Hockey occupies an important place in the sports sphere of Great Britain. British, and particularly London, teams can boast of a large number of awards. However, it is not the most popular sport in the country and can easily give way to football or rugby. Hockey began to actively develop in England at the beginning of the twentieth century. Then its representatives experienced both the first victories and defeats. At the same time, the first hockey organisations and teams started to appear at that time as well. Although athletes from Canada (the Hockey Motherland) often surpassed the British, Great Britain was one of the first countries in Europe where ice hockey developed at a rapid pace. The activities of the British Ice Hockey Association have significantly contributed to the development of that sport in the country. Learn more at ilondon.info.
The development of hockey and the importance of the league
For the first time, the British, and in particular Londoners, got interested in hockey at the end of the 19th century. The new sport spread very quickly throughout many countries of the world. In the 1890s, about five teams were formed in Great Britain and they included some of the best athletes. Then the first small championships were held too. The opening of the first rink with artificially made ice surface in Europe also became an important event. It happened in London in 1903. At the same time, the first national championship in Europe was held. The winners were representatives of the London Canadians team, which consisted of Canadian immigrants living in London. They knew this game like no one else, so they won the coveted award. Later, the National Ice Hockey League dared to take even more serious steps and concluded a contract with the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association in 1939. It was aimed at the exchange of hockey experience between the two countries and the invitation of Canadian athletes to the British teams.
The emergence of a governing body that could adjust and establish a clear system happened when the sport acquired insane popularity. This is how the British Ice Hockey Association was formed at the beginning of the 20th century. One of the first hockey organisations in London was the Princes Ice Hockey Club. Members of this club are often considered pioneers in hockey. In 1906, the team began to compete with European rivals and was quite successful. For example, in 1909, hockey players beat the French in an international championship, and thus, represented England on the world stage.
In different years, the organisation was headed by many famous people. For example, from 1913 to 1934, its president was Londoner Peter Patton. He is one of the founders of hockey in Great Britain and introduced this sport to Europe. He was a hockey player, and therefore, he knew this business very well. His contribution to the development of the association is extremely valuable.
The role of the association in the modern sports sphere
The organisation plays an important role in sports activities not only in London but also in the whole of Great Britain. It is responsible for compliance with all established norms of the procedure for holding sports competitions and other events in the country. Moreover, it is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The British Ice Hockey Association controls compliance with all rights and statutes approved by the federation. Its representatives are also responsible for ensuring that foreign athletes receive permission to participate in competitions. In general, it has a large number of functions that help to improve and organise international sports events at an appropriate level. The association also pays considerable attention to young hockey players. In 2014, it took part in the creation of a youth development league, which prepares future national players.