Archive for the ‘Hockey’ Category

How Old Is The Ice Hockey Arena Rental Business?

Ice hockey has been around since 1800, when it was called “Hurley on ice” up in Nova Scotia. However, the game was played on frozen over ponds. There was no such thing as an ice hockey rink. It was something that didn’t occur until 1875, which was when the first organized indoor game of hockey was played. This happened in Montreal at the Victoria Skating Rink. And then it was 1893 when the first Stanley Cup was won, so hockey definitely has quite the amazing history.

But there is a business that has taken off throughout the years and that is ice hockey arena rentals.

The ice hockey arena rental business consists of the ice hockey arena renting out their space for individuals and groups to enjoy some skating time.

When did ice hockey arena rentals begin?

The truth is that it is hard to say when the ice hockey arena rental business began. Back in the late 1800s when there were more than 100 ice hockey teams in Montreal alone, most of them were skating on frozen ponds and lakes. Nevertheless, some of these teams began actually playing rather large tournaments, hence the first Stanley cup in 1893. Since there was a shortage of ice hockey rinks, it is fair to say that the indoor rinks that were established were renting out their spaces. It is also possible that rentals began before that in the pond and lake days because many of these ponds and lakes resided on private property. The owners were not going to let these individuals use their property for nothing, so they most likely let them use it at a cost. This is when everyone on the teams would pull in their money to pay the owner so that they could use their property for the day.

It is really hard to say exactly when ice hockey arena rentals began because there are no official records to go by. Many of the owners would rent based on their own discretion and would just let it go from there. However, it is fair to say that this is something that has been occurring for quite some time.

Modern day ice hockey arena rentals

Now you can rent virtually any ice hockey arena for a price. They are not cheap, but you can rent them to practice if you are into figure skating, if you just want to have fun with your friends, or if you want to have an ice skating event.

For instance, many companies may have ice hockey teams and they will play the ice hockey teams of other companies. When they do this, they need the entire arena staff to help them conduct their game because there will be people watching. This also means operating the concession stands in many cases. This is a great way for the arena to make even more money and it is a great way to make a company look great to all of those who hear of and attend the event.

So although it is hard to tell how long ice hockey arena rentals have been going on, they are definitely a great thing. This means that you don’t just have to be on a professional hockey team to experience the rink. You can be anyone with the cash to rent the arena and give a lot of people a good time. So check with the ice hockey arena in your area and see if you can arrange something for your business, your church, or for personal use. The individuals at the ice hockey rink will quote you prices and you can take it from there.

Catch Some Hotshots on Ice With Hockey Tickets

Hockey tickets are one of the most popular stocking stuffers of the holiday season. Once the snow starts to fall, it means that it’s time to strap on the skates and hit the ice for some hockey, one of the most popular sports in the country.

Once Upon A Time In Canada

The actual beginnings of ice hockey have been traced back to the 17th century. But professional ice hockey as we know it today was started in Montreal, Canada in 1875. A number of students from McGill University officially codified the rules and the game caught on like wildfire. In just a few years, the first world championships were held and the oldest hockey rivalries were born. In 1893, the first Stanley Cup was awarded.

Though the National Hockey League would be active in both America and Canada, it was the latter country that seemed to have more of an affinity for the game and a higher demand for hockey tickets. This may be due to the fact that Canada is more suited to winter sports. In any case, Canadian teams have dominated the major league in the past with teams like the Edmonton Oilers and the Toronto Maple Leafs notching up multiple Stanley Cup wins. These two teams have also hosted a number of the league’s best players.

Famous Fights

Like football, ice hockey has been known for its violence. In fact, some sports fans buy their hockey tickets to see some good fights as well as good plays. While football violence simply uses the body, hockey players also use their sticks and some have even used their skates to inflict violence. While a certain amount of roughness is allowed in the game, there have been times when things have simply gotten out of control. While some fights were the result of hot blood between the teams, some were the result of international politics.

