Girls' Field Hockey, Severn School, Severna Park, Maryland, September 2009. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
Field hockey was developed in Europe, with the word hockey coming from the French 'hocquet', meaning 'shepherd's crook'.
Classified as a fall sport by the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA), field hockey is a popular alternative to traditional ice hockey. Requiring less equipment or special facilities, field hockey commonly is played outdoors, and is offered by many public schools and colleges. Leagues play from September through November.
The MPSSAA oversees teams in the public school system, organizes tournaments, and provides for a uniform set of rules among all divisions. School districts that maintain teams have been organized into four classes, each consisting of four divisions. In 2011, the class champions were Fallston (1A), Glenelg (2A), Westminster (3A), and Severna Park (4A).
Other alternatives for those wishing to play field hockey include the Baltimore Field Hockey Association, or programs and events offered by USA Field Hockey.
NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (NCAA)
In Maryland, two teams have repeatedly won the NCAA field hockey championships in their divisions. The University of Maryland maintains a Division I team within the Big Ten Conference, while Salisbury University has a Division III team in the South Region. In 2009, the Maryland Women's field hockey team had the best record in Division I, finishing the season 23-1. Though unable to claim the championship in 2009, University of Maryland has won the NCAA Division I Championship eight times (1987, 1993, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010-11). Salisbury University has won the NCAA Division III Championship five times (1986, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009), finishing the 2009 season with a record of 20-1.
NATIONAL FIELD HOCKEY LEAGUE (NFHL)
The National Field Hockey League is a nationwide association that organizes games and tournaments among college student field hockey clubs. With the exception of Mount St. Mary’s University, which is assigned to the Northern Division, Maryland colleges are members of the Mason Dixon Division. This division also contains teams from Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
Mason Dixon Division
Johns Hopkins University
Loyola University Maryland
Salisbury University
Stevenson University
Towson University
United States Naval Academy
University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland Baltimore County
Washington College
Northern Division
USA FIELD HOCKEY (Olympics)
The next summer Olympics will be held at Rio de Janeiro, August 5-21, 2016. The next Paralympics also will be held at Rio, September 7-18, 2016.
The first ice hockey game on record was played in Canada.
Defined as “a game played on an ice rink in which two opposing teams of skaters, using curved sticks, try to drive a small disc, ball or block into or through the opposite goals”, hockey originated in North America, and was first played in the mid-nineteenth century. A winter sport at the core, hockey seemed out of place in Maryland. In spite of a more temperate climate, Maryland and its residents quickly warmed up to the frosty sport. In 1894, Baltimore hosted the first game played on artificial ice in the United States. The game was played at the opening of the North Avenue Rink between The John Hopkins University and the Baltimore Athletic Club
In 1908, field hockey was introduced to the summer Olympic games at London, with women's competition added in 1980. Created in 1993, when the Field Hockey Association of America and the United States Field Hockey Association merged, USA Field Hockey maintains teams to represent the nation at international competitions (including the Olympics), provides programs and events designed to further awareness of the sport, and creates opportunities for aspiring players. For the 2010 season, the Women's National Team had four players from the University of Maryland. Unlike ice hockey, there is no equivelent field event for the Paralympic games.
ICE HOCKEY
Though the North Avenue Rink in Baltimore no longer serves as an ice rink, Maryland continues to leave its mark on hockey. Amateur hockey teams are found throughout the State, and participate in numerous leagues, including the Chesapeake Bay Hockey League (CBHL), Mid-Atlantic Women’s Hockey League (MAWHL), and the American Special Hockey Association. While most leagues play from October through December, the NHL pre-season begins in September and runs to the Stanley Cup tournement, which is held in June.
AMERICAN COLLEGIATE HOCKEY ASSOCIATION (ACHA)
Eastern Collegiate Hockey Association (ECHA) Division I
Atlantic Coast Collegiate Hockey League Division II
Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference (DVCHC) Division II (Women’s)
Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA) Division II
Blue Ridge Hockey Conference (BRHC) Division III
Colonial Division - North Region
Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference (DVCHC) Division III
AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE (AHL)
Although Maryland is not currently home to an AHL team, Baltimore has possessed three seperate teams since 1962. Baltimore teams and players have claimed a number of AHL awards and records. Most players for Baltimore's AHL teams were career hockey players who played for multiple leagues, including those in the NHL. One such player is Steve Carlson (Baltimore Skipjacks, 1983-1987), perhaps best known as Steve Hanson, one of the "Hanson Brothers" from the 1977 film Slap Shot.
BALTIMORE BANDITS (1995-1997)
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE (NHL)
In 2011, the Washington Capitals returned to Maryland for the Baltimore Hockey Classic, a pre-season exhibition game held at the 1st Mariner Arena. The 2013 Baltimore Hockey Classic was held September 17.
USA HOCKEY (Olympics)
Though it is not televised, and receives little fanfare outside its community, the Paralympic games are held at the same time, city, and venue as the Olympic games. Since the 1998 Games in Nagano, Team USA has sent a fifteen-man sled hockey team to the winter Olympics.
The next winter Olympics will be held February 9-25, 2018, in PyeongChang, South Korea, and the Paralympics were held there as well March 9-18, 2018.
