south river NJ
The first recorded ice hockey game took place in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on January 4, 1893 between two city teams: the Town Boys and the Tailors. The game was played with seven players aside and the Town Boys won 4-1.
In these regions, especially in Canada, hockey has a very long history. Hockey was first played in Canada over 100 years ago and there are very few Canadians, male and female, who haven't played hockey at some level. So hockey is ingrained in the culture of these areas. Also, and probably more important, the northern states and Canada feature very cold winters which freeze pools, ponds and lakes making excellent outdoor, and free, ice surfaces for skating and playing. In fact, I live in a small Canadian town and I don't know anyone of any age who can't skate!!
Have to be Thunder Bay..... so many NHLers from there
Detroit, Michigan.
Windsor nova scotia
After a team wins the Stanley Cup the players each have one day during the summer with the Stanley Cup to do whatever they like after each player has gotten their turn it goes back to the hockey hall of fame in Toronto until next year.
In Canada, hockey has major following in cities like Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. In the US, Detroit (nicknamed: HockeyTown USA), Buffalo and Minneapolis probably take the cake.
According to the Hockey Canada website there are over 500,000 kids of varying ages registered to play hockey in Canada. Of course,there are many more who play hockey in local areas but don't necessarily register with official organizations. For example, there are several dozen kids in my little town who play on the local rink but are not part of Hockey Canada.
Hockey town or the motor city
70,000,000 (seventy million players worldwide)
Ed Arnold has written: 'Hockey Town' 'Whose puck is it, anyway?' -- subject(s): Hockey for children, Peterborough Petes (Hockey team)