From Stadacona to the REM · Drawing 15 of 36
Hockey at the Indoor Rink
1875
On March 3, 1875, an organized hockey game was played indoors at Victoria Rink, in Montréal. Each team had nine players. It was a big step toward the hockey we know today.
Look together
How many players can you see on the ice?
An idea to try
With a crumpled paper ball and two wooden spoons, play a little floor hockey. Invent one single rule and stick to it.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
The March 3, 1875 game at Victoria Rink is recognized as the first organized indoor ice hockey match. Two teams of nine took part. This milestone concerns the development of modern hockey, not the invention of all earlier stick, ball or ice games.
The drawing shows only some of the players. Compare their simplified equipment with today’s gear; it is not a safety example to copy.
Sources and illustration notes (1)
Imaginary players with no logo or real team sweater; rink as an evocation.
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. References identify the institution and the related lesson; some linked pages are in French.
- Répertoire du patrimoine culturel du Québec — Première partie officielle de hockey sur glace (in French)Game of March 3, 1875, at Montréal’s Victoria Rink; Creighton’s and Torrance’s teams; nine players; a wooden puck; final score 2 to 1.
Page prepared on September 19, 2026. Illustrations simplify places and scenes; they are not historical documents.
This drawing is from the book Québec’s Great Moments to Colour
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