Crazy bullshit
Black slaves who escaped to Canada invented ice hockey.
Spread on: X, Threads and Facebook, 2026
The real story
Hockey developed over hundreds of years, so no single group invented it. The photo often shared with the claim is real and shows a team from Nova Scotia's Coloured Hockey League. Players in that league are credited with being the first to use the slapshot and butterfly-style goalkeeping, a remarkable history in its own right.
The fact-checker's verdict: “False”. Our label never goes further than theirs.
How to spot it
A real photo can be attached to an overstated claim; the true story is often more interesting than the viral one.
The receipts
Did slaves who escaped to Canada invent ice hockey? Unpacking the real history ↗
Snopes · 2026-06-09
