Hurley
Hurley had been played by Mount Allison students from the 1840s to the 1890s, and is considered to be a precursor to hockey. It was played outdoors throughout the year, including winter, and with skates or without. The leather-covered ball used in the game was described by one student from the 1840s as being like “a very ugly missile about one’s shins.” Despite the velocity at which the ball could be hit, hurley was more of a recreational activity than a competitive sport.
Another account of hurley is provided by William Seaman, who was a student of the University between 1884 and 1889. On 18 November 1887, he wrote the following to his sister Jennie:
“The skating in Sackville is elegant. I was out today for the first time. About thirty of us, more or less were up to Ogden's mill pond this afternoon and we had a jolly time for two or three hours playing hurley and whirling around to our heart's satisfaction.”
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