The origins of hockey can be traced back to the ancient pyramids, but when the puck is dropped on a strange new game one winter's night in 1875, a young country has a new passion that explodes across class and gender. At first it's played by the wealthy. It's in these circles that hockey finds its first great patron - Lord Stanley of Preston, who gives the sport its Holy Grail. The game eventually breaks out across the country, played by women, plumber's helpers, university students and countless other groups. As the game struggles to deal with its growing reputation for violence, it faces its greatest challenge: the onset of professionalism.
The origins of hockey can be traced back to the ancient pyramids, but when the puck is dropped on a strange new game one winter's night in 1875, a young country has a new passion that explodes across class and gender. At first it's played by the wealthy. It's in these circles that hockey finds its first great patron - Lord Stanley of Preston, who gives the sport its Holy Grail. The game eventually breaks out across the country, played by women, plumber's helpers, university students and countless other groups. As the game struggles to deal with its growing reputation for violence, it faces its greatest challenge: the onset of professionalism.
As the new century begins, millionaires and mercenaries team up to create professional hockey. Farm boys and factory hands like Cyclone Taylor get rich playing for pay, and the schemes of Senator M. J. O'Brien create the legendary Montreal Canadiens and lead to the creation of the NHL. Frank and Lester Patrick bring hockey across Canada and for 13 years it's truly the Canadian game. In 1915, Frank and the Vancouver Millionaires demolish the Ottawa Senators and the Stanley Cup comes to the west for the first time. But their greatest legacy is the creation of the modern game of hockey. The blue line, froward passing, line substitutions, post schedule play offs, points for assists - the Patricks are responsible for the game as we know it today.