MAIN Sports Olympic Games Olympic Ice Hockey

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With ice hockey's origins placed in several places at once, it most likely it developed in Europe during the Middle Ages, when field hockey was taken to frozen ponds and lakes during the cold winter months.

The sport later developed throughout North America, where British soliders played a similar game of "hurley" in army forts throughout Canada.

Ice hockey caught on to become a major national pastime in Canada, and quickly headed south to the United States.

Men’s ice hockey became an Olympic sport at the 1920 Summer Olympic Games in Antwerp, then was added to the inaugural Winter Olympic Games at Chamonix in 1924.

As it continues to do, Canada historically dominated the sport in the 20th century followed by the Russians, Americans, Swedes and Czechs.

Women’s ice hockey was added to the Olympic program at the 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, where the American defeated the favored Canadians in a memorable match for the Gold Medal. The following "grudge" match at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games saw a reversal of fortune for the U.S. as the Canadian team took home the gold at the Salt Lake City Games.

More about Olympic ice hockey around the Web:

International Olympic Committee - Ice Hockey - Overview of the ice hockey competitions, list of events, Olympic records, athlete profiles, picture gallery, related links.

IIHF - International Ice Hockey Federation - Worldwide coverage of the sport including news, schedules, championship scores and records, related links.

USA Hockey - The official site of Team USA featuring headlines news, calendar of tournaments and events, details on sponsored programs, related links.

Hockey Canada - The official site of Team Canada including news, photos, championship standings and results, details on sponsored programs, special sections for parents, safety information and more.

Everything You Need to Know About Ice Hockey - Archived Washington Post feature with a good overview of Olympic hockey, rules and regs, a special look at infractions, game history, Olympic records.

also see in Sports -> Ice Hockey

also in Winter Olympics -> Alpine Skiing | Biathlon | Bobsled

Cross-country Skiing | Curling | Figure Skating | Freestyle Skiing

Ice Hockey | Luge | Nordic Combined | Short-Track Skating

Skeleton | Ski Jumping | Speed Skating | Snowboard