Ice Hockey - the Peaks Ice Arena & E Center While the origins of ice hockey are unclear, it's widely accepted that the British are responsible for bringing hockey to North America and the sport migrated south to the United States during the 1890s. Although hockey was a national pastime in Canada, the United States was the first country to organize a professional league. Formed in 1903 and based in Houghton, Mich., the Pro Hockey League included teams and players from Canada and the United States. The league folded three years later, and in 1910 the National Hockey League was formed. Ice hockey joined the Olympic program at the 1920 Antwerp Summer Games. Four years later, men's hockey made its winter debut in Chamonix and has been part of every winter program. Women's hockey became an Olympic event at the 1998 Nagano Games. Back to top