The history of ice hockey is one of the most contested among all sports. Traditionally, the birthplace of ice hockey is considered a Montreal(Canada) (although more recent studies indicate the superiority of Kingston,Ontario, Nova Scotia). However, on some Dutch paintings of the XVI century shows a lot of the people playing on a frozen canal in similar to a hockey game. But, despite this, the birthplace of modern ice hockey is considered still Canada. March 3, 1875 in Montreal at the rink «Victoria» was held the first hockey match was recorded in Montreal newspaper «Montreal Gazette». In 1890, in the province of Ontario passed the championship for four teams. The first professional hockey team was founded in Canada in 1904.

In 1900 at the gate appeared net. Thanks to this novelty stopped the debate about the goal or not. Metal whistle, from the cold to his lips, replaced the bell. The first professional hockey team was founded in Canada in In the same year the hockey players have switched to a new system of play - «six». Was mounted in a standard size of the site, which has changed little since. After four season was a complete separation of professionals and Amateurs. For the latter established the Allan Cup, which is played since Its holders subsequently represented Canada at the world Championships. In the beginning of XX century by the canadian hockey interested in Europeans. In 1910, a national hockey Association, and the famous national hockey League (NHL) appeared only in 1917.

The most famous team in hockey - team of the USSR, which has 22 of title (including titles of Olympic Champions 1956, 1964, and 1968), conquered from 1954 to 1990, and one title of Russia in 1993 USSR Team have won 5 titles of Champions of the Olympic games in 1972, 1976, 1984, 1988 and 1992 (team CIS consisted entirely of Russian players), which gave the Olympic record of 8 titles. The largest number of won gold medals equal to 3. So many medals of the Soviet hockey players Vitaly Davydov, Anatoly Firsova, Viktor Kuzkin and Alexander Ragulina (1964, 1968, 1972), Vladislav Tretyak (1972, 1976, 1984) and Andrei Khomutov (1984, 1988, 1992), Most «expensive» hockey player, according to press reports, Sergey Fedorov (Russia) from the «Detroit red wings» earned a record $ 20 million. season 1997/98гг., thanks to which he became the highest-paid hockey player for all history of the game. His basic wage was 2 million dollars. the rest he earned in the form of bonuses. Fedorov played a key role in winning team «red wings Stanley Cup in the previous season. Dick Beddos- Toronto journalist of the newspaper «the globe and Mail» - before the beginning of the series stated that eat your article, if the Russians win at least one game. After the defeat of Canadians in the first match he bit his newspaper article, dipping it in a plate of borsch, on the steps of the Soviet Consulate in Toronto.

The first ice hockey tournament in the framework of the Olympic games hosted oddly enough at the summer Olympic games Since 1924 hockey moved to the winter Olympics.

. The world championship on ice hockey is an annual competition, organized by the International Federation of hockey since 1920 Originally the tournament was held only in the framework of the Olympic games (in 1920 in the framework of the summer Games in 1924 and in the framework of the winter Games). Since 1930, the competition became annual, except years of the Second world war and 1980, 1984, 1988 due to winter Olympic games. Since 1924 till 1968, in days of carrying out of winter Olympic games, the Olympic ice hockey tournament was regarded as the world championship. The current world champion is Sweden.

This super series USSR - Canada a series of 8 hockey match between the national teams of the Soviet Union and Canada; the first of the so-called. Before the season of 's for the first time in the history of hockey has organized a series of matches between the best professionals of Canada and the national team of the Soviet Union. The first four games were held in Canada, the rest - in Moscow.В amount after 8 matches the Soviet team has thrown 32 washers, canadian In the national team of Canada best was Phil Esposito.. In the Soviet team the best scorers became Alexander Yakushev - 11 (7 heads + 4 assists), Mr Shadrin - 8 (3+5) and Valery Kharlamov - 8 (3+5).

Phil Anthony Esposito ;February 20, 1942, professional canadian hockey player, Central striker, a participant in the series of the USSR - Canada(1972), member of the hockey Hall of fame (1984). In the National hockey League played since 1963 and spent 18 seasons playing for the team «Chicago Blackhawks», «the Boston Bruins and the new York Rangers. Professional career began in 1963 in the team, «Chicago Blackhawks», where he led the younger brother Tony, who played there the goalkeeper position. The winner of the Stanley Cup: , Победитель the Canada Cup in Member of the hockey Hall of fame in Toronto since Hall of fame member of the canadian sport 1989

Born on January 3, 1939, Ontario, Canada) is one of the most famous canadian hockey players. His career in the NHL threw 610 washers. In the structure of the Chicago Blackhawks in 1961 became the owner of the Stanley Cup. In 1976, team Canada won the Cup of Canada. Due to performances in the WHA, hull could not participate in the super- Series-72 between the USSR and Canada. Only in 1974 hull team Canada was able to take part in the games against the team of the USSR. Differed the most powerful shots in the NHL, the highest speed skating, and blond hair that earned it the nickname «the Golden rocket» (Golden Jet). Aircraft speed record washers after hitting installed hull, not broken until now and is 190,4 km/h (118,3 mph). Most goalkeepers preferred in the games against hull wear masks. Wrote a book «My game of hockey».

Valery Borisovich Kharlamov (January 14, 1948, Moscow - 27 August 1981, near Solnechnogorsk,the Moscow region is an outstanding Soviet hockey player, forward of CSKA team ( ) and USSR ( ), honored master of sports of the USSR (1969). 2-time Olympic champion (1972, 1976) and 8-fold champion of the world. Best hockey player of USSR (1972, 1973). One of the leading Soviet ice hockey players of the 1970s, received recognition at home and abroad. Among sports childhood Hobbies Valery Kharlamov were hockey and football. For the first time he went skating when he was 7 years old. Father has played on the ice rink in Russian hockey for the factory team and took his son, and that he was freezing in cold locker room, put him on skates. Valery Kharlamov made to achieve its goal of a huge effort, and thanks to his perseverance always sought успехов. Its game he impressed the spectators of all countries мира. Among their players dreamed of seeing his strongest clubs of the USA and Canada. But he remained faithful to his club ЦСКА.Валерий Kharlamov died in a car crash on 27 August 1981.

Vyacheslav Fetisov (April 20, 1958, Moscow, USSR) is a Soviet and Russian hockey player, statesman, honored master of sports of the USSR (1978), Honored coach of Russia (2002), acted as a defender. he began playing hockey team in the yard of the house number 4 on the highway. In the structure of domestic commands housing Department № 19 on highway make it to the final city tournament «Golden puck». In the 80's. XX century played in the legendary five Larionova USSR national team and club CSKA Moscow together with Sergey Makarov, Igor Larionov, Vladimir Крутовым and Alexei Kasatonov a defender. In the Championships of the USSR and Russia matches, 153 goals. In the «new Jersey devils», in in «Detroit Red wings». In the NHL Championships matches In tournaments Stanley Cup 116 matches.

Vladislav A. Tretyak (April 25, 1952, C. Орудьево, Dmitrov district, Moscow region,RSFSR, USSR) - an outstanding Soviet hockey player, the goalkeeper coach, state and political figure. Deputy of the State Duma of the VI convocation of the «United Russia», member of state Duma Committee on physical culture, sport and youth Affairs. Since President of Federation of hockey of Russia. Colonel of the reserve of the armed forces. In the period from 1969 to 1984 defended the goal CSKA and national team of the Soviet Union. Matches of the championship of the USSR played 482 of the match for the world Championships and Olympic Games 117 games. In tournaments the Canada Cup - 11 matches. Is the best hockey goalkeeper of the XX century. The opening of the Olympics in Sochi to lit the Olympic flame.