Czechoslovakian Ice Hockey
Today the Czech Republic and Slovakia are known as two separate nations. Both nations have been fairly successful over the years, politically, and economically. Another aspect area of success to arise out of these two nations has been athletics, as they have been known to participate in several international competitions over the years. Earlier in the 20th century however, these two nations were combined into one nation. This country was known as Czechoslovakia, and like its predecessors, this country endured years of success in regards to athletics.
Czechoslovakia was a multi-ethnicity nation that was born following the conclusion of World War I. This nation was considered to be part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire during this time period. As this nation developed, they continued to grow other aspects of life outside of politics, such as athletics. Over the years, Czechoslovakia wasn’t truly known for their athletic dominance over certain countries, but they were definitely great competitors. At one point the Czechs decided to pursue the game of ice hockey. Ultimately the Czechs developed into a world power when it came to the game of ice hockey, specifically around the 1940’s. It did take time however, as they had to work out the kinks to their game and expand the sport across the nation. As the Czechs started to develop as ice hockey players, it was apparent that their game differed greatly from that of the Canadians, who considered ice hockey their national game. In Czechoslovakia, ice hockey was known as “Bandyhokej”. According to Wikipedia, “Bandyhokej” was considered the game that was essential in developing the game of ice hockey. Countries all over the world including, Czechoslovakia, Russia, ...
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...d 1950’s Czechoslovakia was considered a world power. If they had stayed as one nation there is an argument to be made that they could have been the best nation in the world when it comes to ice hockey. There have been several incredible stories to come out of Czechoslovakian ice hockey, along with several incredible players and teams along the way. The Czech hockey players definitely suffered a few bumps in the road, such as tragedy and legal issues, but they also had many positives. They expanded the game across their nation to be considered a world power at one point, and that legacy has carried over to the future. The Czech Republic and Slovakia have taken things from hockey in Czechoslovakia and expanded it to their individual nations. Overall it is pretty incredible what Czechoslovakia went through in the process of developing into a very strong hockey nation.
Wayne Gretzky’s Impact on Hockey Wayne Gretzky played a huge role in hockey history. He was a role model for many people who watched the NHL and played hockey across America as well as in Canada. His early years and determination led him to where he is today. All of his hard work throughout his life paid off in his great success over his career. Gretzky was the greatest hockey player ever to play in the NHL, his integrity and persistence set the bar for many players today and also influenced the way the game was played.
... milestone game in 1980, hockey in the United States has grown significantly at the professional and amateur levels. (USA Hockey, N.d.)
As stated in my thesis statement, the sport of hockey has been forced to compete with the growing mass popularity with other sports such as basketball and football. There once was a point in time where hockey had just as much popularity as those sports but because people are finding more interest in those sports, the National Hockey League found itself in a “drought” of unimportance with other sports. With not televising the sport as “commonly” as other sports.
Saul Indian Horse is an Ojibway child who grew up in a land which offered little contact with anyone belonging to a different kind of society until he was forced to attend a residential school in which children were being stripped away of their culture with the scope of assimilating them into a more “civilized” community. Saul’s childhood in the school, greatly pervaded by psychological abuse and emotional oppression, was positively upset once one of the priests, Father Leboutillier, introduced him to the world of hockey, which soon become his sole means of inclusion and identification, mental well-being and acknowledged self-worth in his life. It is though universally acknowledged how, for every medal, there are always two inevitably opposite
If you ask any Canadian what they were doing on september 28 1972, there it a good chance they will say watching the Canadians and soviets battling it out for the title of the summit series. It was one of the largest rivalry games in Canadian history. Kids in school watched the games during class, People across the nation sat on the edge of their seats for the month of september and were thrilled when Canada pulled off the victory. All of the hype leading up to the event made people wonder if the summit series was the biggest event in Canadian sports history or even Canadian history in general.There is no doubt that the summit series was a huge milestone for Canada and brought the nation together for an exciting ride, even to this day we still see the effects of this great event, it sculpted the game of hockey that we know and love today.
The history of Canada was flooded with many influential and incredible events, particularly during World War 1 and World War 2. During the 20th century, Canada got more involved in worldwide events. It was a very important period for Canada; it was where they gained their independence and progressed as a country. After this century, Canada was considered an important and powerful country.
