Society for International Hockey Research
Encyclopedia
The Society for International Hockey Research (SIHR) is a network of writers, statisticians, collectors, broadcasters, academics and ice hockey buffs. The Society, based in Toronto
, Canada
, has an international membership. The Society cultivates and encourages the study of ice hockey. The Society has been prominent in determining the origins of ice hockey.
, a retired journalist with the Kingston Whig-Standard
, SIHR’s general objectives were: "To encourage and cultivate the study of ice hockey as an important athletic and social institution in Canada and other countries in which it was played." A six-page, 25-article Constitution, written by secretary Ed Grenda, was adopted at Montreal on May 22, 1993.
Among the charter members, also known as the "Kingston 17," were representatives from three provinces (New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario) and two states (Illinois and New York). In its fledgling year, the society membership grew to 29 and in its second year the roster of 52 could be typed on one page. SIHR's membership list today stands at more than 400, with members in all ten Canadian provinces and 28 U.S. states, plus Austria, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, Scotland, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and Wales. SIHR counts among its members the current Prime Minister of Canada
, Stephen Harper
.
At its 2001 annual meeting, SIHR struck a committee to examine the claim of Windsor, Nova Scotia, to be the birthplace of ice hockey. The committee's report, released in May 2002, that the Windsor proponents had not offered credible evidence that the town was the birthplace of hockey. The report expressed no opinion on when or where hockey originated.
The SIHR committee determined that the March 3, 1875 game
at the Victoria Skating Rink
in Montreal
was the earliest documented ice hockey game. "It is the earliest eyewitness account known, at least to this SIHR committee, of a specific game of hockey in a specific place at a specific time, and with a recorded score, between two identified teams."
In 2003, SIHR started developing its statistical database, available to members on its web site. Starting with the paper records of SIHR members Ernie Fitzsimmons, John Patton and Pat Conway, combined with the input of a 10,000 player database developed by Dave Weigum, SIHR's database has grown to include over 100,000 players, coaches and officials. The database includes statistics dating back to the 1886-87 season for various professional, semi-professional and amateur male and female leagues. The database includes notes and in some cases photos.
In 2008-09, the Society launched a campaign to raise funds to erect a monument to hockey pioneer James George Aylwin Creighton, whose grave in Ottawa's Beechwood Cemetery
remained unmarked. On October 24, 2009, a grave marker was unveiled, as was a biographical plaque near the gravesite.
The organization holds two formal meetings a year. The Society holds the AGM each spring in various locations around North America. The AGM deals with Society business and features research presentations by members and guest speakers. The Society also holds an annual fall meeting. The 2010 fall meeting took place on October 30th at the Hockey Hall of Fame
Resource Centre in Toronto while the 2011 installment will see the group travel to Saguenay
(Chicoutimi), Quebec. The May 2011 AGM marked the organization's twentieth anniversary and was held in Kingston, Ontario
, at the Royal Military College of Canada
.
Award, named for its first honorary president in appreciation of his support for SIHR and his ongoing contribution to the preservation of hockey history. The award recognizes outstanding research and writing by SIHR members. It is presented at the annual general membership meeting each spring.
Source: SIHR
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, has an international membership. The Society cultivates and encourages the study of ice hockey. The Society has been prominent in determining the origins of ice hockey.
History
The Society was formed in 1991. A group of 17 members attending the Canadian Association of Sports Heritage meeting at Kingston, Ontario, met in a special session with the aim of founding an organization dedicated to promoting, developing and encouraging the study of hockey, to establish an accurate historical account of the game, and to assist in the dissemination of the findings and studies derived from member research. Under the leadership of founding president Bill FitsellBill Fitsell
J.W. Fitsell serves on the Board of Directors of the International Hockey Hall of Fame in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.Fitsell was the founding president of the Society for International Hockey Research...
, a retired journalist with the Kingston Whig-Standard
Kingston Whig-Standard
The Kingston Whig-Standard is a newspaper in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. It is published daily, except on Sunday. It publishes a mix of community, national and international news and is owned by Sun Media...
, SIHR’s general objectives were: "To encourage and cultivate the study of ice hockey as an important athletic and social institution in Canada and other countries in which it was played." A six-page, 25-article Constitution, written by secretary Ed Grenda, was adopted at Montreal on May 22, 1993.
Among the charter members, also known as the "Kingston 17," were representatives from three provinces (New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario) and two states (Illinois and New York). In its fledgling year, the society membership grew to 29 and in its second year the roster of 52 could be typed on one page. SIHR's membership list today stands at more than 400, with members in all ten Canadian provinces and 28 U.S. states, plus Austria, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, Scotland, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and Wales. SIHR counts among its members the current Prime Minister of Canada
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
, Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
.
