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Ice-Skating
Ice Hockey is often described as the fastest team game in the world, with players able to skate at more than 25 mph (40 km/h) whilst handling the puck. Consequently it’s a game that requires considerable strength, stamina, and dexterity.
The game of Ice-Hockey was reportedly first played by a group of Englishmen on a frozen Kingston Harbour in 1860. The first teams were formed in 1880 and it’s popularity grew as it spread worldwide, with the first UK leagues being founded in 1903.
Since then ice hockey has been played more and more widespread, with popularity reaching a high when Great Britain became Olympic Champions.
Sheffield, always a leader, never a follower, made ice-hockey history by establishing the first fully professional ice hockey team in 1991… The Sheffield Steelers.
The Sheffield Steelers play their home games in the impressive surroundings of the Sheffield Arena, also opened in 1991, and have since become the most successful British Ice Hockey Club.
They started out in Division One, but quickly won promotion to the British Premier League, which they won in 1995 and 1996. They are now established in the new British Ice Hockey Super League (which they won in 2004), and their home, the Sheffield Arena has had to be expanded to meet the ever growing demand for seats.
Of course, the Sheffield Steelers are not the only ice-hockey club in Sheffield… The Sheffield Scimitars who play at Ice Sheffield currently compete in the English Premier League.
On a less professional level there are the more recreational clubs of Sheffield Blazers and the university club, Sheffield Bears, both of whom play and train at Ice Sheffield.
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