Birthplace of Hockey
Did you know that a brief passage in Sir John Franklin’s journals represents the first recorded mention of ice hockey in North America?
In 1825, Franklin noted that as his men settled into their winter quarters on the shores of Great Bear Lake, they passed the time by skating and playing hockey. Local Dene oral history also speaks of people “flying around” and playing on the ice. Today, hockey is a popular sport in Délı̨nę and the local team “the Braves” are a force to be reckoned with!
This historic event, and the place of pride it occupies in Délı̨nę, have inspired a mural, comic book, and custom-designed tabletop hockey game in the Discovery Gallery.
Délı̨nę is officially recognized as a Territorial Historic Site because of its hockey history. For more information visit our Historic Places Program webpage.
Come out and play!
Délı̨nę
In 1825 Sir John Franklin’s Second Overland Expedition to the Arctic Ocean overwintered at Fort Franklin (Délı̨nę). Franklin wrote, “till the snow fell, the game of hockey played on the ice was the morning’s sport.” Locals at the time recalled players “flying across the ice, like they were floating.” Délı̨nę is recognized as a Territorial Historic Place, the site of the First Recorded Hockey Game in the NWT.
Birthplaces of Hockey
2000 BC
Beni Hasan, Egypt
A stick game played in ancient Egypt
akg-images/Erich Lessing
50 AD
Ethiopia
Genna, a field hockey-like game
rastafarirenaissance.com
500 AD
Inner Mongolia, China
Beikou, a game played by the Daur people
CRIENGLISH.com
1500
Chile
Chueca, a stick-and-ball game resembling field hockey
www.memoriachilena.cl/temas
1630
St. Lawrence Valley
First written account describing lacrosse
George Catlin/Smithsonian American Art Museum
1797
London, England
Earliest known depiction of a hockey player on ice
Benedictus Van Assen
1800
Windsor, Nova Scotia
Hurley-on-ice, played by King’s College students
www.birthplaceofhockey.com
1825
Délı̨nę
First recorded game of ice hockey in the NWT, perhaps North America
Drawn by Lt. Back, 1825
1875
Montréal
First recorded organized game of hockey
William Notman & Son/McCord Museum
1891
Ottawa
First organized women’s hockey game
Proud Past, Bright Future, by Brian McFarlane
1961
Stockholm, Sweden
Invention of sledge hockey
© Luc Percival
Acknowledgements
Comic book written and illustrated by:
Godi hé ɂerįhtł’échú dahtł’é:
Alison McCreesh
Thanks | Máhsi:
Délı̨nę Braves hockey team
Délı̨nę Got’ın̨ę Government
Albertine Ayha
Danny Gaudet
Orlena Modeste
Leonard Kenny
Morris Neyelle
Erin Selleck-Chocolate
Patrice Tremblay
Carla Rae Taylor
Produced by Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, 2018.
