Ice Hockey

Ice hockey is Canada's game. The modern version was crafted in Montréal, and it spread across the country on frozen ponds and lakes. Most of the game's greatest players are Canadians, but even in the early days of the sports, the American influence was felt. Hobey Baker was the first great American player. He was captain of the Princeton hockey team and led his amateur team to a national championship. Baker never played the pro game, however, choosing to serve his country in World War I instead. NHL players compete for the Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America. Today, 23 of the NHL's 30 teams are U.S. based, and American stars like Zach Parise and international stars like Henrik Lundqvist share the spotlight with stars from Canada like Sidney Crosby.