History of Ice hockey in Timeline

Ice hockey is a team sport played on an ice rink where two opposing teams use sticks to shoot a puck into the other team's net, aiming to score more goals than the opponent. A standard game involves six skaters per team, including a goaltender, competing for an hour, with overtime or shootouts resolving ties. Known for being physically demanding, ice hockey involves full contact and strategic gameplay.

1900: Professional ice hockey originates

Around 1900, professional ice hockey originated, marking a shift from amateur leagues to professional play.

1902: First Women's Ice Hockey Championship Tournament

In 1902, a tournament between Montreal and Trois-Rivières was billed as the first women's ice hockey championship tournament, showcasing early organized women's hockey.

1917: Creation of the National Hockey League (NHL)

In 1917, after Canada's National Hockey Association decided to disband, the National Hockey League was created with four teams.

1920: Ice Hockey at the Summer Olympics

Ice hockey was played at the Summer Olympic Games in 1920.

1923: First Spengler Cup

In 1923, the Spengler Cup was first awarded to the Oxford University Ice Hockey Club.

1924: Ice Hockey at the Winter Olympics

Ice hockey has been played at the Winter Olympics since 1924.

1924: NHL Expansion to the United States

In 1924, the National Hockey League (NHL) expanded to the United States.

1942: NHL Contraction to Original Six Teams

By the 1942-43 season, the National Hockey League (NHL) had contracted to six teams, known today as the Original Six.

1953: Dominance of the Big Six in International Competitions since 1953

Since 1953, teams outside the Big Six (Canada, Czechia, Finland, Russia, Sweden, and the United States) have won only nine medals in the Olympics and Ice Hockey World Championships combined, highlighting the dominance of these nations in international ice hockey competitions.

1956: USSR won Gold medals

By 1956, its amateur club teams and national teams could not compete with the teams of government-supported players from the Soviet Union. The USSR won all but two gold medals from 1956 to 1988

1956: Soviet Union Dominates Olympic Hockey

From 1956 to 1988, the USSR won all but two gold medals in Olympic ice hockey.

1960: United States Wins First Olympic Gold Medal

The United States won its first gold medal in ice hockey at the 1960 Winter Olympics.

1961: Fitness and Amateur Sport Act

Starting in Canada in 1961, the women's game spread to more universities after the Fitness and Amateur Sport Act came into force in whereby the Government of Canada made an official commitment to "encourage, promote and develop fitness and amateur sport in Canada."

1967: NHL Expansion to 12 Teams

In 1967, the National Hockey League (NHL) doubled in size to 12 teams, undertaking one of the greatest expansions in professional sports history.

1969: Karen Koch signed by Marquette Iron Rangers

In 1969, the United States Hockey League (USHL) welcomed its first female professional ice hockey player when the Marquette Iron Rangers signed 18-year-old goaltender Karen Koch.

1972: Formation of the World Hockey Association (WHA)

In 1972, a new 12-team league, the World Hockey Association (WHA), was formed, leading to a rapid increase in players' salaries due to its rivalry with the National Hockey League (NHL).

1972: 1972 Summit Series

The 1972 Summit Series, pitting the best Canadian and Soviet players without IIHF restrictions, was a major success, and established a rivalry between Canada and the USSR.

1974: 1974 Summit Series

The 1974 Summit Series, pitting the best Canadian and Soviet players without IIHF restrictions, was a major success, and established a rivalry between Canada and the USSR.

1977: Removal of Amateur-Only Restriction at IIHF World Championships

Beginning in 1977, the amateur-only restriction was removed from the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships.

1979: NHL Merges with WHA

In 1979, the 17-team National Hockey League (NHL) merged with the World Hockey Association (WHA), creating a 21-team league.

1979: 1979 Challenge Cup

The 1979 Challenge Cup was held between NHL and USSR teams.

1980: "Miracle on Ice" at the Lake Placid Olympics

At the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics, amateur US college players defeated the heavily favored Soviet squad in an event known as the "Miracle on Ice" in the United States.

1983: Ban on Body Contact in Canadian National Women's Tournaments

In 1983, Rhonda Leeman Taylor was responsible for banning body contact from all Canadian national women's tournaments.

1986: Removal of Body Checking in Some Canadian Women's Hockey Leagues

In 1986, body checking was completely removed from some of the women's hockey leagues in Canada, contributing to an increase in female participation in youth ice hockey.

1987: First International Competition in Women's Hockey

In 1987, the World Women's Hockey Tournament in Toronto marked the first international competition in women's hockey, although it wasn't sanctioned by the IIHF.

1988: Restrictions on Professional Players Dropped

Restrictions on professional players were fully dropped at the 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary.

1989: First IIHF-Sanctioned Women's Hockey Event

In 1989, the IIHF European Women Championships in West Germany became the first IIHF-sanctioned event and the first European Championship held in women's hockey.

1990: Elimination of Body Checking from Women's Hockey Internationally

Following the 1990 Women's World Championship, body checking was eliminated from women's hockey internationally.

1990: First Official Women's Ice Hockey World Championship

In 1990, the first official women's ice hockey world championship was held.

