Happy 100th Birthday, National Hockey League

Although Egyptians and Ethiopians were playing some version of hockey around 4,000 years ago, Canada still gets all the credit for developing the contemporary version of the sport on ice. According to legend, the eastern portions of the country originated the beginnings of today’s rules for the game in the mid-1800s. What does it say about Canadians that they’re responsible something that requires so much brutality (checking—ouch!) and grace?

While you’re working out a cogent analysis, hit the Hockey Hall of Fame. The home of the major hockey competition, the Stanley Cup, the hall holds the largest collection of hockey memorabilia in the world. Two theaters host hockey movies, including the first 3D film about the sport. To celebrate its centennial, the center is exhibiting sticks, pucks, and jerseys belonging to such luminaries as Gordie Howe, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Jacques Plante, and other notable relics. Video vignettes will transport visitors to the most memorable moments in the sport’s history. Located in downtown Toronto, the Hockey Hall of Fame is a short walk from other major city attractions. Leave yourself a little time and explore the nearby Ripley’s Aquarium and CN Tower.

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