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 2015, the class champions were Pocomoke (1A), Hereford (2A), Bel Air (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
Washington College
Northern Division
USA FIELD HOCKEY (Olympics)
The next summer Olympics will be held in Tokyo, Japan, July 24 to August 9, 2020. The next Paralympics also will be held in Tokyo, August 25 through September 6, 2020.
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
Since then, Baltimore has been the home of many professional ice hockey teams throughout the decades, starting with the Baltimore Orioles, which played first in the Tri-State Hockey League from 1932 to 1933 and then in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League (later known as the Eastern Hockey League) from 1933 until 1942. The U.S. Coast Guard Yard Bears, an independent team, played from 1941 to 1942, while the U.S. Coast Guard Cutters, organized following the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, played in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League from 1942 until 1944, winning Championships in both seasons.
The Baltimore Blades played in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League from 1944 to 1945. They were followed by the Baltimore Clippers, which played in the same League from 1945 to 1948, 1949 to 1950, and 1954 to 1955. The Baltimore Clippers then played in the American Hockey League from 1962 to 1974, left temporarily while the new Baltimore Blades, members of the World Hockey Association, played in the 1974-1975 season, and then returned again from 1975 to 1976. Overall, they won three Division Championships. The Baltimore Clippers then transferred to the Southern Hockey League, which disbanded in 1977. The Clippers then played for the Eastern Hockey League from 1979 to 1981. The Baltimore Skipjacks joined the Atlantic Coast Hockey League and played for the 1981 season. From 1982 to 1993, they played in the American Hockey League (with the exception of the 1987 season, when they were an unaffiliated team), winning their Division's Championship in the 1983-1984 season. The Baltimore Bandits played from 1995 to 1997 in the American Hockey League.
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
Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference (DVCHC) Division III
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)
Johns Hopkins University
Loyola University Maryland
Mount St. Mary's University
Salisbury University
University of Maryland
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)
ATLANTIC COAST HOCKEY LEAGUE
EASTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE (1933 - 1973)
U.S. COAST GUARD CUTTERS (1942-1944)
BALTIMORE BLADES (1944-1945)
BALTIMORE CLIPPERS (1945-1948, 1949-1950, 1954-1955)
EASTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE (1978 - 1981)
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.
SOUTHERN HOCKEY LEAGUE
TRI-STATE HOCKEY LEAGUE
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 will be held there as well March 9-18, 2018.
WORLD HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
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)*
© Copyright Maryland State Archives
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 (1962-1974, 1975-1976)
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 (1982-1993)
John D. Chick Trophy (1983-1984 season)
Calder Cup Runner-Up (1984-1985 season)
The Atlantic Coast Hockey League was an organization of minor league teams that lasted from 1981 until 1987. The Baltimore Skipjacks played in the League from 1981 to 1982 before moving to the American Hockey League.
BALTIMORE SKIPJACKS (1981-1982)
The Eastern Hockey League was originally named the Eastern Amateur Hockey League, which operated from 1933 to 1948, and from 1949 to 1953 when it ceased operations. It restarted in 1954 under a new name, the Eastern Hockey League, and operated until 1973. The Baltimore Orioles played in the League from 1933 to 1942, followed by the U.S. Coast Guard Cutters from 1942 to 1944, the Baltimore Blades from 1944 to 1945, and finally the Baltimore Clippers from 1945 to 1948, 1949 to 1950, and 1954 to 1955.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES (1932-1942)
U.S. National Senior Open Championship (1943)
U.S. National Senior Open Championship (1944)
The new Eastern Hockey League started in 1978 as the Northeastern Hockey League. It was renamed the Eastern Hockey League and operated until 1981. The Baltimore Clippers played in the League from 1979 to 1981.
BALTIMORE CLIPPERS (1979-1981)
The National Hockey League is the pinnacle 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.
The Southern Hockey League was a minor league organization that lasted from 1973 to 1977. The Baltimore Clippers, previously a member in the American Hockey League, played in the Southern Hockey League from 1976 to 1977.
BALTIMORE CLIPPERS (1976-1977)
The Tri-State Hockey League operated from 1932 to 1933, during which time the Baltimore Orioles played in the League.
BALTIMORE ORIOLES (1932-1933)
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.
The World Hockey Association was a professional organization that lasted from 1972 until 1979. The Baltimore Bandits played in the League during the 1975 season.
BALTIMORE BLADES (1975)
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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