100 Fun Facts About Hockey Your Kids Will Love (2026)

Hockey is one of the coolest sports on earth — fast, exciting, and full of history. Whether your kids are just starting out or already obsessed with the game, these 100 fun hockey facts for kids will make them love it even more.

From how the sport began to record-breaking moments, quirky superstitions, and unbelievable trivia, this list has something for every young fan (and plenty parents will enjoy, too!).

So grab your sticks, lace up those skates, and get ready to explore the wild, wonderful world of hockey — one fun fact at a time.

Want more trivia for kids? Check out our full collection of fun facts for kids.

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Wacky & Wonderful Hockey Facts

Get ready for some of the wildest, weirdest, and most unbelievable hockey facts out there – all backed by real hockey history!

• The first hockey pucks were made from frozen cow dung.
  Before rubber pucks became standard in the late 1800s, early players used frozen cow patties on outdoor rinks. (Source: Montréal Science Centre)
• The Stanley Cup has been used as a cereal bowl, a baptismal font, and even a dog’s food dish.
  Over the years, hockey champions have eaten breakfast from it, bathed babies in it, and let their dogs lick it clean. (Source: Wikipedia – Stanley Cup Traditions)
• It’s been dropped, dented, and even thrown into a swimming pool.
  The Stanley Cup has survived falls, fires, and a few too many parties — and somehow always finds its way back for the next season. (Source: Sports History Network)
• Hockey players can skate up to 25–30 miles per hour.
  That’s faster than most cars in a school zone! (Source: The Hockey Writers)

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• The shortest player in NHL history was Roy “Shrimp” Worters.
  Standing just 5 feet 3 inches tall, he still won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 1929. (Source: NHL Records Book)
• Patrick Roy used to talk to his goalposts for good luck.
  The legendary goalie believed his posts were “friends” who helped keep the puck out. (Source: SportsCasting)
• Some players wear the same socks or underwear for every game.
  Hockey players are famously superstitious — some won’t change lucky gear all season. (Source: Bleacher Report)
• Mike Bossy ate vanilla ice cream before every game.
  His sweet superstition clearly worked — he scored 573 goals in his career. (Source: The Hockey Writers)
• The Stanley Cup has traveled to the top of Mount Everest and to the bottom of a swimming pool.
  It’s the most well-traveled trophy in sports, visiting over 25 countries (and countless parties). (Source: NHL.com)

Now that you’ve seen the wild side of hockey, let’s hit rewind and look at how it all began.

The Origins of Hockey

• The first professional hockey league was the International Professional Hockey League, which operated from 1904 to 1907. Source: NHL.com
• Hockey has been played for over 4,000 years, with the earliest recorded form of the game played in Ancient Egypt. (Source: History Cooperative)
• The modern version of ice hockey was developed in Montreal, Canada, in the late 1800s. Source: NHL.com
• Nova Scotia is considered by many to be the birthplace of ice hockey, as the sport has deep roots in the region and was played there long before it became popular in other parts of the world.
• The first organized indoor hockey game was played in Montreal in 1875. Source: Hockey Hall of Fame
• The first indoor hockey game was played in Montreal, Canada, on March 3, 1875 at the Victoria Skating Rink. Source: Canadian Museum of History
• The earliest known photograph of a hockey game dates back to 1881. Source: NHL.com
• The first artificial ice rink was built in London, England, in 1844. Source: The Guardian

🥶 Want more cool winter knowledge? Learn 50 Snow Facts For Kids that will blow your mind!

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The Stanley Cup & Hockey Milestones

• The Stanley Cup, the oldest trophy in professional sports, was first awarded in 1893. Source: NHL.com
• The original Stanley Cup was only 7 inches tall. The current Cup is over 3 feet tall. Source: NHL.com
• The Stanley Cup, the trophy awarded to the National Hockey League (NHL) champions each year, is over 100 years old. It was first awarded in 1893 and has been awarded every year since, except for in 1919 due to the Spanish Flu outbreak. Source: NHL.com
• The Stanley Cup has been stolen twice—once in 1970 and again in 2018! (Source: NHL.com)
• The Stanley Cup has been dropped, dented, and even thrown into a swimming pool. Source: NHL.com
• The Stanley Cup has been used as a baptismal font, a cereal bowl, and a dog’s food dish. Source: NHL.com

