Brief history of National Hockey League (Part 1)
The National Hockey League (NHL) is a male professional ice hockey league which ít acknowledged as the world’s most prestigious hockey league. The league was established in Montréal, Québec, in 1917. The league nowadays includes 31 franchises of which 7 is in Canada and 24 is in the United States. The Canadian teams are the Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks. Annual competition is hosted for the Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America.
Establishment and Early History of the NHL (1917–41)
The National Hockey League (NHL) succeeded the National Hockey Association (NHA), which was force to fold due to a dispute between Eddie Livingstone, the owner of the Toronto Blueshirts, and the owners of the other clubs in the league. The initial NHL teams included the Montreal Wanderers, Montreal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators and Toronto Arenas; Québec City owned a franchise, but decided not to host that season. At the time, the NHL was one of a few professional leagues including the Pacific Coast Hockey Association that competed for the Stanley Cup.
In the following 25 years, the league underwent numerous changes in scheduling, composition, and playoff format. In 1924, the Boston Bruins was the first American club to join the league; and by 1926, six out of the 10 teams were from the United States. The Ottawa Senators dominated the games during 1920s, winning four Stanley Cup trophy and six league titles; unfortunately, the team folded in 1934.
Some early exploits live on in hockey history: Joe Malone recorded seven goals in one game in 1920; George Hainsworth won the Vézina Trophy in its first three years; and in February 1923, Foster Hewitt live broadcast a game on the radio for the very first time. Outstanding players of the era included Frank “King” Clancy, Charlie Conacher, Howie Morenz, Bill Cook, Aurèle Joliat, Eddie Shore, Lester Patrick and Nels Stewart.