Victoria Skating Rink, 19th-century indoor skating venue in Montreal, Canada
Victoria Skating Rink was a 19th-century ice skating venue in Montreal housed in a brick building with an ice surface measuring 204 by 80 feet (62 by 24 meters). The interior was originally lit by gas-jet fixtures that were later replaced with electric lighting.
The venue opened in 1862 and hosted the first recorded indoor ice hockey game on March 3, 1875. James Creighton organized this pioneering match between two nine-player teams using a rubber puck, establishing what would become standard rules for the sport.
The rink served as a gathering place for Montreal's English-speaking community near McGill University, hosting skating competitions and winter carnival events. It became known as a social hub where people from different parts of the city would come together during the cold season.
The building was located between Drummond and Stanley Streets in central Montreal, within walking distance of McGill University. It served multiple functions, operating as a skating venue in winter and hosting musical performances and other events during summer months.
The ice surface dimensions established here became the reference standard for hockey rink construction across North America. Later rinks were designed to match or build upon these exact measurements, shaping the sport's physical requirements.
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