THIS WEEK IN HISTORY (Jan. 31, 1877): McGill hockey team turns 149 years old – McGill

MONTREAL — This week marks the anniversary of the first game played by the McGill University men’s hockey team 149 years ago. Students from the Montreal-based institution were instrumental in the origins and development of hockey. They founded the world’s first organized hockey club and played their first game on Jan. 31, 1877, according to an article published in the Feb. 1, 1877 edition of the now defunct McGill University Gazette.

That first contest was a challenge game played between McGill and the “Victorias” – an amalgamation of members of Montreal’s old Victoria Skating Rink, bolstered with players from the Montreal Lacrosse Club and the Montreal Football Club. Five years later, the Victorias were formally organized as the Victoria Hockey Club in December of 1882.

The historic 1877 game, which ended in a 2-1 victory for McGill, was played at the Victoria Rink, bordered by Drummond Street, Boulevard de Maisonneuve and Dorchester Street (now Boulevard René Levesque). The building still stands but an indoor parking garage and a car rental agency is currently in that location.

Members of the first organized McGill hockey club included Archibald D. Taylor (president), Henry “Harry” Abbott (captain), Robert J.B. Howard (secretary & treasurer), Frederick W. Torrance, Lorne Campbell (goalie), William W. Redpath, George R. Caverhill and Rankine Dawson.

That 1877 McGill team was officially founded two years after the first game of organized hockey was played — a contest that involved a number of McGill students — on March 3, 1875 at the Victoria rink. The 1877 game between McGill and the “Victorias” was played under rules (see below) published in The (Montreal) Gazette on Feb. 27, 1877.

(ALSO SEE 2012 VIDEO LINK FROM McGILL’S FIRST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY)

http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2216147919

1877 RULES OF ICE HOCKEY

(Ed. Note: the word “Bully” refers to a face-off and the word “game” generally refers to a “goal”).

1. The game shall be commenced and renewed by a Bully in the centre of the ground. Goals shall be changed after each game.

2. When a player hits the ball, any one of the same side who at such moment of hitting is nearer to the opponents’ goal line is out of play, and may not touch the ball himself, or in any way whatever prevent any other player from doing so, until the ball has been played. A player must always be on his own side of the ball.

3. The ball may be stopped, but not carried or knocked on by any part of the body. No player shall raise his stick above his shoulder. Charging from behind, tripping, collaring, kicking or shinning shall not be allowed.

4. When the ball is hit behind the goal line by the attacking side, it shall be brought out straight 15 yards, and started again by a Bully; but, if hit behind by any one of the side whose goal line it is, a player of the opposite side shall hit it out from within one yard of the nearest corner, no player of the attacking side at that time shall be within 20 yards of the goal line, and the defenders, with the exception of the goal-keeper, must be behind their goal line.

5. When the ball goes off at the side, a player of the opposite side to that which hit it out shall roll it out from the point on the boundary line at which it went off at right angles with the boundary line, and it shall not be in play until it has touched the ice, and the player rolling it in shall not play it until it has been played by another player, every player being then behind the ball.

6. On the infringement of any of the above rules, the ball shall be brought back and a Bully shall take place.

7. All disputes shall be settled by the Umpires, or in the event of their disagreement, by the Referee.

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CETTE SEMAINE DANS L’HISTOIRE : L’équipe de hockey de McGill fête ses 149 ans le 31 janvier

MONTRÉAL — Cette semaine marque l’anniversaire du premier match disputé par l’équipe masculine de hockey de l’Université McGill, il y a 149 ans. Les étudiants de l’institution montréalaise ont joué un rôle déterminant dans l’origine et le développement du hockey. Ils ont fondé le premier club de hockey organisé au monde et joué leur premier match le 31 janvier 1877, selon un article publié dans l’édition du 1er février 1877 de la défunte Gazette de l’Université McGill.

Ce premier match était un défi entre McGill et les « Victorias » – un amalgame de membres de l’ancien Victoria Skating Rink de Montréal, renforcé par des joueurs du Montreal Lacrosse Club et du Montreal Football Club. Cinq ans plus tard, les Victorias deviennent officiellement le Victoria Hockey Club en décembre 1882.

Le match historique de 1877, qui s’est soldé par une victoire de 2 à 1 pour McGill, a été joué à la patinoire Victoria, bordée par la rue Drummond, le boulevard de Maisonneuve et la rue Dorchester (aujourd’hui le boulevard René Lévesque). Le bâtiment existe toujours, mais un garage de stationnement intérieur et une agence de location de voitures se trouvent actuellement à cet endroit.

Les membres du premier club de hockey organisé de McGill étaient Archibald D. Taylor (président), Henry « Harry » Abbott (capitaine), Robert J.B. Howard (secrétaire et trésorier), Frederick W. Torrance, Lorne Campbell (gardien de but), William W. Redpath, George R. Caverhill et Rankine Dawson.

L’équipe de McGill de 1877 a été officiellement fondée deux ans après la première partie de hockey organisée – une compétition à laquelle participaient plusieurs étudiants de McGill – le 3 mars 1875 à la patinoire de Victoria. La partie de 1877 entre McGill et les « Victorias » se déroule selon les règles (voir ci-dessous) publiées dans The (Montreal) Gazette le 27 février 1877.

SOURCE:

Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
(514) 983-7012
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca