When Was the NHL Created?
Contents
The National Hockey League was founded in 1917. The league existed for seven years before folding.
Introduction
The National Hockey League, or NHL, is a professional ice hockey league made up of 30 teams: 23 in the United States and 7 in Canada. From its inception in 1917, the NHL has undergone several expansions and name changes. The Stanley Cup, which is awarded to the NHL’s playoff champion each year, is the oldest professional sports trophy in North America.
The idea for a professional hockey league was first proposed in 1904 by Ambrose O’Brien, a Canadian mining engineer who had recently hoped to start a team in Cobalt, Ontario. However, it wasn’t until 1913 that the first professional hockey game was played; it featured two teams from Montreal and was held at the Montreal Forum. After this game, more teams began to be established in cities across North and Eastern Canada. In 1917, the NHL was created with five teams: the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Toronto Arenas, Ottawa Senators, and Quebec Bulldogs.
Since then, the NHL has expanded several times. In 1942, The Brooklyn Americans fold due to World War II travel restrictions; as a result, the league drops from seven to six teams. This number increases again in 1967 when six new teams are added as part of what is now known as the “Original Six”: The Los Angeles Kings (then based in Minnesota), Minnesota North Stars (now Dallas Stars), Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers (then called Quakers), St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks join existing teams Boston Bruins , Detroit Red Wings , New York Rangers , Montreal Canadiens , Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres . In 1974-75 , another wave of expansion adds Atlanta Flames (now Calgary Flames ), New York Islanders , Vancouver Canucks and Washington Capitals for a total of 18 clubs; this is increased to 21 just two seasons later with additions Edmonton Oilers and Hartford Whalers . The most recent expansion franchises are Nashville Predators (1998), Atlanta Thrashers (1999), Columbus Blue Jackets (2000) and Minnesota Wild (2000); these four teams along with existing franchises Colorado Avalanche (formerly Quebec Nordiques ), Dallas Stars (formerly Minnesota North Stars)
and Winnipeg Jets (formerly Atlanta Thrashers)
bring the current total of NHL teams up to 30.
The Beginnings of Professional Hockey
The National Hockey League (NHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America, founded on November 26, 1917. The NHL is considered to be the premier professional ice hockey league in the world, and one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada.
The National Hockey League is Formed
In late November of 1917, representatives from four NHL teams — the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators, and Toronto Arenas — convened to discuss the formation of a new hockey league. At that meeting, they reached an agreement to form the NHL, which would officially begin play in the 1917-18 season.
The NHL would not officially become a major professional league until 1926, when it absorbed five teams from the defunct Western Hockey League. Among those teams were the original incarnation of the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the NHL was created in 1917.
