Canadian sports fans are in shock and Canada 150 celebrations have been thrown into a state of turmoil after a recent archeological discovery determined that hockey, a centrepiece of our cultural and national identity, wasn’t invented in Canada but rather brought here by Vikings from Denmark, who landed in northern Newfoundland more than a thousand years ago.
The discovery of primitive hockey equipment – sticks carved from local timber, animal-skin boots with a unique sole perfect for navigating icy surfaces and a clump of congealed animal fat (likely caribou) used a puck – by the Canadian Association of Archaeological Studies (CAAS) near the famed Viking settlement in L’Anse aux Meadows, NFLD, along with stone carvings that appear to list a version of hockey rules, brought researchers to the surprising conclusion.
“As an archaeologist, this discovery is a thrill but, as a Canadian, it’s pretty demoralizing,” said George Alexander, who spearheaded the CAAS dig, when briefing media early Friday. “The evidence suggests that, while the Vikings enjoyed exploring and pillaging, they also appreciated a solid wrist shot.”
Judith Van Huskersen, a Norse language expert at the Canadian School of International Languages and Translation (CSOILAT), explained that, “the Vikings called the game ‘Slaapenfatteen,’ which loosely translates to ‘slap the fat around, which explains the congealed animal fat that was slapped between designated posts at either end of an icy surface with these sticks.” She added that it appears the game strategy involved the entire offensive team rushing the opposing zone, crushing their opponentslike unarmed British villagers in a coastal English town before scoring an easy goal, virtually nullifying any attempt at a neutral zone trap. Remnants of a flaming pit near the dig site suggest a makeshift penalty box, giving new meaning to the words “penalty kill.”
Needless to say, the news put a damper on hockey-themed Canada 150 celebrations. Canadian NHL franchises suspended planned sesquicentennial celebrations, including the Vancouver Canucks, who’d previously hoped to win at least two games in a row this season to mark the milestone. Doug Richard, president of the fan-led Alliance for Preserving and Honouring Canada’s Hockey Roots and Traditions (AFPAHCHRAT), said the discovery, “is like being a fan of the Ottawa Senators and watching them make the playoffs. You’re on a high until you find out you’re playing the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round and then, just like that, it’s all over.”
It didn’t take long, however, fornational sorrow to turn to anti-Denmark anger late yesterday. A number of cafes and coffee shops refusing to sell Danish pastries while animal shelters report a drop in adoptions of Great Dane dogs. The right-wing group Coalition for Canadian People’s Identity called for a public burning of all Hans Christian Andersen and Søren Kierkegaard books while members of the even further right-wing group People’s Coalition for Canadian Identity mistakenly launched a coordinated attack on various Ikea stores before authorities explained the difference between Denmark and Sweden.
“Let the Canadians throw their tantrums. This is a great day for Danish hockey,” said Arne Jensen, president of the Denmark and Greater Scandinavian International Association of Ice Hockey Players, Personnel, Historians and Representatives (DAGSIAOIHPPHAR). “For too long Canadians have relegated us to being a nation of nursery rhymes and succulent pastries. Well, this is a Danish offeringthat Canadians won’t find as delicious and sweet to swallow.”
FAQs
Canadian sports fans are in shock and Canada 150 celebrations have been thrown into a state of turmoil after a recent archeological discovery determined that hockey, a centrepiece of our cultural and national identity, wasn't invented in Canada but rather brought here by Vikings from Denmark, who landed in northern ...
How was hockey brought to Canada? ›
It is therefore clear that games resembling ice hockey were played in Canada in the 19th century, likely brought to the country by settlers or military personnel from the British Isles.
Why did the Norse Vikings come to Canada? ›
Norse Voyages
They exploited pockets of land suitable for farming and hunted sea mammals. They imported other resources. Norse from Greenland also travelled westward in search of essential materials such as wood.
