What Happened On January 18th?

In Victorian England (19th century) cricket reigned as the most supreme sport. However, around the country in public schools, Eton and Harrow, another game was being played. A chaotic melee known as “hockey” was still around for centuries, with its roots dating back to ancient Egyptian stick-and-ball games and medieval hurling.

Before the game was officially formalized by The Hockey Association, hockey lacked standardized rules. Different regions had their own variations, and the sport was often played in open spaces with informal guidelines.

Now, hockey pucks are kept frozen at 14 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, just 24 hours before a game to ensure that the pucks are not “bouncy” in any way. These are the standards for the National Hockey League (NHL), but again, different regions in the world still have their own versions of the game.

So, on January 18, 1886, a group of clubs and schools gathered at The Limes in Clapham Common, London, to form The Hockey Association. This meeting was instrumental regarding structure and direction of the sport.

The formation of The Hockey Association led to the establishment of standardized rules, bringing uniformity to the game. This included defining the pitch size, specifying the number of players (10), and introducing penalties for infractions.

How The World Responded

The establishment of standardized rules by The Hockey Association influenced the global adoption of modern hockey, and the same about of players, remains the same in the NHL and in the Winter Olympics. Implementing some sort of structured format facilitated international competitions, contributing to the sport’s worldwide appeal.

That being said, the game spurred the growth of organized leagues and competitions, which eventually led to the adoption of hockey into the Olympics in Antwerp (1908). Now, hockey is played worldwide by 1.64 million registered players.