Historical Timeline

Explore over a hundred years of Nova Scotia sports history.

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1800

Pre-Settlers: A Mi’kmaq Game
Pre-Settlers: A Mi’kmaq Game
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1800

Tu’aqn
Tu’aqn
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1802

Circa 1800: Ice Hurley is played in Windsor, Nova Scotia
Ice Hurley is played in Windsor, Nova Scotia
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1861

1861: John Starr opens the Starr Manufacturing Company in downtown Dartmouth
John Starr opens the Starr Manufacturing Company in downtown Dartmouth
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1867

1867: The Halifax Reporter details a hockey game between army and navy officers on Oathill Lake in Dartmouth
The Halifax Reporter details a hockey game between army and navy officers on Oathill Lake in Dartmouth
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1870

Mid-to-late 1800’s: Mi’kmaw carvers make hockey sticks for the Starr Manufacturing Company
Mi’kmaw carvers make hockey sticks for the Starr Manufacturing Company
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1875

1875: James Creighton organizes the first recorded indoor game of hockey
James Creighton organizes the first recorded indoor game of hockey
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1884

1884: First published mention of organized hockey in Nova Scotia
First published mention of organized hockey in Nova Scotia
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1885

1885: Dartmouth AAA wins the first Nova Scotia Senior Hockey Championship
Dartmouth AAA wins the first Nova Scotia Senior Hockey Championship
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1890

Late 1800’s: Women Begin to play hockey
Women Begin to play hockey
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1893

1893: The Halifax County League Forms
The Halifax County League Forms
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1895

1895: The Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes Begins Play
The Colored Hockey League of the Maritimes Begins Play
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1897

1897: Halifax Wanderers win the NS Senior Championship and Starr Trophy
Halifax Wanderers win the NS Senior Championship and Starr Trophy
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1904

1904: Report of the first women’s hockey game played in Nova Scotia
Report of the first women’s hockey game played in Nova Scotia
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1913

1913: The Sydney Millionaires Lose the Stanley Cup Final – the last time a team from the Maritimes plays for the Cup
The Sydney Millionaires Lose the Stanley Cup Final – the last time a team from the Maritimes plays for the Cup
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1914

1914: Lester Lowther of Amherst becomes the first Nova Scotian to play in the NHL
Lester Lowther of Amherst becomes the first Nova Scotian to play in the NHL
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1922

1922: Three Nova Scotians Play on the Stanley-Cup-Winning Toronto St. Pat’s Team
Three Nova Scotians Play on the Stanley-Cup-Winning Toronto St. Pat’s Team
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1927

1927: The Forum Opens with the First Artificial Ice Surface East of Montreal
The Forum Opens with the First Artificial Ice Surface East of Montreal
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1935

1935: The Halifax Wolverines Win the Allan Cup
The Halifax Wolverines Win the Allan Cup
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1950

1950: Art Dorrington of Truro Becomes the First Black Player to sign an NHL Contract
Art Dorrington of Truro Becomes the First Black Player to sign an NHL Contract
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1952

1952: Danny Gallivan is named the play-by-play voice of the Montreal Canadiens
Danny Gallivan is named the play-by-play voice of the Montreal Canadiens
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1953

1953: Douglas “Dugger” McNeil leads the Halifax Atlantics to the Alexander Cup as player-coach
Douglas “Dugger” McNeil leads the Halifax Atlantics to the Alexander Cup as player-coach
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1958

1958: The Maritime Hockey School Begins Operations
The Maritime Hockey School Begins Operations
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1966

1966: Stan “Chook” Maxwell of Truro leads the IHL in scoring for 3 straight seasons
Stan “Chook” Maxwell of Truro leads the IHL in scoring for 3 straight seasons
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1970

1970: First Black Line in Canadian University Hockey
First Black Line in Canadian University Hockey
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1971

1971: Al MacNeil Coaches the Montreal Canadiens to the Stanley Cup
Al MacNeil Coaches the Montreal Canadiens to the Stanley Cup
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1972

1972: The NS Voyageurs Win the Calder Cup
The NS Voyageurs Win the Calder Cup
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1974

1974: Bill Riley becomes the first black Nova Scotian to play in the NHL
Bill Riley becomes the first black Nova Scotian to play in the NHL
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1976

1976: The NS Voyageurs Win Another Calder Cup
The NS Voyageurs Win Another Calder Cup
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1977

1977: The NS Voyageurs Achieve Back-to-Back Calder Cup Wins
The NS Voyageurs Achieve Back-to-Back Calder Cup Wins
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1981

1981: Al MacInnis of Port Hood is chosen 15th overall in the NHL draft by the Calgary Flames
Al MacInnis of Port Hood is chosen 15th overall in the NHL draft by the Calgary Flames
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1983

1983: Paul Boutilier of Sydney wins the Stanley Cup with the New York Islanders
Paul Boutilier of Sydney wins the Stanley Cup with the New York Islanders
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1986

1986: Mike McPhee of River Bourgeois wins the Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens
Mike McPhee of River Bourgeois wins the Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens
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1987