MARYLAND RECORDS & AWARDS
AHL RECORDS
Most Goals - Career: Willie Marshall*
Most Goals, by a Defenseman - Career: John Slaney*
Most Hat Tricks - Career: Willie Marshall*
Most Assists - Career: Willie Marshall*
Most Times Leading the League in Assists - Career: Art Stratton*
Most Games Played - Career: Willie Marshall*
Most Seasons Played - Career: Willie Marshall* (tied record)
Most Games Played by a Goaltender - Career: Marcel Paille*
JOHN D. CHICK TROPHY (best record in AHL Western Division)*
LES CUNNINGHAM AWARD (most valuable player)*
JOHN B. SOLLENBERGER TROPHY (most points during regular season)
DUDLEY (RED) GARRETT MEMORIAL AWARD (outstanding rookie)*
EDDIE SHORE AWARD (best defenseman)*
ALDEGE (BAZ) BASTIEN AWARD (best goaltender)*
HARRY (HAP) HOLMES MEMORIAL AWARD (goaltender award)*
LOUIS A. R. PIERI MEMORIAL AWARD (outstanding head coach)*
JAMES H. ELLERY MEMORIAL AWARDS (outstanding media coverage)*
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Division 1 (men’s 2001-02) Championship held at Towson University
Division 3 (men’s 1999-2000) Championship held at U.S. Naval Academy
Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference (DVCHC) Division I (Women’s)
Atlantic Division- Northeast Region
University of Maryland
Loyola University Maryland
The American Hockey League is the top development league for the National Hockey League. Consisting of twenty-nine affiliate teams, all AHL teams are contracted to NHL teams.
BALTIMORE CLIPPERS (1962-1977)
John D. Chick Trophy (1970-1971 season)
John D. Chick Trophy (1971-1972 season)
John D. Chick Trophy (1973-1974 season)
Calder Cup Runner-Up (1971-1972 season)BALTIMORE SKIPJACKS (1981-1993)
John D. Chick Trophy (1983-1984 season)
Calder Cup Runner-Up (1984-1985 season)
The National Hockey League is the pinicle of the game. With the Stanley Cup awarded to the League's champion team, the Cup is the ultimate goal for players around the world. The League consists of thirty teams from Canada and the United States. Founded as an NHL expansion team in Landover, Maryland, the Washington Capitals played over twenty seasons (1974-97) in Maryland, before moving to downtown Washington, DC for the 1997-98 season.
Men's hockey was added to the Olympic games in 1920, with a women's tournament added in 1998. America has sent teams of its best and brightest every four years since, and a number of these athletes have been from Maryland. As a former goaltender for the Baltimore Skipjacks (AHL), Scott Gordon played on the 1992 Olympic Team, and was selected as an assistant coach for the men's team at the 2010 Vancouver Games.
UNITED STATES HOCKEY HALL OF FAME
Malcom K. Gordon (1868-1964)
Author of American hockey rules
Inducted to U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, 1973
Most Points - Career: Willie Marshall*
*(career in NHL as well as AHL, with Baltimore Clippers, 1966-71)
*(career in NHL as well as AHL, with Baltimore Clippers, 1966-71)
*(career in NHL, as well as AHL, with Baltimore Skipjacks, 1991-93)
*(career in NHL as well as AHL, with Baltimore Clippers, 1966-71)
*(career in NHL as well as AHL, with Baltimore Clippers, 1966-71)
*(career in NHL as well as AHL, with Baltimore Clippers, 1973-74)
*(career in NHL as well as AHL, with Baltimore Clippers, 1966-71)
*(career in NHL as well as AHL, with Baltimore Clippers, 1966-71)
*(career in NHL as well as AHL, with Baltimore Clippers, 1962-63)CALDER CUP (awarded to league champion)
Baltimore Clippers (runner-up, 1971-72 season)
Baltimore Skipjacks (runner-up, 1984-85 season)
*(redistricted as Southern Division 1974-1995)
Baltimore Clippers (1970-71 season)
Baltimore Clippers (1971-72 season)
Baltimore Clippers (1973-74 season)
Baltimore Skipjacks (1983-84 season)
*(voted by coaches, AHL media & players)
Fred Speck (Baltimore Clippers, 1970-71 season)
Fred Speck (Baltimore Clippers, 1970-71 season)
*(voted by AHL media & players)
Fred Speck (Baltimore Clippers, 1970-71 season)
Mitch Lamoureux (Baltimore Skipjacks, 1982-83 season)
*(voted by AHL media & players)
Greg Tebbutt (Baltimore Skipjacks, 1982-83 season)
*(voted by AHL media & players)
Jon Casey (Baltimore Skipjacks, 1984-85 season)
*(goaltender with lowest "goals-against" average, playing minimum of 25 games)
Jon Casey (Baltimore Skipjacks, 1984-85 season)
*(voted by AHL media)
Terry Reardon (Baltimore Clippers, 1970-71 season)
Gene Ubriaco (Baltimore Skipjacks, 1983-84 season)
*(established as a single award in 1964, divided in 1975 to honor newspaper, radio, & tv)
Jim West, Baltimore (1967-68 season)
Al Fischer, Baltimore (1971-72 season)
Jerry Linquist, Baltimore (1972-73 season)
George Taylor, Baltimore (1973-74 season)
Phil Wood, Baltimore (radio, 1982-83 season)
Vince Bagli, Baltimore (tv, 1983-84 season)
Jeff Rimer, Baltimore (radio, 1987-88 season)
Jim Jackson, Baltimore (newspaper, 1991-92 season)
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