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.

09/20/2026

This one is a deep cut on the B-side of hockey history.

Charlie Cotch played briefly in the PCHA and NHL in the early 1920s, but even the basic details of his origins remained a mystery. Now, some remarkable genealogical detective work has uncovered his Lithuanian roots, his original name, and the story of how Kazimieras Kačkas became Charlie Cotch.

Read the full story and follow the clues that finally brought his early life into focus on the SIHR website: https://sihrhockey.org/2020/columns/article.cfm?aid=997

09/18/2026

Jennifer Botterill reflects on her departure from Sportsnet and looks ahead to the release of her new memoir, *Why Not You: My Story of Perseverance, Hockey, and Olympic Gold*. In conversation with Greg Oliver, the three-time Olympic gold medallist discusses the highs and lows of her career, her hockey family, the pioneers of the women’s game, and the process of putting her remarkable journey into words.

Read the full interview on the SIHR website: https://sihrhockey.org/2020/columns/article.cfm?aid=996

09/12/2026

In his follow-up to Conflicted Scars, former NHL player Justin Davis once again confronts the uncomfortable side of hockey culture. Greg Oliver explores Davis’ forthcoming book, Breaking the Ice: Seven Lives, One Game, and The Fight for the Game of Hockey, which brings together the stories of seven people with very different perspectives on the sport.

Through conversations with figures including Rick Westhead, Zenon Konopka, Jon Mirasty, Dr. Chris Nowinski and Allan Walsh, Davis tackles concussions, fighting, sexism, player health care and the reluctance of those inside hockey to speak openly. There’s no “fluff” here—just a candid examination of a game Davis believes can, and must, do better.

Read the full article on the SIHR website: https://sihrhockey.org/2020/columns/article.cfm?aid=995

09/04/2026

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1716550520470141&id=100063456280292

08/28/2026

In his latest Two Minutes for Reading So Good column, Greg Oliver looks at Craig Fitzpatrick’s Finding the Puck: Leadership Lessons from My Journey Through Blind Hockey, a memoir that may already be becoming difficult to find. Fitzpatrick recounts losing most of his sight to Stargardt disease after serving in the U.S. Air Force, learning to skate as an adult, and eventually discovering blind hockey. Along the way, the book explores family, business, perseverance and Fitzpatrick’s efforts to build opportunities for blind players.

Oliver also highlights the book’s significance as what appears to be the first memoir devoted to the blind hockey community. Fitzpatrick documents the relatively recent development of the sport, the people who helped establish it, and his own work expanding programs and introducing blind hockey to the NHL. With ambitions to help the sport eventually reach the Paralympic Games, Fitzpatrick’s story extends well beyond his own experience. Read the full article to learn why Oliver believes this hard-to-find book is worth seeking out.

Read the full article: https://sihrhockey.org/2020/columns/article.cfm?aid=994

08/27/2026

In his latest article, SIHR member Marcel Lang traces the celebrated puck-control style of Soviet hockey back to an unexpected source: Soviet soccer of the 1930s. Long before the Detroit Red Wings' Russian Five captivated NHL audiences with their constant movement, positional interchange and passing, pioneering soccer thinkers such as Mikhail Romm and Boris Arkadyev were developing many of the same principles. Their ideas were reinforced by a 1937 tour of the Soviet Union by a talented Basque team from Spain, whose fast, fluid passing demonstrated that moving the ball was more effective than carrying it.

Lang shows how future Soviet hockey architects Anatoli Tarasov, Arkadi Chernyshov and Vladimir Yegorov absorbed these concepts and later adapted them to Canadian hockey after the Second World War. Passing over individual puck carrying, constant movement to create options, small-area training and Arkadyev's concept of "organised disorder" became foundations of the distinctive Soviet style. From the great Soviet lines of the 1960s through to the Russian Five in Detroit three decades later, Lang reveals a fascinating tactical lineage stretching from the soccer fields of the 1930s to the NHL.

Read the full article on the SIHR website: https://sihrhockey.org/2020/columns/article.cfm?aid=993

08/16/2026

The August 2026 issue of the Society for International Hockey Research Bulletin explores hockey’s rich history and cultural significance, highlighted by an examination of the Colored Hockey League (CHL) and its lasting impact on the sport.

The CHL flourished in the Maritimes from the late 19th century into the 1930s. The league provided an important competitive outlet for Black players and has been credited with innovations that influenced the development of hockey, including early use of the slap shot. Its story sheds light on contributions to the game that were long overlooked or marginalized because of systemic racism.

Elsewhere in the issue, members share personal reflections on their journeys as hockey researchers and the role of community in preserving and expanding our understanding of the sport’s past. Also featured are profiles of two of SIHR’s 2026 award recipients, an examination of scoring by rookie defencemen, a feature on the historic Calumet Colosseum, and a look at early hockey books published by Spalding.

Thank you to editor Benoît Clairoux for delivering another excellent issue of the SIHR Bulletin. This quarterly publication is an important part of SIHR membership, keeping members informed while providing a forum for sharing the research, stories and discoveries that continue to broaden our understanding of hockey history.

07/01/2026

In the latest instalment of Greg's column, he reviews When the Game Changes, the heartfelt memoir by Sportsnet host Evanka Osmak. Blending career reflections, personal loss, and the unexpected joy of learning to play hockey in her 40s, Osmak's story explores resilience, family, and finding new purpose after profound grief. Greg also shares insights from his conversations with Osmak and co-writer Kristina Rutherford, offering readers a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of a memoir that is as inspiring as it is deeply personal.

Read the full article on the SIHR website: https://sihrhockey.org/2020/columns/article.cfm?aid=988

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

Address

66 Gerrard Street East
Toronto, ON
M5B1G3

Website

http://www.sihr.ca/

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