Arthur Henry Freeling was a career officer with the Royal Engineers who, while posted to Kingston, Upper Canada, recorded this entry in his diary for January 1843. It is the earliest known reference linking skating to "hockey".

Page from the diary of Arthur Henry Freeling, dated January, 1843, with mention of playing hockey on the ice

Governor General Lord Stanley of Preston, a hockey fan, donated this cup, named in his honour, to be awarded to the "champion hockey team in the Dominion of Canada".

The Stanley Cup, 1893

Back in 1893, the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association (MAAA) won the very first Stanley Cup championship.

The first Stanley Cup champions, 1893

Goalkeeper G. H. "Whitey" Merritt (front left) and the 1894-95 Winnipeg Victoria hockey team. Notice that "Whitey's" goal stick is built up on one side only, the standard design of the day.

The Winnipeg Victorias hockey team, champions, 1894-1895

This team challenged the Montreal Shamrocks for the Stanley Cup in February 1900, losing by a narrow margin.

Winnipeg Victorias, 1900: J.E. Campbell, W.N. Roxborough, C.W. Johnstone, A.B. Gingras, G.H. Merritt, D.H. Bain, A. Flett, M. Hooper, J.C.G. Armytage, W.E. Robinson

Gustave Lanctot, a member of the Oxford Canadian ice hockey team, later served the Government of Canada as Dominion Archivist.

Oxford Canadian ice hockey team, champions of England, 1909-1910. Standing (L to R): J.G. Higgins, J.M. Mitchell, C.A. Adamson. Sitting (L to R): G. Lanctôt, E.A. Munro (captain), H.R.L. Henry

Cambridge and Oxford universities continued their traditional rivalry in this match at Murren, Switzerland in the winter of 1924-25.

Shinny players in action on an outdoor rink with spectators looking on

Ottawa Hockey Club, Stanley Cup champions, 1905. Standing (L to R): Harry "Rat" Westwick, M. McGilton, Hamilton "Billy " Gilmour, Frank McGee. Sitting (L to R): Dave Finnie, Harvey Pulford, Alf Smith, Arthur Moore.

Members of the Ottawa Hockey Club "Silver Seven" hockey team, the 1905 Stanley Cup winners

Maybe it was a change in the town's name that did the trick. The Thistles of Kenora finally won the Stanley Cup in 1907, after unsuccessful challenges in 1903 and 1905. Back then, the Lake of the Woods, Ontario community was known as Rat Portage.

The Thistle hockey team of Kenora, Ontario, 1905-1906