In the world of professional hockey today, it is not unusual to have certain players on the team who are there to protect more valuable players. These players are unofficially known as enforcers. In the old days, during the time of legends like Gordie Howe, players often acted as their own enforcers. Howe himself was known for both scoring and taking part in fights. But players like Gretzky usually had a number of enforcers assigned to them to ensure nothing untoward happened on the ice.

While fights may be entertaining some times, the majority of fans buy their hockey tickets because they want to see a good game. Recent changes have been made to the game to bring the focus back to scoring and speed. Ice hockey is a risky game but the risk factor lies in the speed element, not in the violence. Players need to be able to think and move quickly, with an ability to maneuver the puck in the swiftest way possible. This is what makes a great hockey game.

If you’d like to catch some cool ice hockey action but are worried about how to get tickets, you can book them using the internet. Just log on to an authorized online ticket vendor and order your hockey tickets.

Mcdonald's Hockey Collectibles: Building More Interest in Hockey Memorabilia

Hockey trading cards may seem to wane in popularity, but if McDonald’s has its way, it won’t be for the next 100 years. They may probably have experienced spikes in demand thanks to McDonald’s hockey collectibles. These hockey cards that come from the house of Ronald McDonald are actually worth something, considering that it’s supplied only in Canada and that many kids actually don’t think much of them, leaving much of the loot and short supply to serious collectors. Many McDonald’s hockey cards are not even traded – they’re thrown away or left to rot someplace forgotten, like the attic or an old shoebox.

That is not to say that interest has never waned. Many collectors lost their love for hockey cards during the mid-90s when the market was filled to the brim. However, with the resurgence of interest in hockey and the continuing popularity of hockey collectibles including those from McDonald’s, it’s a good idea to start or re-start your collection now.

Getting McDonald’s hockey collectibles

The most popular hockey collectibles from McDonald’s continue to be NHL trading cards, the latest of which is from the Upper Deck Ice Heroes Collection. The new line features 50 cards, with special inserts that contain 51-card sets. Each pack costs $0.99 with purchase of selected McDonald’s products.

The number of cards contained in the card sets varies depending on the description. Cards in the Hardware Heroes set features winners of NHL awards in 6 die-cut cards to a pack. The Rookie Review and Hot Gloves sets have 20 cards in a pack while the Captains Checklist set contains cards featuring captains from the 6 Canadian NHL teams.

Another thing that adds to the excitement of getting the cards is that there are more than 4,000 official winning cards that include some important hockey memorabilia. The cards are instant-winning and need only to be verified to be redeemed. McDonald’s usually releases the new sets at the end of each year for the latest season.

There are also McDonald’s Canada hockey pucks that are issued by Canadian restaurants as part of their promotion to honor their hockey teams. These signature official pucks cost about $9.95 each.

Trading McDonald’s hockey collectibles online

On the McDonald’s hockey trading site (Mcdonalds.com.ca), you’ll have to sign up to become a member in order to trade. You must register your collection and include the quantity of every card you have. To trade a card, simply click on the ‘Trade It’ button and have someone find your offer. If you’re looking for a particular card, simply click on the ‘Need It’ button to advertise your requirement.

The site lets you save your card profile so you don’t have to re-enter information the next time you sign in. The site lets you trade and seek hockey card collectibles for free and sign up is fast and easy.

If you want to view the current roster of hockey collectibles, the site features a gallery that lets you view the players’ individual cards. Simply click on the names on the page and the site will give you a glimpse. Some of the most popular players are covered in the gallery, including Sergei Fedorov, Sidney Crosby, Steve Yzerman and Mario Lemieux.

Many grown hockey collectible fans who have seen the interest of young children in trading cards wane blame the rising prices. Hockey trading cards and collectibles cost anywhere from $5 to more than $100 in hobby shops and online stores. The McDonald’s hockey cards program in Canada hopes to attract more collectors and sports fans into creating sustained interest in cards as hockey collectibles.