Canadiens1958
Registered User
There seems to be a view that the development of hockey is directly linked to population size and growth. That if a population of x prodeces y quality hockey players then a population of Ax should produce Ay hockey players. Rather basic view that is not supported historically or even today.
The growth and development of hockey, historically and to this day has been influenced by three elements - financial resources, arena infra structure and human resources in terms of administration combined with coaching.
Canada as a country did not start producing hockey players until the 1970's. Previously only regions and pockets of Canada produced hockey players.
A few examples to move things forward. From the start of hockey, do not wish to get into a date or place debate the following have to be considered.
1.) until the formation of the NHA the various amateur teams in the Montreal area that competed for the Stanley Cup were almost entirely composed of Anglophone players. Francophones played hockey with an equal if not greater degree of skill - see Pitre, Laviolette, Vezina but the organizational aspects, indoor rinks, were not present in the areas where they played while the cost/benefit factor was not there either.
2.) pre NHA hockey strongly represented the SW Montreal / Ottawa / Kingston triangle. Most of the recognized players came from or gravitated to the area. Toronto, a large population base lagged for awhile and hockey suffered until Stafford Smythe built MLG. Then it exploded.
3.) Quebec Bulldogs - two time Stanley Cup champions did not have any francophone players. To compete and win it was not necessary to have a large base of players from diverse backgrounds. Francophones in the Quebec City area were playing hocket as they were in various parts beyond Quebec City.
4.) The Patricks, Frank and Lester, from Drummondville via Montreal to Vancouver and the PCHA . Population did not shift with each move they made. Money, the ability to administer, coach with an appropriate infra-structure did.Once the Patrick's left hockey in BC lagged not keeping pace until the money and infra-structure issues were addressed starting in the late fifties.
NHL 1917 - 1967
5.) Montreal as an island did not produce a varied group of hockey players. Most came from the SW districts and central Montreal. Some like Maurice Richard once junior age had to travel from the northern end of the island to play in Verdun.Even today that would be a one hour trip each way. Arenas were lacking.
6.) Post WWII saw arenas being built in remote areas. More accurately aircraft or war installations were adapted. Very quickly regions like the Abitibi produced elite hockey players. Rouyn-Noranda being the prime example - Dave Keon an Jacques Laperriere. Bagotville in the Saguenay yielded Jean-Claude Tremblay
6.) The overwhelming majority of Canadian hockey players came from the five central provinces - Quebec,Ontario,Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta. The two coasts lagged. First Newfoundlander was Alex Faulkner in the early 1960's, yes Newfoundland also converted war effort buildings into arenas.There were a few from the maritime provinces - Al MacNeil, Parker MacDonald, Willie O'Ree some from B.C. but nowhere near proportionate to population.
7.)USA. thru the 1930' the USA was producing NHL caliber hockey players relative to limited population. Brimsek and Karakas were excellent goalies and there were skaters as well. The introduction of the Red Line in the NHL changed this growth. Amateur hockey in the USA did not adopt the Red Line and development stagnated while participation grew. Rebounded very strongly once the Red Line was adopted by USA amateur hockey.
Post 1967 NHL
8.) Part of the 1967 Canadian Centennial celebrations, featured an emphasis on building community infra structures. Community centers built around an arena or just a basic arena were built in communities from coast to coast. Montreal went from zero municipal arenas to app 30 within 10 years.
Net result was that minor hockey exploded. Travel teams formed across Canada since the uncertainty associated with outdoor ice was eliminated, Tournaments sprung up and it was possible to play hockey virtually year round. Produced many NHL players by the late 1970's.
This is just a short outline. No definitive conclusions are being presented or even hinted at. Just points to start discussions.
The following link:
http://www.hockeycanada.ca/
leads to historic data nationally or provincially by region. Logos at the top of the page access provincial and regional branches.
Comments appreciated.
The growth and development of hockey, historically and to this day has been influenced by three elements - financial resources, arena infra structure and human resources in terms of administration combined with coaching.
Canada as a country did not start producing hockey players until the 1970's. Previously only regions and pockets of Canada produced hockey players.
A few examples to move things forward. From the start of hockey, do not wish to get into a date or place debate the following have to be considered.
1.) until the formation of the NHA the various amateur teams in the Montreal area that competed for the Stanley Cup were almost entirely composed of Anglophone players. Francophones played hockey with an equal if not greater degree of skill - see Pitre, Laviolette, Vezina but the organizational aspects, indoor rinks, were not present in the areas where they played while the cost/benefit factor was not there either.
2.) pre NHA hockey strongly represented the SW Montreal / Ottawa / Kingston triangle. Most of the recognized players came from or gravitated to the area. Toronto, a large population base lagged for awhile and hockey suffered until Stafford Smythe built MLG. Then it exploded.
3.) Quebec Bulldogs - two time Stanley Cup champions did not have any francophone players. To compete and win it was not necessary to have a large base of players from diverse backgrounds. Francophones in the Quebec City area were playing hocket as they were in various parts beyond Quebec City.
4.) The Patricks, Frank and Lester, from Drummondville via Montreal to Vancouver and the PCHA . Population did not shift with each move they made. Money, the ability to administer, coach with an appropriate infra-structure did.Once the Patrick's left hockey in BC lagged not keeping pace until the money and infra-structure issues were addressed starting in the late fifties.
NHL 1917 - 1967
5.) Montreal as an island did not produce a varied group of hockey players. Most came from the SW districts and central Montreal. Some like Maurice Richard once junior age had to travel from the northern end of the island to play in Verdun.Even today that would be a one hour trip each way. Arenas were lacking.
6.) Post WWII saw arenas being built in remote areas. More accurately aircraft or war installations were adapted. Very quickly regions like the Abitibi produced elite hockey players. Rouyn-Noranda being the prime example - Dave Keon an Jacques Laperriere. Bagotville in the Saguenay yielded Jean-Claude Tremblay
6.) The overwhelming majority of Canadian hockey players came from the five central provinces - Quebec,Ontario,Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta. The two coasts lagged. First Newfoundlander was Alex Faulkner in the early 1960's, yes Newfoundland also converted war effort buildings into arenas.There were a few from the maritime provinces - Al MacNeil, Parker MacDonald, Willie O'Ree some from B.C. but nowhere near proportionate to population.
7.)USA. thru the 1930' the USA was producing NHL caliber hockey players relative to limited population. Brimsek and Karakas were excellent goalies and there were skaters as well. The introduction of the Red Line in the NHL changed this growth. Amateur hockey in the USA did not adopt the Red Line and development stagnated while participation grew. Rebounded very strongly once the Red Line was adopted by USA amateur hockey.
Post 1967 NHL
8.) Part of the 1967 Canadian Centennial celebrations, featured an emphasis on building community infra structures. Community centers built around an arena or just a basic arena were built in communities from coast to coast. Montreal went from zero municipal arenas to app 30 within 10 years.
Net result was that minor hockey exploded. Travel teams formed across Canada since the uncertainty associated with outdoor ice was eliminated, Tournaments sprung up and it was possible to play hockey virtually year round. Produced many NHL players by the late 1970's.
This is just a short outline. No definitive conclusions are being presented or even hinted at. Just points to start discussions.
The following link:
http://www.hockeycanada.ca/
leads to historic data nationally or provincially by region. Logos at the top of the page access provincial and regional branches.
Comments appreciated.