Figure 1.--Here we see a Montreal hockey team, perhaps from the 1930s. The background suggests it is a school team. A reader writes, "I think these these boys are at McGill University students. I think I recognize the McGill buildings behind them. Perhaps a local school was using the ice at McGill. I think this could be a private boys school in Montreal, because the kids look about 16-17--the age of preppies."

We have some limited information on specific sports in Canada. Several sports are played. Here there is both an American and British influence. Canada is one of the several northern countries where ice hockey is a passion. The most popular sport in Canada is ice hockey and many Canadian boys play the sport. Many Canadians maintain that ice hockey actually originated in Canada. Hockey is considered by most Canadians as the national game and its most important contribution to international athletics. It has been a major interest in Canada since the early 20th century.

Baseball

Baseball appears to have been a very popular sport in Canada. We get the impression that after hockey, baseball has been the most popular sport in Canada. We are not sure when it first appeared, but we note it being played at the turn of the 20th century. Canada is one of the few countries outside of the United States and the Caribbean islands where the sport is popular. We are not sure how baseball spread to Canada. Dis Americans move to Canada or was it more because Caadians read American publications. We notice both French-Canandian as well as English-Canadian boys playing sports like baseball. We are not sure how youth baseball was organized in Canada. We note club sports at the turn of the 20th century, both for baseball and hockey.

Cricket

Even cricket is catching on a bit with the influx of Commonwealth immigrants into large Canadian cities such as Vancouver and Toronto. Canada now has national rugby and cricket teams. However, hockey remains the number one sport." [Alcock]

Football

Hockey

Canada is one of the several northern countries where ice hockey is a passion. The most popular sport in Canada is ice hockey and many Canadian boys play the sport. Many Canadians maintain that ice hockey actually originated in Canada. Hockey is considered by most Canadians as the national game and its most important contribution to international athletics. It has been a major interest in Canada since the early 20th century. Other sports are played in Canada, but during the winter, ice hockey is what Canadians follow. The word "hockey" is believed to have developed from the French hoquet ("shepherd's crook"), referring to the shape of the hockey stick. The affectionate nickname "shinny" for informal hockey likely comes from the game's origins in shinty.

Lacrosse

One sport that is uniquely Canadian is lacrosse. The origins of the came appear to be Native american. I am not sure to what extent lacrosse is played in Canada. It is played in America, but is primarily played in the northeast at the college level. Guido

Rugby

A Canadian reader tells us, "Rugby is also becoming very popular, being played in most high schools." [Alcock]

Soccer

A Candian readerwrites, "Soccer has overtaken baseball in popularity as a summer sport in Canada in recent times." [Alcock]

Swimming

Canadians are more known for ice sports (Skiing and hockey) than swimming. Here climate is a factor. Canadian children can only swim a few months out of the year. This ha, however, not stopped boys from swimming during the summer. There is a famous portrait of Toronto boys who got in trouble for swimming. I'm not precisely sure what the infraction is. Of course thdre are now indoor pools wher children can swim year round.

Created: 9:09 AM 10/20/2010
Last updated: 9:09 AM 10/20/2010