What is the history of hockey night in Canada? ›
Hockey Night in Canada is a branding that is used for presentations of the National Hockey League (NHL) by CBC Sports. It started in 1931 on the CNR Radio network. It debuted on television on October 11, 1952. It has different segments during intermissions and between games including Don Cherry's Coach's Corner.
Were Vikings indigenous? ›
They are generally considered indigenous to Norway, Sweden and Denmark, though mainland Denmark (Jutland) had been inhabited by another Germanic people called the Jutes who were closely related to the Angles and Saxons.
Where was hockey actually invented? ›
History. Ice hockey is believed to have evolved from simple stick and ball games played in the 18th and 19th centuries in Britain, Ireland, and elsewhere, primarily bandy, hurling, and shinty.
How did hockey end up in Canada? ›
Origins. Until the mid-1980s it was generally accepted that ice hockey derived from English field hockey and Indigenous lacrosse and had been spread throughout Canada by British soldiers in the mid-1800s.
Who came to Canada first, Vikings or Natives? ›
Exploration. The first known Europeans to set foot in Newfoundland and Labrador, and indeed the Western world, were the Norse of Scandinavia who landed here about a thousand years ago. Erik the Red, an explorer exiled from his home in Norway, had gathered groups of people to follow him on an exploration for new land.
What did the Vikings call Canada? ›
Unique Facts about Canada: The Viking Settlements. Vinland (pronounced "Winland") was the name given to part of North America by the Icelandic Norseman Leif Eiríksson, about year 1000.
Was Canada founded by Vikings? ›
Around A.D. 1000, the medieval Norse (Vikings) established the first European settlement, on the northern coast of Newfoundland, but they only stayed for a brief period.
The Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission (CRBC) broadcast Montreal Canadiens and Maroons games on its Quebec stations in 1933. Imperial Oil took over sponsorship from General Motors the following year, and the broadcast became known as the Imperial Esso Hockey Broadcast.
Why is Hockey Night in Canada wearing purple? ›
During the month, some players wear equipment specially painted purple to raise awareness for the initiative. In addition, each of the league's 32 teams designates at least one of their home games as "Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night/Day" to raise money.
Who calls Hockey Night in Canada? ›
That's not how Harnarayan Singh calls goals. He's the host and play-by-play commentator for Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi, and he often sounds more like Mexican soccer announcers, chanting the names of the players over and over and melodically drawing out the syllables.
What race has Viking DNA? ›
Vikings originally hail from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. However, they did travel extensively and conquered the British Isles, including Ireland and Scotland. It led to cultural exchange and intermingling with the local population. As a result, Viking DNA can be found in many modern-day Scottish and Irish people.
What race was the Vikings? ›
“It's pretty clear from the genetic analysis that Vikings are not a hom*ogenous group of people,” says Willerslev. “A lot of the Vikings are mixed individuals” with ancestry from both Southern Europe and Scandinavia, for example, or even a mix of Sami (Indigenous Scandinavian) and European ancestry.
How did ice hockey become a sport in Canada? ›
In 1879 the first organized team, the McGill University Hockey Club, was formed, and with the advent of a basic set of rules, the sport quickly spread across Canada. The first "world championship" was held in 1883 at the Montreal Ice Carnival and was won by McGill.
Was hockey created by a Canadian? ›
Its true origins are murky. But Canada, beginning in the 19th century, gets credit for modernizing—and popularizing—the game we know today. The origins of ice hockey may date to stick-and-ball games played during the Middle Ages or even ancient Greece and Egypt.
Who invented hockey origins Canada? ›
The development of the modern version of organized ice hockey played as a team sport is often credited to James Creighton. In 1872, he moved from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Montreal, bringing skates, hockey sticks, and a game with a basic set of rules with him.
Was the NHL originally Canadian? ›
At its inception, the NHL had four teams, all in Canada, thus the adjective "National" in the league's name. The league expanded to the United States in 1924, when the Boston Bruins joined, and has since consisted of both American and Canadian teams.
