Many people don't realize that hockey began in Canada, because it is so widely appreciated in Europe and the United States. Europe experiences a great anticipation for the international men's ice hockey world championships, while Americans focus their attention on the Stanley cup playoffs that are happening at the same time. Unfortunately, Canada, the United States, and other countries with NHL players have not been able to get their best teams because many top players are vying for the Stanley cup trophy.
For many years, professional players could not play at the international level; this is no longer true, and as many Europeans play in the NHL, world championships are not made up of the world's top players any more. The Olympic games began recognizing hockey in 1924; the gold medal went to Canada six out of seven times. The latter years of the twentieth-century saw professionals from American, Sweden, Finland, and Canada banned from participating in the Olympics; in 1960 the United States won the gold medal, but Russia won all but two gold medals from the years 1956 to 1988. A bunch of non-pro college kids in Lake Placid, New York beat the Russians in 1980 for the gold medal.
Most Americans weren't paying much attention to the sport at the time, but this began to change. The 1972 and 1974 Summit series had solidified Canada and Russia as hockey rivals. As a result, the Canadian Cup - where the best of the very best nations were able to play the sport - was formed. The name of the Canadian Cup was altered to the World Cup of Hockey and following that decision the United States won the match in 1996; Canada won in 2004.
The Canadian cup later became the World Cup of Hockey with the United States winning in 1996 and Canada winning in 2004. Ever since 1998, NHL professionals have been allowed in the Olympics, which gives top players better opportunity to compete and face other pros from different countries. Also in 1998, the women's game premiered in the Olympics; there have been nine women's competitions since.
Because women play just as hard a game as men, they are definitely being seen more and more as a serious sport all their own. Still, they have a long way to go in terms of being on equal footing with men at the domestic and international levels. Long ruled by men, hockey is a sport where women will have to work particularly hard to get serious attention.
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. The love of this sport reaches the "pastime" level of game attendance, prompting the kind of devotion that many Americans put towards football, basketball, and baseball.
Whether the players are pros or whether they are newbies, hockey is its own little world with its own set of rules. Soap opera fans have nothing on fans of this sport; people worship it like the air they breathe. Some people will spend hours playing the game well into the late hours; often rinks will stay open to accommodate those buffs who want to spend 2-3 hours thrashing around a cold rink slapping a hard rubber circle around. - 22873
For many years, professional players could not play at the international level; this is no longer true, and as many Europeans play in the NHL, world championships are not made up of the world's top players any more. The Olympic games began recognizing hockey in 1924; the gold medal went to Canada six out of seven times. The latter years of the twentieth-century saw professionals from American, Sweden, Finland, and Canada banned from participating in the Olympics; in 1960 the United States won the gold medal, but Russia won all but two gold medals from the years 1956 to 1988. A bunch of non-pro college kids in Lake Placid, New York beat the Russians in 1980 for the gold medal.
Most Americans weren't paying much attention to the sport at the time, but this began to change. The 1972 and 1974 Summit series had solidified Canada and Russia as hockey rivals. As a result, the Canadian Cup - where the best of the very best nations were able to play the sport - was formed. The name of the Canadian Cup was altered to the World Cup of Hockey and following that decision the United States won the match in 1996; Canada won in 2004.
The Canadian cup later became the World Cup of Hockey with the United States winning in 1996 and Canada winning in 2004. Ever since 1998, NHL professionals have been allowed in the Olympics, which gives top players better opportunity to compete and face other pros from different countries. Also in 1998, the women's game premiered in the Olympics; there have been nine women's competitions since.
Because women play just as hard a game as men, they are definitely being seen more and more as a serious sport all their own. Still, they have a long way to go in terms of being on equal footing with men at the domestic and international levels. Long ruled by men, hockey is a sport where women will have to work particularly hard to get serious attention.
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. The love of this sport reaches the "pastime" level of game attendance, prompting the kind of devotion that many Americans put towards football, basketball, and baseball.
Whether the players are pros or whether they are newbies, hockey is its own little world with its own set of rules. Soap opera fans have nothing on fans of this sport; people worship it like the air they breathe. Some people will spend hours playing the game well into the late hours; often rinks will stay open to accommodate those buffs who want to spend 2-3 hours thrashing around a cold rink slapping a hard rubber circle around. - 22873
About the Author:
Blackjack is a Matter of Winning offers more reviews, check out this link: Blackjack Winning Secrets.
No comments:
Post a Comment