THIS WEEK IN HISTORY: The world's first organized hockey game was played on March 3, 1875 |...

MONTREAL -- The first organized game of ice hockey took place on March 3, 1875 at the Victoria Skating Rink in Montreal, based on a set of rules proposed by a group of McGill University students. The game also featured a number of those students.



The last quarter of the 19th century was a great period of social organization and saw the standardization of many sports. Hockey, as we know it, began in Montreal where James G. A. Creighton, who went on to become a McGill law student, was believed to have played a major role in the established the first set of formal rules.
Announcement of first game in The Gazette (March 3, 1875)Victoria Rink - A game of Hockey will be played at the Victoria Skating Rink this evening, between two nines chose 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.