Princes Ice Hockey Club
Encyclopedia
Princes Ice Hockey Club was one of the most influential early European ice hockey
teams and is sometimes considered the first ice hockey club in Britain.
Founded in late 1896, the team was based at Princes Skating Club in Hammersmith
. They initially played three other teams founded around the same time, Niagara
, Brighton and Royal Engineers. London Canadians were founded at the same rink in 1902, and both teams participated in Europe's first ice hockey league, held from November 1903 to February 1904. Princes took second position in the five-team league.
The team began taking on European opposition in 1906, playing Sporting Club de Lyon. In 1907, they played Lyon again, and also Brussels Club des Patineurs. In 1908, they faced C. P. P. Paris in the first match in Britain under Ligue Internationale de Hockey sur Glace (international) rules. That winter, they entered the first international ice hockey tournament, held in Berlin
, as "England", beating Germany
and France
.http://www.oxfordstars.com/origins.html In January 1909, again playing as England, they won a further international tournament held in Chamonix
, beating France in the final after forty minutes of overtime.http://www.ihjuk.co.uk/its_a_fact.htm
Over the next few years, along with London Canadians' successors, Oxford Canadians, Princes began taking European tours to popularise the game and encourage the standardisation of rules. However, with the outbreak of World War I
, Princes Skating Club closed, and with it the ice hockey team.
In 1927, a new Princes team were founded, playing out of the Westminster rink. They moved to Queens in 1930 and entered the first season of the English League
the following year, but in 1932 merged into Queens Ice Hockey Club.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
teams and is sometimes considered the first ice hockey club in Britain.
Founded in late 1896, the team was based at Princes Skating Club in Hammersmith
Hammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
. They initially played three other teams founded around the same time, Niagara
Niagara Ice Hockey Club
The Niagara Ice Hockey Club was an early ice hockey team in the United Kingdom. They played at the Niagara Ice Rink close to St James's Park tube station in London. Contemporary accounts of the early history of British ice hockey refer to Niagara being the first English club champions in...
, Brighton and Royal Engineers. London Canadians were founded at the same rink in 1902, and both teams participated in Europe's first ice hockey league, held from November 1903 to February 1904. Princes took second position in the five-team league.
The team began taking on European opposition in 1906, playing Sporting Club de Lyon. In 1907, they played Lyon again, and also Brussels Club des Patineurs. In 1908, they faced C. P. P. Paris in the first match in Britain under Ligue Internationale de Hockey sur Glace (international) rules. That winter, they entered the first international ice hockey tournament, held in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, as "England", beating Germany
German national ice hockey team
The German men's national ice hockey team first participated in serious international competition at the 1911 European Hockey Championship. When Germany was split after World War II, a separate East German national ice hockey team existed until 1990...
and France
French national ice hockey team
The French men's national ice hockey team has participated in the IIHF European Championships, the IIHF World Hockey Championships and the Olympic Games. They are currently ranked 14th in the world in the IIHF 2009 world rankings. It is controlled by the Fédération Française de Hockey sur Glace...
.http://www.oxfordstars.com/origins.html In January 1909, again playing as England, they won a further international tournament held in Chamonix
Chamonix
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix is a commune in the Haute-Savoie département in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It was the site of the 1924 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Olympics...
, beating France in the final after forty minutes of overtime.http://www.ihjuk.co.uk/its_a_fact.htm
Over the next few years, along with London Canadians' successors, Oxford Canadians, Princes began taking European tours to popularise the game and encourage the standardisation of rules. However, with the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Princes Skating Club closed, and with it the ice hockey team.
In 1927, a new Princes team were founded, playing out of the Westminster rink. They moved to Queens in 1930 and entered the first season of the English League
English League (ice hockey)
The English League was an early ice hockey league in England. It was founded in 1931 and operated until 1936 when it disbanded, being replaced by the English National League.A new league of the same name was founded during 1988 and continued on until 1997....
the following year, but in 1932 merged into Queens Ice Hockey Club.