1990: First IIHF Women's World Championship

In 1990, the first world ice hockey championship for women, the IIHF Women's World Championship, was held in Ottawa.

1990: Fifteen Women's World Championships Since 1990

Since the initial women's world championships in 1990, there have been fifteen tournaments.

1994: Ice hockey recognized as Canada's national winter sport

In 1994, ice hockey was officially recognized as Canada's national winter sport, solidifying its cultural significance in the country.

1995: Increase in Women's Hockey Participants

Between 1995 and 2005, the number of women's hockey participants increased by 400 percent, showcasing significant growth in the sport.

April 23, 1996: NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Game Attendance Record

On April 23, 1996, the Tampa Bay Lightning played the Philadelphia Flyers at the Thunderdome, setting a record for an NHL Stanley Cup playoff game with an attendance of 28,183.

1996: 1996 World Cup of Hockey

In 1996, the United States won the World Cup of Hockey.

1996: Euro Hockey Tour

The annual Euro Hockey Tour, an unofficial European championship between the national men's teams of the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and Sweden have been played since 1996–97.

1998: IIHF Adopts No Two-Line Pass Rule

In 1998, the IIHF adopted the no two-line pass rule, allowing players to pass to teammates who are more than the blue and center ice red line away.

1998: Women's Ice Hockey Added as Olympic Medal Sport

In 1998, women's ice hockey was added as an Olympic medal sport at the Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

1998: Women's hockey introduced into Olympics

In 1998, women's ice hockey was introduced into the Olympics, further elevating the sport's profile and legitimacy.

1998: Introduction of Women's Ice Hockey as Olympic Medal Sport

Since the introduction of women's ice hockey as a medal sport in 1998, the top division tournament was not held in Olympic years until a change was approved to the IIHF Statutes & Bylaws in 2021

1998: Full NHL Participation at the Olympics

The 1998 Olympic Games saw the full participation of players from the NHL, which suspended operations during the Games.

1998: Women's Hockey at the Olympics

Women's hockey has been played at the Olympics since 1998.

1999: NHL Overtime Rules Change

From the 1999–2000 season until the 2003–04 season, the NHL decided ties by playing a single five-minute sudden-death overtime period with four skaters per side, aiming to discourage playing for a tie.

1999: NHL Overtime and Shootout Introduction

In 1999-2000 the NHL introduced a period identical to that followed by a penalty shootout.

2000: NHL Overtime Rules Change

2000: NHL Overtime and Shootout Introduction

In 1999-2000 the NHL introduced a period identical to that followed by a penalty shootout.

2001: NHL Implements Four-Official System

Beginning with the NHL in 2001, the "four-official system" was implemented, adding an additional referee to aid in calling penalties and improving officiating accuracy.

2002: World Pond Hockey Championship Started in 2002

Since 2002, the World Pond Hockey Championship has been held on Roulston Lake in Tobique Valley, New Brunswick, Canada, promoting pond hockey as a form of pick-up ice hockey with modified rules.

2003: East Coast Hockey League Renamed

Before the 2003–04 season, the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) was renamed to the ECHL.

2003: NHL Overtime Rules Change

2003: NHL Overtime and Shootout Introduction

In 1999-2000 the NHL introduced a period identical to that followed by a penalty shootout.

2003: Hayley Wickenheiser Played in Finnish Men's League

In 2003, forward Hayley Wickenheiser played with the Kirkkonummi Salamat in the Finnish men's Suomi-sarja league, marking a rare instance of a woman playing in a men's professional hockey league.

2004: 2004 World Cup of Hockey

In 2004, Canada won the World Cup of Hockey.

2005: NHL Introduces Diving Penalty

As of the 2005–2006 NHL season, a minor penalty is assessed for diving, where a player embellishes or simulates an offense, penalizing unsportsmanlike behavior.

2005: Increase in Women's Hockey Participants

Between 1995 and 2005, the number of women's hockey participants increased by 400 percent, showcasing significant growth in the sport.

2005: NHL rule change on icing the puck

In the 2005–06 season, the NHL added a rule preventing teams from making player substitutions after they ice the puck, changing strategic play.

2005: NHL Eliminates Two-Line Pass Infraction

Prior to the 2005–06 NHL season, play was stopped for a two-line pass. After this date, the centre line is no longer used in the NHL to determine a two-line pass infraction.

2006: NHL Introduces Diving Penalty

As of the 2005–2006 NHL season, a minor penalty is assessed for diving, where a player embellishes or simulates an offense, penalizing unsportsmanlike behavior.

2006: NHL Redefines Offside Rule

NHL rules instated for the 2006 season redefined the offside rule to make the two-line pass legal; a player may pass the puck from behind his own blue line, past both that blue line and the centre red line, to a player on the near side of the opponents' blue line.

2006: US and Canadian National Pond Hockey Championships Started in 2006

Since 2006, the US Pond Hockey Championships have been played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the Canadian National Pond Hockey Championships have been played in Huntsville, Ontario, emphasizing the growth and popularity of pond hockey.

2006: 2006 Winter Olympics Final

The 2006 Winter Olympic final between Canada and Sweden was one of the only finals in the women's world championship or Olympics that did not involve both Canada and the United States.

