This will provide an overview of my latest book which I am making freely available to the public.
This project began when I decided to nominate the Mi’kmaq First Nation to the Hockey Hall of Fame. While writing that essay, I decided to eventually complete a history of early Ice Hockey based on our four main contributors.
First Essay TOC
INTRODUCTION
Contextualizing the Nomination: Mi’kmaq First Nation’s Contribution to Ice Hockey
Proposal: Inclusion into the Builders Category or Creation of a Permanent Exhibit in HHOF
THE MI’KMAQ AS CRAFTSMEN
Historical Evidence: Mi’kmaq Contribution to Hockey Stick Development
Indigenous-Colonial Relations: Early Circulation of Mi’kmaq Sticks from Halifax-Dartmouth
Jeff Ward’s Narrative: The Original ‘Oochamkunutk’ Mi’kmaw Story
Halifax-Montreal Connection: Birth of Ice Hockey and Mi’kmaq Stick Influence
Commercial Market Impact: Mi’kmaq Sticks in the Hockey Community
THE MI’KMAQ AS INVENTORS OF THE ‘PROTOTYPICAL’ ICE HOCKEY STICK
Indigenous Creation Stories: Insights into Mi’kmaq Influence on Hockey Stick Evolution
Legal and Historical Context: Delgamuukw v. British Columbia and Indigenous Claims
Revisiting Raddall’s Claim: Exploring the Significance of ‘Necessary’ Sticks
Defining ‘Necessary’ Features: Evolution of the Prototypical Hockey Stick
Evolutionary Comparisons: Mi’kmaq Sticks vs. British Grass-Adapted Sticks
Two-Way Migration Theory: Rethinking Traditional Migration Theories
RECENT DISCOVERIES AND IMPLICATIONS
Media Accounts: Scientifically-Dated ‘Moffatt’ Stick and its Significance
Pre-Montreal Evidence: Early Instances of Prototypical Stick-Ends
Legal Questions: Patentability of the Hockey Stick’s ‘Flat Thin Blade’
Contextualizing Discoveries: Impact on Understanding Hockey Stick Evolution
CONCLUSION
Recognizing Mi’kmaq Contributions: Beyond Craftsmanship to Inventorship
Implications for HHOF Nomination: Importance of Inclusion or Exhibition
2nd essay TOC
This was essay on Halifax ice hockey was posted in two parts during my presentations prior to concluding my book.
Introduction
Introducing “Halifax” as a Key Player in Ice Hockey’s Origin Story
Setting the Context: Indigenous-Colonial Partnership of Halifax-Dartmouth-Kjipuktuk
Challenging Early Ice Hockey Narratives
Marginalization of Halifax in Popular Discourse
Debunking Myths: Victoria Skating Rink (1875) and Pre-Montreal Stereotypes
Halifax’s Lineal Distinction
Securing Halifax’s Place in Ice Hockey History through the Montreal Transfer
Examining Halifax’s Evolved Game and its Influence on Montreal’s Development
Ice Hockey’s Mid-20th Century Civic Debate
Evaluating Halifax, Kingston, and Montreal as Potential Birthplaces
Debate recedes after Hall of Fame moves to Toronto
The Rule of 1872 and Windsor’s Claim
Revisiting Generalizations About Montreal Hockey with Halifax’s Earlier Legacy as a rule
Investigating Windsor’s Alleged Transfer and its unsettling “Forty-Year” Problem
Halifax’s Legislated Distinction
Analyzing the AHAC Rules, Weston-Creighton, and Halifax-Montreal Connection
Tracing modern Ice Hockey e.g. NHL Rules beyond the AHAC to Halifax ca. 1863
The VSR First “Organized” Game Myth
Unpacking Stereotypes to Illuminate the Pre-Montreal Halifax Ice Hockey
Critiquing the VSR “New” Game Myth and Its Implications
Weston and Creighton’s and Joe Cope’s 1860s Halifax Ice Hockey
Unearthing Historical Descriptions and Their Significance
Halifax’s Technological Distinction
Halifax’s Technological Contributions to Montreal’s Ice Hockey Revolution
Why Dartmouth’s Acme Skate and Kjipuktuk Mi’kmaw’s Stick are NOT the same as other pre-Montreal “hockey” gear.]
Ice Hockey’s Revolutionary Elements
Exploring Halifax’s Impact on Skating, Sticks, and Player Form
The Rise of Radix Stellaris Hockey and its Influence on Montreal’s Development
Summary: Halifax’s Three Great Distinctions
Reflecting on Halifax’s Enduring Legacy in Modern Ice Hockey
Reiterating the Importance of Halifax’s Contributions in Ice Hockey Historiography
How the birth of Montreal represented the transfer of “dominant” hockey.
Third essay TOC includes Fourth Star topics and closing thoughts
INTRODUCTION
Montreal, as Early Ice Hockey’s Third Star (based on order of appearance)
Four-Star model of early Ice History explained
PART I: CATCHING UP
Review of early Ice Hockey’s first two Stars
Vital Importance of Birth of Montreal Hockey – 3 factors
Proves of Halifax to Montreal transfer
Confines earlier History to “Halifax-Dartmouth-Kjipuktuk”
Falsifies popular myths, directly and indirectly
INTERMISSION
The Unsolvable ‘VSR Rink Dimensions’ Mystery
The Solvable ‘VSR or HSR?’ Indoor Ice Hockey Mystery
A “Second” Birth of Ice Hockey
PART II: MORE NOVEL CONCLUSIONS
Hockey World recognizes Two Kinds of Ice Hockey
Historical Implications
PART III: THE 19th CENTURY RISE OF MONTREAL HOCKEY
1872-73 to 1899 key points in Montreal ice Hockey Evolution
Arthur Farrell and the 19th century origins of the Montreal Bias
The Halifax Takeover explained
The Montreal Takeover explained
Evidence of “Halifax-Montreal” Ice Hockey’s rise in Montreal by 1883
PART IV: BIRTHS OF ICE HOCKEY ACROSS CANADA
Birth of Toronto Hockey & how Mi’kmaq Sticks “completed” Ice Hockey
Early Ice Hockey in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta
Early Commercialization
Professionalism and the Stanley Cup
19th Century dominant Ice Hockey: Montreal’s Radix Stellaris Hittem Hockey
Closing thoughts on the Mi’kmaq and possibly reviving the Halifax Hockey Club one day
The Four Stars of Early Ice Hockey 