JGH Creighton was raised and attended school in Halifax, Nova Scotia where he studied engineering, as well as the huge games of ice hockey that would played on the frozen harbour every winter. These games featured the soldiers of the British garrison in Halifax and the local  natives. He took to the game quickly and admired the non-stop, ruckus action.

  Creighton arrived in Montreal, Quebec in 1872 to work as an engineer. He also got to work trying to recreate the game that he saw being played on those cold days in Halifax. JGH and his colleagues laid out a simple set of rules and put them to the test in the confines of the Victoria Skating Rink in downtown Montreal. This is the first jump in the evolution of hockey. The game was no longer strictly an outdoor sport. The first few years were a complete disaster. The people of Montreal when not interested with this new game. They wanted their rinks for skating and winter carnivals. JGH persevered by practising every chance he and his friends could. Even on Sundays (when they were able to bribe the manager). Finally, two exhibition matches were set between the Montreal Victorias and the Montreal Football Club on March 3, 1875 at the Victoria rink. Creighton would captain the Footballers and the Vics would be captained by his good friend Fred Torrence. It is interesting to note that on the Vics roster was one Dr. Meager. The man who is credited to bringing North American hockey to Europe.

  In the days leading up to the event, advertising was done throughout the city of Montreal to try and generate some kind of interest for JGH's new game. It is only a guess that, on that day, about 20-30 people attended these first advertised games. Family, friends, rink staff and the curious spectator probably filled the seats that day. They probably didn't realize that they were about to witness the first big moment in hockey's short recorded history.

  The Footballers won the first of the scheduled two games, 2-1. Everything seemed to be going according to plan, until near the end of the second game. With the score unknown, the game was cancelled do to a large brawl. This altercation not only involved the players, but some of the spectators as well. It would have been quite a sight to see Victorian age ladies and gentlemen scurry from the venue in chaos and confusion.

  The irony of this fight is not lost to hockey history. Think about it. Fighting occurred in the first game ever played (under a set of obscure rules) and continues play to a part in today's game. Also, if JGH was not able to grease the palm of the rink manager we would still be bundling up to go outside on a cold winter night to watch a hockey game.