2008: Launch of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL)

In 2008, the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) was launched with clubs predominantly from Russia, but featuring teams from other post-Soviet states.

2008: European Trophy tournament

The Champions Hockey League competition is related to the 2008–09 European Trophy tournament of the same name.

May 6, 2010: UM stopped public ticket sales for The Big Chill at the Big House

On May 6, 2010, the University of Michigan stopped selling tickets to the public for "The Big Chill at the Big House" hockey game, with over 100,000 tickets already sold and plans to reserve the remaining tickets for students.

December 11, 2010: The Big Chill at the Big House

On December 11, 2010, the University of Michigan faced Michigan State at Michigan Stadium in an event called "The Big Chill at the Big House". The home team, the Wolverines, won 5-0 in front of a crowd of 113,411, setting an attendance record for an ice hockey game. Guinness World Records counted 104,173 fans who entered the stadium.

2010: Vancouver Olympics

The 2010 Olympic games in Vancouver were the first played in an NHL city since the inclusion of NHL players and the first played on NHL-sized ice rinks.

2011: Women's Hockey Participation Numbers in 2011

In 2011, Canada had 85,827 women hockey players, the United States had 65,609, Finland 4,760, Sweden 3,075, and Switzerland 1,172.

2011: KHL Expansion Beyond Former Soviet Countries

The Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) expanded beyond the former Soviet countries beginning in the 2011–12 season, with clubs in Croatia and Slovakia.

2012: Trans-Tasman Champions League Competition

As of 2012, the two top teams of the previous season from both the Australian Ice Hockey League and New Zealand Ice Hockey League compete in the Trans-Tasman Champions League.

2012: NCAA Changes Delayed Penalty Rule

In 2012, the United States' National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) changed the delayed penalty rule for college-level hockey, enforcing the penalty even if the team in possession scores.

2013: NHL Realignment in 2013

In 2013, the National Hockey League (NHL) underwent a realignment, dividing its 31 teams into two conferences and four divisions.

2014: Launch of the Champions Hockey League

Beginning in the 2014–15 season, the Champions Hockey League was launched, a league consisting of first-tier teams from several European countries, running parallel to the teams' domestic leagues.

2014: 2014 NHL Winter Classic

In 2014, the NHL Winter Classic was held at Michigan Stadium, featuring the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs, with an announced crowd of 105,491. While large, it did not break the existing attendance record.

2015: NHL Overtime Rule Change to 3-on-3

Since the 2015–16 NHL season, the single five-minute sudden-death overtime session involves three skaters on each side, altering penalty rules during overtime.

2016: 2016 World Cup of Hockey

In 2016, Canada won the World Cup of Hockey.

2017: NHL Expands to 31 Teams

By 2017, the National Hockey League (NHL) had expanded to 31 teams.

2018: NHL Participation until 2018

The NHL suspended operations during the Games up until 2018 to allow full participation of its players in the Olympics.

2019: Minor Professional Hockey Leagues Without NHL Affiliations in 2019

As of 2019, there are three minor professional hockey leagues with no NHL affiliations: the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL), Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey (LNAH), and the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL).

2019: Formation of the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association

In 2019, the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association was formed by over 150 players with the goal of creating a sustainable professional league for women's ice hockey in North America.

2019: IIHF Adopts NHL Playoff Overtime Format

Since 2019, the IIHF World Championships and the gold medal game in the Olympics use the same format as the NHL playoffs, but in a 3-on-3 format.

2019: 2019 World Championship Final

The 2019 World Championship final between the US and Finland was one of the only finals in the women's world championship or Olympics that did not involve both Canada and the United States.

2021: Change to IIHF Statutes & Bylaws Approved

In 2021, a change was approved to the IIHF Statutes & Bylaws allowing the top division tournament to be held in Olympic years.

2021: NHL Expands to 32 Teams

In 2021, the National Hockey League (NHL) expanded to 32 teams.

2022: Svenska damhockeyligan to Include Body Checking

In 2022, the Svenska damhockeyligan (SDHL) announced that it would include body checking during its 2022–23 season, but would maintain a prohibition on open-ice hits.

2022: First Top Division Tournament Held in Olympic Season

The 2022 top division tournament was the first to be held in an Olympic season, following a change to the IIHF Statutes & Bylaws in 2021.

2023: Founding of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL)

The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) was founded in 2023.

January 2024: Debut of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL)

In January 2024, The Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) debuted allowing body checking in certain scenarios. League executive Jayna Hefford stated that body checking was included at the behest of players, and the league's physicality drew positive reviews.

April 20, 2024: Professional Women's Game Attendance Record

On April 20, 2024, a sold-out crowd of 21,105 watched a PWHL game between Montreal and Toronto at the Bell Centre in Montreal, setting an attendance record for a professional women's game.

2024: Debut of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL)

In 2024, the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) debuted with three teams in Canada and three in the United States.

March 2025: Registered Hockey Players in IIHF Member Countries

As of March 2025, the list of registered hockey players includes data from 39 out of 84 IIHF member countries with more than 1,000 registered players each, encompassing male, female, and junior players.