Ice hockey is a team sport played on ice. Originating in Eastern Canada in the early to mid 1850's, Scottish and Irish immigrants helped to introduce it across the country. Hockey has been played on backyard ponds and in arenas for over 150 years.
Today the game is by far the most played amateur and professional sport in Canada. There are currently thirteen branch associations of the Canadian Hockey Association (CHA) which oversee the operations of both indoor and outdoor leagues across the country. The Ontario Hockey Federation (OHF) is the largest branch with over 230,000 registered participants.
Hockey is Canada's National Winter Sport and has been an integral part of Canadian culture since the formation of the country in 1867.