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• The Stanley Cup has traveled to several unique places, including the top of Mount Everest and the bottom of a swimming pool.
• The Stanley Cup has its own “keeper,” whose job is to travel with the trophy and ensure its safety. Source: NHL.com
• The Stanley Cup was originally awarded to the champion of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association. Source: NHL.com
• Lord Stanley of Preston, also known as Frederick Arthur Stanley, was a British politician and Governor General of Canada from 1888 to 1893. He is best known for donating the Stanley Cup, which is awarded annually to the champion of the National Hockey League (NHL).
• The Tampa Bay Lightning became the first NHL team to lift the Stanley Cup in an empty arena during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Hockey Around the World

• The first international hockey game was played between Canada and the United States in 1886. Source: The Canadian Encyclopedia
• The first NHL game of hockey to be played in Europe was in 1938, when the Detroit Red Wings and the Montreal Canadiens played in Paris. Source: NHL.com
• The Buffalo Sabres and the Vancouver Canucks played the first NHL game in Europe in 1976. Source: NHL.com
• In 1979, the Soviet Union’s Red Army team beat the NHL All-Stars in a stunning upset. Source: ESPN
• In addition to NHL teams, there are also professional hockey leagues in other countries, including Russia, Sweden, and Finland. Source: International Ice Hockey Federation
• The first Winter Olympics to feature ice hockey was the 1920 Summer Olympics held in Antwerp, Belgium. Source: Olympic.org
• In 2002, the Salt Lake City Olympics featured a women’s hockey game in which Kazakhstan defeated Russia 3-1. Source: CBC Sports

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On the Ice: Cool Facts About the Game

• The first hockey pucks were made of frozen cow dung.
• Hockey players can reach speeds of up to 30 mph on the ice. Source: NHL.com
• Hockey is the only major sport in which a player can legally use his or her body to hit opponents into the boards.
• The official size of an NHL rink is 200 feet long and 85 feet wide. Source: NHL.com
• The longest NHL game in history lasted 176 minutes and 30 seconds—that’s nearly three full games in one! (Source: NHL.com)
• The coldest recorded outdoor NHL game was in Edmonton, Canada, where temperatures dropped to −22°F (-30°C)! (Source: NHL.com)
• The first NHL outdoor game was played in 2003 between the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens. (Source: NHL.com)
• Hockey pucks used in the NHL are frozen before games to help them slide better on the ice. Source: NHL.com
• Hockey games can be played on different types of surfaces, including natural ice, artificial ice, and inline skates. Source: USA Hockey
• Hockey games can end in a tie if neither team scores during overtime. Source: NHL.com

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The NHL & Its Players

• The NHL was formed in 1917, with four Canadian teams and four American teams. Source: NHL.com
• The NHL’s original six teams were the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, and Chicago Blackhawks. Source: NHL.com
• The Montreal Canadiens have won the most Stanley Cup championships in NHL history, with 24 titles. Source: NHL.com
• The NHL’s first black player was Willie O’Ree, who debuted with the Boston Bruins in 1958. Source: NHL.com

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• The NHL’s first expansion team was the Los Angeles Kings, who joined the league in 1967. Source: NHL.com
• The NHL awards several individual trophies each season, including the Hart Trophy for the league’s most valuable player and the Vezina Trophy for the best goaltender. Source: NHL.com
• The NHL’s first All-Star Game was played in 1947. Source: NHL.com
• The NHL has had several lockouts in its history, with the most recent one occurring in 2012-2013. Source: NHL.com

💡 Love learning about winter sports? Keep the fun going with our 100 Cool Winter Trivia Questions for Kids and see how many you can answer!

