THE H ISTORY OF HOCKEY
HURLEY， SHINNY， AND HOQUET
Pinpointing the precise origin of the modern game of ice hockey is no easier than
defining the infinite number of moves Wayne Gretzky employs when he confronts
a goalkeeper. Even the most knowledgeable hockey historians have found them-
selves lost in a sea of mythology， quasi-fact， and fancy as they probe the puck
chasers past.
One of the more appealing hoaxes was perpetrated by John H. (Jack) Filman， a
jovial gentleman who had been the public address announcer at Madison Square
Garden hockey games in the 1930s， as well as publicist for the New York Rangers.
It was Filman s job， among other things， to fill the pages of the Garden program
with interesting tidbits about the ice game， then still a novelty to many New
Yorkers.
In a fit of fancy one day， Filman credited the Indians of the Six Nations with in-
venting hockey in North America. As Filman put it， explorers penetrating the St.
Lawrence Valley in 1740 discovered the Iroquois playing a well-organized game
called baggataway， or lacrosse. During the course of action braves would frequently
be whacked in the shins， Filman noted. When that happened the Indian would
grunt \"ho-Gee，\" or as we might put it today， \"ouch.\" Filman insisted that the
white men quickly translated \"ho-Gee\" to \"hockey.\"
Filman added， \"The surviving saclmms of the Six Nations tell how the game was
played on the plains in summer and on ice-covered ponds and rivers in winter.\"
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