Canada has become a superior nation thru, perseverance, courage and even care as they persevered thru many dark battles, and made sure they all came thru together as a unit other than individuals. Their courage made there fighting 100% stronger as they wouldn’t back down to any task and they weren’t afraid to lose their life to help a fellow friend and country out. Care played a major aspect in each Canadian heart. There cared about Britain so they weren’t to go help them when they declared war, they helped other troops with their emotional problems and lastly they even cared a little about there enemies as they are the same person, however the only thing separating them is there culture. Canadians contributed in many ways to help our country's great efforts in the First World War.
The “Moffatt Stick,” maybe the world’s oldest known hockey stick, was in the news a couple of years ago when its owner, Mark Presley of Berwick, NS, sold it to the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec for $300,000.
The most memorable moment in hockey history came thirty-four years ago with the 1980 Miracle on Ice. The Americans defeating the dominant Soviet team at the Olympics was not only an important triumph for USA Hockey, but for the entire nation. Contrary to popular belief, the underdog win was not only the result of a miracle; it was also the result of a hard-working team led by Coach Herb Brooks. With increasingly negative views on the position of the United States in the Cold War, the Miracle on Ice and the gold medal win lifted the spirits of the nation and brought hockey into the American spotlight.
Thomas Raddall, a Canadian historical analyst, once said, “When the soldiers were transferred to military posts along the Saint Lawrence and Great Lakes, they took the game with them; and for some time afterwards continued to send to Dartmouth Indians for the necessary sticks.” This quote goes to show that the game’s reputation took off, even during undesirable times such as during a war. Up to this point in time, the sport was primarily played by masculine males and not women. Skip ahead 75 years from the birth of the sport, in 1875 James Creighton, a native Canadian, devised the modern rules of the game. He strategically thought of all possibilities the game could ensue, and devised a set of rules in Montreal. A group of nine players, including Creighton, tried out his guidelines at the Victoria Skating Rink located at McGill University. They all agreed upon the fairness and rationality of the principles he set forth for the game. Instead of using a ball like they formerly did, they switched the ball out for a wooden puck; similar to today’s rubber puck. As the game’s organization progressed, seven years later, the first club ice hockey team was formed: McGill University Hockey Club. By 1880, there were enough club teams to start a tournament division that each team played against one
But, the most meaningful way I have connected myself to Russian culture is through ice hockey. I have played hockey throughout my entire life and many of my favorite players are Russian. I realized this connection when my teammates and I were watching the movie Miracle at a hockey tournament in Lake Placid, not in 1980 though. In the movie, it showed the Soviets having the best ice hockey program in the world at the time, while the young U.S. ice hockey program was developing. Throughout the entire movie, I was cheering for the Soviet Union because it was my homeland. But what I didn’t know at the time was that I was the only one in the room who had not seen the movie. During the first game that the U.S. played, the Soviets crucified the U.S. 10-3. … And then came the Olympics
Before the 1980 Winter Olympics began, the US Olympic hockey team was not expected to do as well as they did. They had many powerhouse teams to beat and the team was just a bunch of college kids who wanted to play hockey. In the end, they had performed one of the greatest upsets in the history of hockey by defeating the USSR, the whom many thought of as the greatest hockey team in the world.
Participation in sports and games has long been a part of Native culture. The most significant example of a sport invented and played by Natives is lacrosse. Lacrosse is still designated as the official sport of Canada despite the overwhelming popularity of hockey (http://canada.gc.ca). Lacrosse was one of many varieties of indigenous stickball games being played by Native Americans and Canadians at the time of European contact. Almost exclusively a male team sport, it is distinguished from other stick and ball games, such as field hockey or shinny, by the use of a netted racquet with which to pick the ball off the ground, throw, catch and vault it into or past a goal to score a point.
As stated before, Canada has a population around 35 million people, but that doesn’t mean that it will stop growing. Like many other developed countries, Canada has an aging population. They have a median age of around 40 years old. Canadian society is often depicted as being "progressive, diverse, and multicultural". When most people think about what kind of sports are played in Canada, one of the first to come to mind is ice hockey. Historically, Canada has been mostly influence by the French, British, and the native aboriginal cultures. Many Canadians value multiculturalism and see Canada as being characteristically
"By the early 1950s, Czechoslovakia was a Soviet-style dictatorship and a loyal ally of the Soviet Union" (Goldman 123). Antonin Novoty was appointed the head of Czechoslovakia in 1952 by Joseph Stalin. Novoty was not well liked by the Communist Party. He refused to make changes to the political system, thinking that it would improve the Soviet's political influence in Czechoslovakia. In 1967, many very popular writers rebelled against him. It made it more difficult for Novoty to establish policies. The Communist Party then asked him to resign in January 1968.