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Hockey Legends & Record-Breakers

• Wayne Gretzky holds 61 NHL records including most career goals (894) and most career points (2,857). Source: NHL.com
• Gretzky scored his first NHL goal on his first shot during his first game. Source: NHL.com
• Gretzky is the only player in NHL history to score over 200 points in a single season, which he accomplished four times. Source: NHL.com
• Gretzky’s father, Walter, built him a rink in their backyard when he was just two years old. (Source: NHL.com)
• Gretzky won four Stanley Cup championships with the Edmonton Oilers and one with the New York Rangers. (Source: NHL.com)
• Gretzky was traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988, one of the most controversial trades in sports history. (Source: CBC)
• The first million-dollar NHL contract was signed by Bobby Orr in 1971.
• Bobby Orr holds the record for the most points by a defenseman in a single season, with 139 points in the 1970–71 season.
• The fastest hat trick in NHL history was scored in just 21 seconds by Bill Mosienko in 1952. Source: NHL.com
• The shortest player in NHL history was Roy “Shrimp” Worters at 5 feet 3 inches. Source: NHL.com
• The tallest player in NHL history was Zdeno Chara at 6 feet 9 inches. Source: NHL.com
• Darryl Sittler once scored 10 points in a single game. (Source: Hockey Hall of Fame)

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Superstitions, Rituals & Lucky Charms

• Many players have strange pre-game rituals—some even kiss their sticks for luck.
• Wayne Gretzky put baby powder on his stick before games for good luck. (Source: NHL.com)
• Some players refuse to shave during playoffs. (Source: NHL.com)
• Patrick Roy used to talk to his goalposts. (Source: NHL.com)
• Theo Fleury kept a lucky Canadian dollar coin (“loonie”) in his skate. (Source: NHL.com)
• Jaromir Jagr wears the same elbow pads he’s had since age 18.

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• Brent Burns wears a lucky t-shirt under his jersey.
• Sidney Crosby, a center for the Pittsburgh Penguins, always puts his left skate on first. (Love penguins? Check out these mind-blowing Emperor Penguin Facts for Kids!)
• Erik Karlsson always puts his equipment on in the same order.
• Alex Ovechkin always kisses his stick before games.
• Pavel Datsyuk wore the same underwear for every game.
• Mike Bossy would eat vanilla ice cream before games for luck.

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Olympic & International Moments

• The 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team beat the heavily favored Soviet team in the “Miracle on Ice.” Source: NHL.com
• The women’s U.S. team won gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Source: Olympic.org

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Equipment & Technology

• The first hockey sticks were made from wood, typically ash or hickory. Source: Pure Hockey
• Composite sticks made from carbon fiber and fiberglass appeared in the 1990s. Source: USA Hockey Magazine
• The first curved blade was used by Bobby Hull in the 1960s. Source: NHL.com
• Wooden sticks can break more easily but offer better control. Source: Hockey Players Club
• Composite sticks can cost over $300. Source: Pure Hockey

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• Stick flex is measured in pounds. Source: Bauer Hockey
• Left-handed sticks are more common (60%). Source: The Hockey News
• Sticks are regulated by the NHL (max length 63″). Source: NHL Rulebook
• Many pros use a new stick every game. Source: The Hockey News
• Some companies offer custom-made sticks. Source: CCM Hockey

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Beyond Ice Hockey: Field & Roller Hockey

• Field hockey is one of the oldest sports in the world, dating back to ancient civilizations. Source: International Hockey Federation
• The first international field hockey match was played between England and Ireland in 1895. Source: FIH
• The International Hockey Federation (FIH) was founded in 1924. Source: FIH
• Field hockey was added to the Olympics for men in 1908 and women in 1980. Source: IOC
• Field hockey is played on a rectangular field 100 yards long and 60 yards wide. Source: USA Field Hockey
• Field hockey is the third most popular team sport in the world, with over 3 million players. Source: World Atlas
• Roller hockey was once an Olympic demonstration sport in 1992.

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Hockey Fun for Kids

• The Anaheim Ducks were originally named the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, after the Disney movie “The Mighty Ducks.” Source: NHL.com
• Hockey players often have nicknames, like “The Great One” (Wayne Gretzky) or “Mr. Hockey” (Gordie Howe). Source: NHL.com
• The Toronto Maple Leafs were originally named the Toronto Arenas. Source: NHL.com
• The NHL’s first women’s game was played in 1892 in Ottawa. Source: The Canadian Encyclopedia

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Whether your kids are already avid hockey fans or just starting to explore the game, I hope these interesting facts have helped them appreciate the sport even more.

By learning about the game’s rich history and the unique quirks of its players and teams, we can all gain a deeper appreciation for the sport and its enduring popularity.

Ready to cheer on our hometown team? Don’t miss our full guide on What To Expect at a Milwaukee Admirals Game — perfect for first-timers and lifelong fans alike.

And, as always: Go, Admirals!