Olympic ice hockey got its start 106 years ago
The nation would bounce back to win gold in 1942 and 1952 — the 1940 Games were cancelled by World War II — before enduring a 50-year drought – 12 Olympics — until its return to the gold medal podium at Salt Lake City in 2002, two more gold medals to come in 2010 in Vancouver and 2014 in Sochi, Russia.
All except 1920’s historic curtain-raising tournament have been played under the Olympic Winter Games banner, as will every one in the future.
In Milano Cortina this month, Canada aims for a natural hat trick at Olympics involving NHL players, victories in 2010 and 2014 having set the table for another best-on-best tournament to be played in a megawatt global spotlight.
Four players from the Winnipeg Jets will fly the city’s flag, representing three nations a century-plus after the Falcons made history nearly 600 miles north in Antwerp: defenseman Josh Morrissey for Canada, goalie Connor Hellebuyck and forward Kyle Connor for the U.S. and forward Nino Niederreiter for Switzerland.
In spirit, at least, the 1920 Falcons have lived to see the Olympic Winter Games again.
Top photo: The 1920 Olympic-champion Winnipeg Falcons, representing Canada at the VIIth Olympiade in Antwerp, Belgium. From left: Gordon Sigurjonsson, coach; Herb Axford, club president; Wally Byron, goalie; Haldor “Slim” Halderson, right wing; Frank Frederickson, centre and captain; William Hewitt, Canadian Olympic representative and team secretary; Konrad Johannesson, right defense; Mike Goodman, left wing; Allan “Huck” Woodman, substitute; Bobby Benson, left defense; Chris Fridfinnson, rover; Bill Fridfinnson, official.