1987: Cam Russell is Chosen 50th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL Draft
Cam Russell is Chosen 50th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL Draft
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1987

1987: Don Koharski is Chosen to Referee Game 3 of the 1987 Canada Cup
Don Koharski is Chosen to Referee Game 3 of the 1987 Canada Cup
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1989

1989: Al MacInnis wins the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP as the Flames win the Stanley Cup
Al MacInnis wins the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP as the Flames win the Stanley Cup
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1991

1991: Glen Murray of Bridgewater is chosen 18th in the NHL draft by the Boston Bruins
Glen Murray of Bridgewater is chosen 18th in the NHL draft by the Boston Bruins
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1993

1993: The Cape Breton Oilers Win the Calder Cup
The Cape Breton Oilers Win the Calder Cup
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1993

1993: John Paris Jr. of Windsor becomes the first Black coach in pro hockey
John Paris Jr. of Windsor becomes the first Black coach in pro hockey
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1993

1993: Acadia Axemen win the CIAU Men’s Hockey Championship
Acadia Axemen win the CIAU Men’s Hockey Championship
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1994

1994: The Halifax Mooseheads Begin Play in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
The Halifax Mooseheads Begin Play in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
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1994

1994: Fabian Joseph of Sydney Captains Canada to Olympic Silver
Fabian Joseph of Sydney Captains Canada to Olympic Silver
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1994

1994: Dave Andrews is named President of the American Hockey League
Dave Andrews is named President of the American Hockey League
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1996

1996: Jody Shelley is named captain of the Halifax Mooseheads
Jody Shelley is named captain of the Halifax Mooseheads
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1997

1997: The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles Begin play in the QMJHL
The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles Begin play in the QMJHL
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1998

1998: Truro Bearcats win the Allan Cup
Truro Bearcats win the Allan Cup
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1999

1999: Jon Sim of New Glasgow wins the Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars
Jon Sim of New Glasgow wins the Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars
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1999

1999: Al MacInnis wins the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s Top Defenceman
Al MacInnis wins the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s Top Defenceman
Tu’aqn

1800

Sport
Hockey

Tu’aqn

Ta’n L’nu’k milita’tip, Tu’aqn, na wejiaqip ta’n teltek maqamikew aqq ta’n apjiw telikiskikl na’kwekl kaqi’sipunqik: pekijiaql aqq teke’kl kesikl, Mi’kma’ki, pukwelkl quspeml aqq oqutekl walne’l. 1913ek L’nu kisiku Selmi Leksi aknutmuapn Harry Piersal ta’n No’pa Sko’sia Museum etl-lukwelipn ta’n tel mila’timk Tu’aqn:

“Kiwto’qapskek kuntew, e’wmik kmu’j taqtmik mkumiktuk… ktikik tu’owinu’k poqtituku’ltijik mkumiktuk aqq weji msna’titl ke’skmna’q naqa’silikw aqq apaja’tua’titl ta’n wenl kisi l’ta’pn. Ktikik tu’owinu’k kisi pittesintaqq kisna apkwiljo’tla’tital. Ta’n wen menaqa apaji pkisulatl, na tqamatal ta’n tujiw nuta’q tqamuksilin. Mu tu’a’ti’tik nike’ aqq sa’q kespi milita’tij… katu ta’n tel milita’mk na siawiaq.

Tu’aqn pekwanapni Lulupkewaq pejiwksultite’wk poqjiaqek 1800’sek, aqq tu’a’timk ne’a’sikip tepkisamu’ktn mila’timkewey. Mikmaq siawa’tu’tip ula tel-milita’mk, e’wmi’tipnn kmu’jl tepow l’tunew alje’maqanatkul kesiktantasikipnn wjit ta’n tel-wlitasik. Pukwelkl L’nu Utanl ta’n etlitasikipnn alje’maqanatkul: Ta’puewey Mekwe’k A’sumkwaqn, Punamu’kwati’jk, Tuftek Walne’k, We’kwapekitk, Sipekne’katik, aqq ktikl. Ula lukwaqn keska’qip 1930’sek ta’n tujiw poqji l’tasikek laminatewa’tasikl alje’maqanatkul.

Alje’ma’timk na me’ pukwelkik Mi’kmaq kesatmi’tij. Teli pkijiaq 1900’sek, pukwelkik Mi’kmaq tu’owinu’k paqasita’pnik mkumiktuk kutey nike’ Eskasoni Eaglesaq. 1970’sek aqq 1980’sek Wallace Bernardo’q Mawpeltuewa’jaq mawa’lapni tu’a’tinew L’nu’k aqq wettaqto’tultinew. 2019ek Ryan Francis apoqnmuep poqji tu’a’tilin L’nu’skwe’jk alje’ma’timkewey No’pa Sko’sia. Ula nekmowey apoqnmuapni piamiw ta’pu kaskimtlnaqn nutqo’ltijik e’pite’sk wejita’jik ne’siskl Mi’kmawe’l Utanl tu’a’tinew alje’ma’timk. Ryan mekenup wjit NHL’ey Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award wjit wtlukwaqn.

Image is original artwork by Gerald Gloade

1970