Community Hockey - Backcheck: a Hockey Retrospective

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From small-town rinks to big-city neighbourhoods, that's where you'll find the heart and soul of the game. Kids' teams, junior teams, company teams, town teams, even prisoners' teams -- these group photos and action scenes from days gone by say something about being a hockey player.Check the rakish confidence of the 1895 Orillia Seven and the solemn dignity of the 1920 Asahi Athletic Club squad. Study the group pictures. Who do you imagine to be the best player on each team?

Photograph of a shinny game on Lake Couchiching, circa 1904

Shinny on Lake Couchiching, circa 1904
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In the good old days of shinny, rinks were as large as Mother Nature permitted. This battle was waged on Lake Couchiching, Ontario, sometime around the turn of the 20th century.

Photograph of people playing hockey in High Park, Toronto, 1914

Hockey in High Park, Toronto, 1914
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Photograph of the champion hockeymade up of Canadians interned in Switzerland, 1917

Champion hockey team of Canadians interned in Switzerland, 1917
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Photograph of an outdoor hockey game in Dawson, Yukon, circa 1900

Hockey game on an outdoor rink surrounded by spectators, Dawson, Yukon, circa 1900
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Matches such as this one, at Dawson, Yukon Territory, circa 1900, were likely the inspiration for mining entrepreneur Joe Boyle to assemble a hockey team that challenged for the Stanley Cup in 1905.

Team photograph of the Ottawa Rebels hockey team, Ottawa, Ontario, 1894

Ottawa Rebels hockey team, Ottawa, Ontario, March 1894
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The Rebels were a loosely organized team that came about casually in 1890 when three sons of Lord Stanley of Preston got together with aides to the Governor General and parliamentary officials.

Photograph of female hockey players on an outdoor rink. Two women are in the face-off position

Ottawa Ladies' College hockey group, Ottawa, Ontario, March 1906
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Team photograph, Vernon Hockey Club, 1915

Vernon Hockey Club, of Vernon, Ontario, March 1915
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Photograph of the Renfrew Hockey Team, 1907

Renfrew Hockey Team, champions of the Ottawa Valley Hockey League (OVHL), 1907
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The Renfrew team defeated Vankleek Hill in 1907 to win the Ottawa Valley Hockey League championship and the Citizen Shield. Goalkeeper Bert Lindsay was the father of future Red Wings star Ted Lindsay.

Photograph of boys choosing sides for hockey on Sarnia Bay, [Ont.], December 29, 1908

Boys choosing sides for hockey on Sarnia Bay, [Ont.], December 29, 1908
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Team photograph, Canadian National Railways hockey team, 1929

The 1929 Canadian National Railways (CNR) hockey team of Stratford, Ontario
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Created: 2003-01-28 Updated: 2005-07-26	Top of page	Important Notices