’s competitions.
Women usually compete just as hard as males in this sport and are really coming into their own. Although they still have a way to go in terms of really being there with males at the domestic and international levels. Hockey, after all, has always been a sport dominated by males, so women have a long way to go before they are taken seriously. The game is still enjoyed by millions of people in Canada and the United States and still to this day still breaking attendance records by the throngs of loyal fans who still love this sport. This sport is seen as the kind of family tradition, an past time that many Americans view the sports of baseball, football, or basketball.
Hockey has its own sets of rules and a separate world entirely, whether professional or not. Soap opera fans have nothing on fans of this sport; people worship it like the air they breathe. Late night game practices are common among fans of the sport, and rinks frequently hold special hours to stay open and accommodate fans who spend 2-3 hours on the ice.
