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PyeongChang 2018
Wins for hosts and Romania at Olympic ice hockey test events
10 Apr 2017
IOC News
IOC statement on NHL decision
04 Apr 2017
Olympic Channel
Meeting a teenage Alex Ovechkin
15 Feb 2017
Lillehammer 2016
Thrills, spills and firsts aplenty in the ice hockey at Lillehammer 2016
25 Feb 2016
Lillehammer 2016
Hard-fought hockey clash sees USA win YOG's final gold
21 Feb 2016
Lillehammer 2016
Lundin calling: Swedish star inspires ice hockey success
21 Feb 2016
Lillehammer 2016
YOG spirit alive and well in impromptu ice hockey match
20 Feb 2016
Lillehammer 2016
Russia takes bronze in men's ice hockey
20 Feb 2016
Lillehammer 2016
Special anniversary a celebration for Swiss ice hockey women
20 Feb 2016
Lillehammer 2016
Access all areas: Behind the scenes with the USA ice hockey team
19 Feb 2016
Lillehammer 2016
Eduard Casaneanu wins Romania’s first ice hockey medal
18 Feb 2016
Lillehammer 2016
Ice hockey heats up as men's and women's semi-finalists confirmed
18 Feb 2016
Lillehammer 2016
Savage memories of Lillehammer 1994’s ice hockey final thriller
17 Feb 2016
Lillehammer 2016
Introducing Sled Hockey to Lillehammer 2016
17 Feb 2016
Lillehammer 2016
Japan take gold as ice hockey skills challenge wins fans and friends
16 Feb 2016
Lillehammer 2016
Raissa, Michaela and Matthias, three young Olympians pulling in the same direction
14 Feb 2016
Lillehammer 2016
Iara Haiek, Argentina’s first appearance ever in ice hockey Skills Challenge in Lillehammer
14 Feb 2016
Turin 2006
Ray shines bright on the Olympic stage
13 Mar 2015
Sochi 2014
Men’s ice hockey: Canadians on cloud nine as they see off Sweden to retain crown
18 Mar 2014
Sochi 2014
Women’s ice hockey: Canada retain title as Swiss claim historic bronze
07 Mar 2014
Sochi 2014
Stylish Canada defeat Sweden 3-0 to retain men’s ice hockey crown
23 Feb 2014
Sochi 2014
Record-breaker Selänne bows out with a double to help Finland power their way to ice hockey bronze
22 Feb 2014
Sochi 2014
Canada and Sweden edge semi-finals to set up battle of the champions in men’s ice hockey
21 Feb 2014
Sochi 2014
Canadian comeback queens stun USA to retain their Olympic ice hockey crown
20 Feb 2014
Sochi 2014
Nordic and North American neighbours set up semi-final dates in men’s ice hockey
19 Feb 2014
Sochi 2014
Finland shut out Russia, as Germans win best of five against Japan to decide lower order in women’s ice hockey tournament
18 Feb 2014
Sochi 2014
Men’s ice hockey: Rejuvenated Radulov fires Russia into last eight, as debutants Slovenia progress, Czechs outscore neighbours and Latvia roll over the Swiss
18 Feb 2014
Sochi 2014
Finland and Russia set up fifth place showdown in women’s ice hockey tournament
16 Feb 2014
Sochi 2014
North American neighbours book quarter final tickets, as Kovalchuk saves Russia in shootout win
16 Feb 2014
Sochi 2014
USA edge classic thriller against Russia, while Swedes and Swiss advance
15 Feb 2014
Sochi 2014
Sweden and Swiss women secure semi-final berths in women’s ice hockey
15 Feb 2014
Sochi 2014
Showdown between Russia and USA stirs memories of the "Miracle on Ice"
15 Feb 2014
Sochi 2014
Hat-trick hero Carter spearheads Canadian victory, while veterans Selanne and Jagr make their mark
14 Feb 2014
Sochi 2014
Women’s ice hockey: Russians see off feisty Swedes to top group, as both progress to quarterfinals
13 Feb 2014
Sochi 2014
Canada start Olympic ice hockey title defence with a win, Ovechkin shines for Russia, while USA hit magnificent seven past Slovaks
13 Feb 2014
Sochi 2014
Victories for Sweden and Switzerland as men’s ice hockey tournament gets underway
12 Feb 2014
Sochi 2014
Birthday girl Agosta seals win in North American hockey showdown
12 Feb 2014
Sochi 2014
Four-star Sweden cruise into last eight
11 Feb 2014
Sochi 2014
Ovechkin relishing biggest moment on home stage
11 Feb 2014
Sochi 2014
USA on a roll with Swiss shut-out
10 Feb 2014
Sochi 2014
Asserholt puts Swedes on their way
09 Feb 2014
Sochi 2014
Wins for North American favourites in ice hockey openers
08 Feb 2014
Sochi 2014
Roman Josi, the golden boy of Swiss ice hockey
02 Feb 2014
Sochi 2014
Alexander Ovechkin, ice man on a mission for Russia
30 Jan 2014
Sochi 2014
Get ready for ice hockey!
28 Jan 2014
Vancouver 2010
Ice Hockey: a 3-2 win that sparked huge celebrations on the ice, inside the stadium and around Canada
28 Feb 2010
Vancouver 2010
Canada Women’s Ice Hockey Team claims a precious gold
25 Feb 2010
Vancouver 2010
Ice hockey in Vancouver: back to the roots
10 Feb 2010
Olympic News
CineFestival: Junior - A season behind the scenes of Canadian junior hockey
27 Oct 2009
Sochi 2014
Illustrious Ambassadors for Sochi 2014
19 Jun 2009
Turin 2006
Super Swedes come close to ice hockey double
26 Feb 2006
Salt Lake City 2002
Iginla helps end half a century of pain for Canada
24 Feb 2002
Salt Lake City 2002
Wickenheiser stars as Canada’s women begin gold rush
21 Feb 2002
Nagano 1998
Czechs pull off heroic upset in the ice hockey
22 Feb 1998
Nagano 1998
US women strike maiden ice hockey gold
17 Feb 1998
Lillehammer 1994
Sweden win historic ice hockey gold
27 Feb 1994
Albertville 1992
Unified front yields gold on the ice
23 Feb 1992
Sarajevo 1984
Tretyak and USSR bury ghosts of 1980 in ice hockey triumph
19 Feb 1984
Lake Placid 1980
US ice hockey rookies conjure up a Miracle on Ice
02 Feb 1980
Innsbruck 1976
Soviet ice hockey maestros make it four in a row
11 Feb 1976
Grenoble 1968
Fire on ice from Firsov in the ice hockey
17 Feb 1968
Innsbruck 1964
Soviet stars see off Canada for ice hockey gold
09 Feb 1964
Squaw Valley 1960
USA strike first ever ice hockey gold
28 Feb 1960
Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956
USSR assume Canada’s ice hockey crown
04 Feb 1956
St. Moritz 1948
Inspirational Sláma helps Czechs to Ice Hockey silver
08 Feb 1948
Lake Placid 1932
Canadians retain invincible ice hockey aura
13 Feb 1932
St. Moritz 1928
Canada in a league of their own
19 Feb 1928
Chamonix 1924
Harry Watson and the Canadian ice hockey goal glut
03 Feb 1924
Chamonix 1924
Drury propels US hockey team to runners-up spot
03 Feb 1924

