Did You Know?

Games of the Ice Age

Uncover the prehistoric roots of ice hockey, from bone skates used by ancient hunters to the earliest stick-and-ball games played on frozen lakes.

  • Archaeological digs in Scandinavia have uncovered functional ice skates made from horse and cow bones dating back over 4,000 years.

  • The word "hockey" likely derives from the Middle French word "hocquet," meaning a shepherd's crook or bent stick.

  • Before the modern vulcanized rubber puck was invented in the 1800s, early ice games were played with wooden bungs, stones, or even frozen pieces of animal dung.

Tap a snapshot to focus it. Tap again to open details.