Episode One:
A Simple Game
First Period
We Watch/ We Write!
Viewing Guide
Prologue
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Where did young boys get their first sticks for playing “shinny”?
Where did a form of hockey first originate?
What contribution did the Dutch make to the game of hockey?
What Aboriginal game influenced the development of hockey?
What two pieces of equipment was sold by the Starr Manufacturing Company?
What was James Creighton’s contribution to the story of hockey?
How did the first official game of hockey end?
The First Family of Hockey
8. What event in 1883 helped spur on the development of Ice Hockey?
9. How did Governor General Frederick Stanley and his family influence the game?
10. What gift did the young Stanley boys get from their dad?
60-Minute Men
11. How much did Starr skates and a Mi’kmaq stick cost in 1895?
12. Who was Dan Bain?
13. What was the significance of players such as Viau and Hurtubise?
Joseph and Stanley
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
How did Joseph Boyle influence the game of hockey?
What was important about the Ottawa Silver Seven?
What was remarkable about Frank McGee?
How far did the Dawson City Nuggets travel to play the Ottawa Silver Seven?
What was the score in the second game between the Silver Seven and the Nuggets?
From Sport to Spectacle
19. In 1904, how many players were actually killed in hockey games?
20. How many people attended big matches?
Episode One:
A Simple Game
Second Period
Cross-check
For each of the blanks in column A place the corresponding letter from the item in column B in
that most closely fits.
A
B
1. Hurley____
a. Aboriginal game
2. Kolven____
b. Governor General
3. lacrosse____
c. ice golf
4. Starr manufacturing ____
d. father of hockey
5. James Creighton____
e. Winnipeg Victorias
6. Lord Stanley____
f. Joe Boyle
7. Dan Bain____
g. Frank McGee
8. Dawson City Nuggets____
h. an early form of hockey
9. Ottawa Silver Seven____
i. Coloured championship
10.Young Jubilees____
j. Halifax skate
Answers: 1-h, 2-c, 3-a, 4-j, 5-d, 6-b, 7-e, 8-f, 9-g, 10-i
Episode One:
A Simple Game
Third Period
Slapshot
For each of the following questions circle the answers that are correct.
1. Which of the following were not teams in the early history of hockey in Canada?
Winnipeg Victorias, Hamilton Majors, Toronto Argonauts, Eurekas of Halifax, Rideau Rebels
2. Which of the following early hockey players was partially blind?
Don Bain, James Creighton, Frank McGee, Cecil Merritt
3. Which British family really helped hockey become more popular and accepted?
Cherry, Gretzky, Stanley, Victorias, Boyle
4. How far did the Dawson City Nuggets travel to play the Ottawa Silver Sevens?
10, 000 miles, 4000 miles, 200 miles, 678 miles, 2000 miles
5. How many players lost their lives in hockey games in 1904?
0, 50, 1, 4, 19
Answers: 1- Hamilton Majors, Toronto Argonauts, 2- Frank McGee, 3-Stanley, 4- 4000 miles, 5-4
Episode One:
A Simple Game
Overtime
If time permits, consider completing one of these learning opportunities.
1. Complete further research on one of the great early players of Canada’s great game such as:
Don Bain, Frank McGee.
2. Compare the cost of skates and sticks in 1985 with current prices.
3. Joe Boyle was a colourful figure in Canada’s north but also had a varied international career.
Find out some of the other exploits of this remarkable man.
4. From what you have seen in this program, note the major differences and similarities between
hockey in the early days and the hockey that is played today in Canada.
5. The origin of hockey is debated intensely. If the definition of hockey is a ball and a stick game,
what are its origins? If the definition includes a puck and ice, what was the origin of hockey?
6. It is often said the hockey not only reflects the Canadian character but helped to unite Canada. What evidences are there in this episode that hockey played a role in uniting Canadians?
7. To what extent did hockey reflect Canadian society at this time? Discuss under one of the following headings: technology, communication, violence.
8. Debate who was the most important person in the early history of hockey, Lord Stanley or
JGA Creighton?
9. In the last quarter of the 19th Century, most hockey players came from wealthy families or
were prosperous themselves. Explain why.
10. To what extent were either (a) railways or (b) newspapers important in the development of
hockey?
Episode One:
A Simple Game
Double Overtime
Research
James George Aylwin Creighton was born in 1850 and raised in Halifax. A superb athlete, Creighton played hockey (also called hurley), rugby, and field hockey. He was also a speed skater and
a figured skater. Creighton graduated from Dalhousie University and moved to Montreal in 1872
to work as an engineer.
In Montreal, he played rugby for the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association and joined the Victoria Skating Club. When his rugby team mates were looking for a way to keep in shape in the offseason, Creighton taught them to play Nova Scotia’s version of hockey with sticks he had sent
from Halifax.
At this time, the puck was wooden, skates were fastened onto players’ boots or shoes, and hockey sticks were carved by Mi’kmaq craftsmen. Since no one wore pads and there were no boards
or glass partitions, raising the puck was illegal. The puck was made from a piece of wood. Goals
had no nets and teams changed ends after each goal (which was termed a “game”).
In 1877, Creighton enrolled at McGill Law School. That year, McGill formed a hockey team of its
own and Creighton published the “Montreal Rules of Hockey.” Since Montreal was the financial,
communications, economic, and cultural centre of Canada, it was these rules, rather than the
Halifax rules, that were accepted throughout Canada.
Following graduation, Creighton moved to Ottawa. Here, he introduced Governor General Stanley’s children to the joy of hockey. Stanley watched his sons play and in 1893 donated the Stanley Cup to the best hockey team. Stanley’s daughter, Isobel, also enjoyed hockey and helped
promote women’s hockey.
Analysis
1) Debate whether the Stanley Cup should be renamed the Creighton Cup.
2) Why were the Montreal hockey rules accepted throughout Canada?
3) The Halifax Hockey Rules permitted forward passing, but placed the goals at the side of the
rink facing the other side.
(a) Discuss how different hockey would be if the forward pass was illegal.
(b) How would the different position of the goals change hockey tactics?
Episode One:
A Simple Game
Double Overtime
4) Research the rules of either bandy, hurley, lacrosse, or rugby and compare them to the early
hockey rules.
5) Working in groups, prepare for a debate on the origins of hockey. Different groups should represent Kingston, Halifax, Windsor (NS), and Montreal. For assistance, see:
http://www.birthplaceofhockey.com/origin/overview.html
http://www.collectionscanada.ca/hockey/024002-2005-e.html
http://www.tmlfever.com/TheGame.html
http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-41-1546-10373/sports/spirit_of_hockey/