Society for International Hockey Research (SIHR)

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Society for International Hockey Research (SIHR)

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The Society for International Hockey Research (www.sihrhockey.org) is a non-profit organization comprised of writers, statisticians, collectors, broadcasters, academics and just plain hockey buffs who compile, exchange and distribute hockey research.

06/06/2026

Ed Norris continues his series of Bruins deep dives with a new document chronicling every player who has worn the alternate captain's "A" for the club.

https://sihrhockey.org/2020/misc_research/

05/25/2026

After a brief hiatus, Greg Oliver's regular book column returns, as he talks with legendary NHL referee Bill McCreary and co-author Rob Simpson to discuss Stories from Ice Level, a new memoir offering an inside look at life between the boards. From rule changes and memorable controversies to the pressures of officiating in front of thousands of fans, the book pulls back the curtain on one of hockey’s toughest jobs through candid stories and reflections from across the game.

Read the article on the SIHR website: https://sihrhockey.org/2020/columns/article.cfm?aid=987

05/04/2026

Head on over to the SIHR website to read the updated list: https://sihrhockey.org/2020/misc_research/

04/25/2026

This article by Marcel Lang recounts the rise of Bohumil Modrý, one of Czechoslovakia’s greatest goaltenders, during the late 1940s when the nation emerged as a serious challenger to Canadian dominance in international hockey. Modrý was admired both for his skill and intelligence, helping modernize European goaltending techniques while starring on world championship teams. He also played a role in sharing hockey knowledge with the emerging Soviet program, earning praise from future coaching legend Anatoli Tarasov.

The article then shifts to the political turmoil following the 1948 Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia under Klement Gottwald. As repression increased, many athletes considered fleeing the country. Modrý sought permission to emigrate to Canada, but promises made by officials were hollow. The growing number of athlete defections embarrassed the regime, and even private discussions among players about escaping would later have serious consequences. This first part sets the stage for Modrý’s tragic downfall.

Read the full article with photos on the SIHR website: https://sihrhockey.org/2020/columns/article.cfm?aid=985

03/21/2026

A New Brunswick teacher turns a real-life rescue dog with a hockey stick-shaped tail into a charming children’s book. *Tilley’s Tail* blends hockey, creativity, and family inspiration, encouraging young readers—especially those drawn to sports—to discover the joy of reading through stories that connect with their passions.

https://sihrhockey.org/2020/columns/article.cfm?aid=982

03/12/2026

CSKA vs Spartak Moscow, watched by Aggie Kukulowicz (1967)

Marcel Lang's article tells the story of Winnipeg-born hockey player Aggie Kukulowicz, whose brief National Hockey League career with the New York Rangers was followed by an unexpected role as an informal ambassador for the game in Moscow during the Cold War. While working for Air Canada in the late 1960s, Kukulowicz helped organize a Canadian expatriate team—nicknamed the Moscow Maple Leafs—that played friendly games against Soviet teams, creating small but meaningful hockey exchanges between East and West.

The article also recounts Kukulowicz’s observations of a Soviet league matchup between HC CSKA Moscow and HC Spartak Moscow, where he compared Soviet tactics and player usage with those of Canadian professional hockey. Through his comments, readers get a fascinating glimpse into how the Soviet style of play appeared to a Canadian professional during a period when international hockey rivalries were beginning to intensify.

Read the full article on SIHR's Behind the Boards: https://sihrhockey.org/2020/columns/article.cfm?aid=981

03/09/2026

The article “Setting the criteria for the greatest of the greats” by Greg Oliver profiles author Grant Pennell and his book Skating with Goats: Selecting the All-Time Greatest NHL Team. The book explores the long-standing debate over hockey’s greatest players by attempting to create a structured way to evaluate them. Inspired by a lifelong fascination with hockey history—shaped partly by his father, former AHL player Gord Pennell—Grant Pennell developed a system that scores players based on specific criteria rather than simply choosing personal favourites.

Pennell’s approach uses a rating template similar to those in sports video games, assigning points for different skills and attributes to compare players across eras. His analysis focuses on NHL players from 1943 onward, which he considers the beginning of the modern game, and produces hypothetical all-time line combinations featuring stars such as Gordie Howe, Wayne Gretzky, and Alex Ovechkin. The article highlights both the fun and the challenges of constructing such a roster, noting that Pennell aimed to remain objective—even leaving out some of his own favourite players—while encouraging readers to rethink how “greatest of all time” debates are framed.

Read the article here: https://sihrhockey.org/2020/columns/article.cfm?aid=980

03/06/2026

Author Ed Norris takes a closer look at The Hockey News “Power and Influence” rankings, analyzing a decade of lists to determine who truly shaped the modern hockey world. By developing his own scoring method, he reveals which figures—on and off the ice—had the greatest impact over the past ten years.

https://sihrhockey.org/2020/columns/article.cfm?aid=979

03/02/2026

The Birthplace of Ice Hockey Act of 2026

Hockey historian and author Jean-Patrice Martel has submitted a response to Nova Scotia’s proposed Birthplace of Ice Hockey Act, saying there’s no single origin for the sport. Research shows many early hockey-like games were played in different places (including Windsor, Déline, Halifax and even in Europe), and the evidence doesn’t support declaring one official birthplace. SIHR itself doesn’t take an official position on where hockey began.

Read his letter: https://sihrhockey.org/2020/columns/article.cfm?aid=978

03/01/2026

In its Behind the Boards column, Oskar Tallqvist of the Society for International Hockey Research looks back at a time when hockey was fast, rough, and still defining itself — especially when it came to officiating.

In the early 1900s, different leagues enforced rules in different ways, and referees often relied more on force of personality than formal structure. That began to change in 1904–05 when the Manitoba Hockey League introduced a two-official system, pairing a referee with a “judge of play.” The innovation helped bring order to increasingly physical contests and soon spread to other leagues.

The era also produced pioneering officials such as Edwin “Chaucer” Elliott, Bob Meldrum, Mickey Ion, and Cooper Smeaton — men who earned reputations for fairness and courage in rinks that could turn hostile. Their influence helped professionalize the role of the referee, and several were later inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

It was a formative period when officiating evolved from an afterthought into a respected and essential part of the game.

Read the article: https://sihrhockey.org/2020/columns/article.cfm?aid=977

Address

66 Gerrard Street East
Toronto, ON
M5B1G3

Website

http://www.sihr.ca/

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