History

The 1883 Black Ice Pond Hockey Championship’s mission is to maintain and expand ice skating opportunities locally, as well as, celebrate and honor the rich hockey heritage that has occurred in Concord, New Hampshire.

Acknowledging the history begins with the tournament name. “1883” refers to a historical date and “Black Ice” refers to the purest of ice.  St. Paul’s School, located in Concord, and hockey have been synonymous since November 17, 1883 when the school community gathered on the Lower Pond to witness the first organized game ever played in the United States.

Many consider Hobey Baker the most renowned student athlete to attend St. Paul’s School.  Baker was first introduced to hockey by Coach Malcolm Gordon, who has been called “The Father of American Hockey”. At the age of fourteen, Baker was named a member of the school’s varsity hockey team. At fifteen, he was awarded the Gordon Medal as the school’s best all-around athlete. Baker was inducted in the initial class of the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1973.  He was also inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1975.  In 1980, the NCAA created the Hobey Baker Award in his honor. This is awarded to the best collegiate ice hockey player in America. Baker was inducted into the New Hampshire Legends of Hockey Hall of Fame in 2006.

Concord has been the home to two US Olympic Hockey Athletes.  Douglas N. Everett was named to the 1928 US Olympic team going to play in Switzerland but did not have funding to get there. He was also a member of the US Olympic team at the 1932 winter games in Lake Placid, NY.  Doug was inducted into the US Hockey Hall of Fame in 1974 and became a member of the inaugural class in the New Hampshire Legends of Hockey Hall of Fame in 2002.  On December 7, 1965 The Douglas N. Everett Arena was opened.  The arena was dedicated in Everett’s honor for his hockey achievements.  This facility remains the primary home for hockey in the city. Tara Mounsey won a Gold Medal at the 1998 Olympics held in Nagano, Japan and won a Silver Medal at the 2002 Olympics held in Salt Lake City as a member of the US Woman’s Olympic Hockey Team.  Tara was selected to the All-World Teams at both Olympics.  She was inducted into the New Hampshire Legends of Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.

In addition to our two Olympians, there have been other great players, coaches and visionaries inducted into the New Hampshire Legends of Hockey Hall of Fame who called Concord their home.  Inductees from Concord include:  Karl “Red” Adams – Player Sacred Heart Hockey Club, UNH Wildcats;  Steve Arndt – Player Dartmouth College, Concord Budmen;  Ingersoll “Ingy” Arnold – Coach; Lee Blossom – Player Concord High School, St Paul’s School, Boston College ; Ryan Brandt – UNH Wildcats, Eastern Olympics;  Leonard “Red” Brochu – Player Sacred Heart, Shamrocks, Referee;  Kent Carlson – Player Concord High School, Montréal Canadians;  Bruce Gillies, Jr. – Player Bishop Brady, University of New Hampshire, and Edmonton Oilers affiliate; John J. “Tarzan” Healy, – Visionary, Concord Youth Hockey;  Bud Luckern – Coach Concord Youth Hockey, Bishop Brady High School; Bill Matthews – Coach St Paul’s School; Bob Norton – Broadcaster, Coach;  Richard W. Osborne – Broadcaster ; Jim Rivers – Broadcaster;  Richard P. Ryerson – Coach Tilton School, Concord High School;  Russell F. “Russ” Martin – Player University of New Hampshire, Concord hockey founder, Concord Youth Hockey; Robert R. Tardif – Concord hockey visionary; Duncan Walsh – Player Bishop Brady High School, Plymouth State College, Coach – Concord High School.

Many of these great players and coaches played for teams that called Concord their home whether it was at White Park, another pond in the area or (for the last 50+ years) at Everett Arena.  The following is a list of youth teams that played in Concord: In 1911, the Concord Young Sluggers and the Young I.O.C.’s began play.  The White Park Warriors began play in 1916.  The Millville Bruins began play in the early 1920’s and played their games out on Kimball Pond in Hopkinton and Horseshoe Pond in Concord.. While the Concord Hockey Club began playing in 1927 at the John Higgins rink on the site of the old Highway Hotel off of Bridge Street.  In 1932-33 police officer Tom Andrews organized a boy’s midget league.  Here came the White Park Blue Streaks, Walker Street Rangers Fosterville Tigers, South End All-Stars, East Concord, West End Canadiens and the independents  Both clubs finished prior to the formation of Sacred Heart(take out).  The Sacred Heart Club of Concord was formed in the winter of 1929-30 and played most winters through the winter of 1951-52.  On Tuesday January 8, 1952, the Hearts hosted the U.S. Olympic team prior to the Oslo Olympics and lost 8-6 after leading 5-3 after two periods.  Their games were played at the rink on Pleasant Street at the site of their church and school.  Russell F. “Russ” Martin founded the Concord Youth Hockey Association in 1959-60 and several other local men immediately joined him devoting their skills, energies and time to young skaters.  The program was started to emphasize hockey fundamentals and sportsmanship to the local youth.  Concord Youth Hockey continues to be the primary youth hockey organization in the Concord area and plays out of Everett Arena. The Concord Shamrocks played from 1962-63 until 1966-67.  They competed in the Granite State Hockey League. Their games were played at White Park and their last year at the Douglas N. Everett Arena.  The Concord Shamrock’s First Year.

After the Everett Arena was built the following teams called it home: The Concord Coachmen began playing in the winter of 1966-67 and played through the 1967-68 season. The Concord Eastern Olympics began play in 1967-68 and finished in 1973-74.  They competed in the New England Hockey League and the Can-Am League. The Concord High School Crimson Tide assembled a club team in the early 1930’s but it is not known how many years that lasted.  Teams re-emerged for good in the late 1950’s.  Concord High School has won 8 Division I Hockey High School State Championships in the modern high school era, two under Richard “Dick” Ryerson (1977, 1979) and six under Duncan Walsh (1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2010).  The Bishop Brady High School Green Giants began play in 1967 and still compete in New Hampshire High School Hockey’s top division I. The Tri City Coachmen played one season during 1974-75.  The Concord Budmen began play in 1975-76 and finished in 1991-92.  They competed in the New England Hockey League and as an independent and their games were played at the Douglas N. Everett Arena.  The Budmen still participate in several tournaments yearly and will be competing in the 1883 Black Ice Tournament.

Special thanks to St Paul’s School and NH Legends of Hockey http://www.nhlegendsofhockey.com/

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