At its 2001 annual meeting, SIHR struck a committee to examine the claim of Windsor, Nova Scotia, to be the birthplace of ice hockey. The committee's report, released in May 2002, that the Windsor proponents had not offered credible evidence that the town was the birthplace of hockey. The report expressed no opinion on when or where hockey originated.
The SIHR committee determined that the March 3, 1875 game
First indoor ice hockey game
On March 3, 1875, the first recorded indoor ice hockey game took place at the Victoria Skating Rink in Montreal, Canada. Organized by James Creighton, who also captained one of the teams, the game was between two nine-member teams, using a wooden 'puck'...
at the Victoria Skating Rink
Victoria Skating Rink
The Victoria Skating Rink was an indoor skating rink located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, which opened in 1862. The building was used during winter seasons for pleasure skating, ice hockey and skating sports on a natural ice rink. In summer months, the building was used for various other events,...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
was the earliest documented ice hockey game. "It is the earliest eyewitness account known, at least to this SIHR committee, of a specific game of hockey in a specific place at a specific time, and with a recorded score, between two identified teams."
In 2003, SIHR started developing its statistical database, available to members on its web site. Starting with the paper records of SIHR members Ernie Fitzsimmons, John Patton and Pat Conway, combined with the input of a 10,000 player database developed by Dave Weigum, SIHR's database has grown to include over 100,000 players, coaches and officials. The database includes statistics dating back to the 1886-87 season for various professional, semi-professional and amateur male and female leagues. The database includes notes and in some cases photos.
In 2008-09, the Society launched a campaign to raise funds to erect a monument to hockey pioneer James George Aylwin Creighton, whose grave in Ottawa's Beechwood Cemetery
Beechwood Cemetery
Beechwood Cemetery is the National Cemetery of Canada. Because it is located in Ottawa, Ontario, the nation's capital, it is the burial site for a number of statesmen as well as a large number of mayors of the city. A woodland cemetery founded in 1873, it is 160 acres and is the largest cemetery...
remained unmarked. On October 24, 2009, a grave marker was unveiled, as was a biographical plaque near the gravesite.
Society activities
The Society is managed by a board of directors. The board is elected by SIHR members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Terms for the positions of President and Vice-President are valid for two years, while all other positions are voted on annually. The current officers of the Executive Board include President James Milks, Executive Vice-President Jean-Patrice Martel, Secretary Lloyd Davis and Treasurer Paul Bruno.The organization holds two formal meetings a year. The Society holds the AGM each spring in various locations around North America. The AGM deals with Society business and features research presentations by members and guest speakers. The Society also holds an annual fall meeting. The 2010 fall meeting took place on October 30th at the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
Resource Centre in Toronto while the 2011 installment will see the group travel to Saguenay
Saguenay
-Places:*Saguenay, Quebec, a city in Canada*Saguenay River*Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, the region of the Saguenay*Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality, Quebec , Regional County Municipality in Quebec, Canada...
(Chicoutimi), Quebec. The May 2011 AGM marked the organization's twentieth anniversary and was held in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
, at the Royal Military College of Canada
Royal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
.
Brian McFarlane Award
In 1995 the society created the Brian McFarlaneBrian McFarlane
Brian McFarlane is a Canadian television sportscaster and author. He is also the Honorary President of the Society for International Hockey Research. He is the son of the prolific writer Leslie McFarlane who wrote many of the early Hardy Boys books.-Early life and career:Brian McFarlane attended St...
Award, named for its first honorary president in appreciation of his support for SIHR and his ongoing contribution to the preservation of hockey history. The award recognizes outstanding research and writing by SIHR members. It is presented at the annual general membership meeting each spring.
Recipients
| Year | Recipient |
|---|---|
| 1995 | Glen Goodhand |
| 1996 | Michel Vigneault |
| 1997 | Ernie Fitzsimmons |
| 1998 | Roger Godin |
| 1999 | Lenard Kotylo |
| 2000 | Paul Kitchen |
| 2001 | Don Reddick |
| 2002 | Bill Martin |
| 2003 | John Paton |
| 2004 | Joseph Nieforth |
| 2005 | Eric Zweig |
| 2006 | J.W. (Bill) Fitsell |
| 2007 | Martin Harris |
| 2008 | Paul Patskou |
| 2009 | Paul Kitchen |
| 2010 | Patrick Houda and Carl Gidén |
| 2011 | Jim Mancuso |
Source: SIHR
External links
- Society for International Hockey Research official website
- Backcheck: A Hockey Retrospective at Library and Archives Canada