Ice hockey is a fast, fluid and exciting team sport. It draws big crowds at the Olympic Games thanks to the drama and tension of the matches.

A Canadian past

Ice hockey originated in Canada in the early 19th century, based on several similar sports played in Europe, although the word “hockey” comes from the old French word “hocquet”, meaning “stick”. Around 1860, a puck was substituted for a ball, and in 1879 two McGill University students, Robertson and Smith, devised the first rules.

Stanley Cup

The first recognised team, the McGill University Hockey Club, was formed in 1880 as hockey became the Canadian national sport and spread throughout the country. In 1892 the Governor General of Canada donated the Stanley Cup, which was first won by a team representing the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association.

International growth

The sport migrated south to the United States during the 1890s, and games are known to have taken place there between Johns Hopkins and Yale Universities in 1895. Ice hockey spread to Europe around the turn of the century, and the first Olympic Games to include ice hockey for men were the 1920 Antwerp Summer Games.

Olympic history

Six-a-side men’s ice hockey has been on the programme of every edition of the Winter Games since 1924 in Chamonix. Women’s ice hockey was accepted as an Olympic sport in 1992, and made its official debut in 1998 in Nagano.

Unsurprisingly, Canada dominated the first tournaments. However, in 1956, and until its dissolution, the Soviet Union took over and became the number one team. It was interrupted only by USA victories in 1960 in Squaw Valley and in 1980 in Lake Placid.