DARTMOUTH and WINDSOR, N.S. — There is a hockey rivalry brewing between two Nova Scotia towns – Windsor and Dartmouth – as both lay claims to be the place where hockey was invented in the 1800s. Sports historian Danny Dill pointed to books, essays and artifacts going back more than 200 years that prove hockey started in Windsor. “They were doing research in the 1980s, and they came across a passage about two boys playing on Long Pond in Windsor,” said Dill. “It was 1816 to 1818, and it was the first documented game of hockey played on ice in Canada.” Dill said Windsor has become a tourist destination because of its role in the history of the sport. Thousands visit the town each year, which is home to the Birthplace of Hockey Museum and the Windsor Hockey Heritage Society. However, Dartmouth historian David Jones disagreed and said hockey was first played on a frozen Lake Banook in Dartmouth – not Windsor. “This goes back to the earliest days of playing hockey on Lake Banook, on Halifax Harbour and the Halifax area,” said Jones. The Nova Scotia Legislature recently introduced Bill 187, an act to recognize Windsor, N.S. as the official birthplace of hockey. Jones’ father, Martin, wrote a book on hockey’s roots beginning in Dartmouth, and he insisted there is rock-solid research and evidence to back it up. “It’s undeniable, it’s right here and it’s in Dartmouth,” said Jones. “And sadly, Windsor doesn’t have a claim at all, but they’ve done a better job of PR.” Dill quickly disagreed with Jones. “I would say: I’m sorry, but no it didn’t,” said Dill. “I really hate to say this, and I have said it before, because I have documented proof. Other places in Canada also claim to be the birthplace of hockey, including Montreal and Kingston, Ont. Dill said the game started in Windsor, then people introduced the sport of hockey to other places in Canada. He concluded by saying there is no debate.
