Featured on the Discovery Channel’s show Daily Planet in 2017. A very old hockey stick radio carbon dated to 1776 (+/- 20 yrs) was proven to be accurate. Through forensic archeology, it was proven that steam bending was evident in the making of the stick. Steam bending can only occur within a year of the tree being felled. This eliminates that the stick could have been made out of reclaimed wood / old barn boards. What does this mean? This predates other old hockey sticks. This also predates what people have been told for years, the game of ice hockey was invented in Nova Scotia in the late 1800s.

While looking closer at the stick, evidence of the British Military started to appear. Writing on the stick, and threads stuck in the varnish corresponded to the 35th Regiment of Foot. Wood working techniques that are evident would have been made by a shipwright. The machine markings, only the British Navy would have access to. With this physical stick and knowledge of the British Military, is there any historical evidence to compliment this?

Yes, in fact lots of evidence in recent years has been discovered. In 2014 the book On The Origin of Hockey was published. Their research found lots of very early writings and references of “Hockey on Ice” being played as for back as the 1700s. They concluded that the game most likely started in schools in the London, England, then played by soldiers at garrisons, soldiers then brought the game to North America. Sport was a part of garrison life for British Soldiers. Games such as football, cricket, and hockey were played to keep the soldiers active during down time. Sir John Franklin and Sir Arthur Freeling were two British Soldiers who wrote early accounts of “Hockey on Ice”.

With historical documentation, and the stick now being physical evidence. Its now apparent that the game of ice hockey can date back to the 1700s. British Soldiers were playing the game.

The work of Linda Howie, Johnna Allen, Andrew Nelson, and all those who helped on the project to prove the C-14 dating of the stick was correct changed the history of hockey. One of Canada’s National Sports.