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Hockey is Developed
In 1573, a statute in Galway banned "hokie," a game played with a ball and sticks, the earliest reference. Games similar to field hockey existed in England for centuries. In 1796, an engraving of people on ice skates with sticks on the River Thames was made. British soldiers and immigrants to Canada brought their games with them. Records of "hockey" being played on frozen lakes in North America dates back to 1825, before any regulation.
Photo Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey -
Modern Hockey Is Created
The first "modern," organized indoor hockey game is played at Montreal, Canada's Victoria Skating Rink between two teams consisting of nine players. The game featured a "flat circular piece of wood" instead of a ball, which had been used earlier, and had two goals with posts eight feet apart. The game was governed by the "Hockey Association" rules, although they were written for English field hockey.
Photo Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey -
Playing For Pay
The first professional hockey league, the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League, is created and is the first to pay its players. While considered "semi-pro" since not every player was paid, it pioneered the idea that athletes could make a living from the game legitimately, as "illegal" payment of players was common in amateur leagues. While it had technically existed since 1899, the first paid season was the 1901 season.
Photo Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Pennsylvania_Hockey_League -
Going Entirely Pro
The first hockey league composed entirely of professionals, the International Professional Hockey League, is created. It was based mostly in the region around Lake Michigan, though Pittsburgh adn New York were also included. The IPHL would only last two seasons, however it sparked the viability of hockey becoming a full-time career for some.
Photo Source: https://icehockey.fandom.com/wiki/Category:International_Professional_Hockey_League -
Professional Hockey is Introduced to Canada
The professionalism of hockey in the United States and the lack of it in Canada drew many Canadian players to the U.S., leaving amateur rosters in Canada ultimately barren. The prospect of being paid to play hockey was enticing for Canadian players, so Canada was forced to pay their players as well. Paying players in the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association marked the first time a Canadian league did so.
Photo Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Canada_Amateur_Hockey_Association -
IPHL Folds
After the introduction of professional hockey in Canada, the IPHL struggled to retain its mostly-Canadian players, who were mostly only with the league for the money. With the chance to return home and also be paid, sometimes more, to play hockey, the decision was often very easy, with Canadian hockey players flocking back to their homeland. The IPHL could not compete, and it officially ceased operations after the start of the 1907 season, with most teams unable to put enough men on the ice. -
The ECAHA Folds
After the creation of the first paid Canadian league, team owners were hungry for the best players money could buy. There were often bidding wars between teams over players, eventually resulting in the bankruptcy of several teams. Ultimately, there were not enough teams who were able to financially keep up thir operations, and the league was unable to play more than a few games. The league was forced to fold in November of 1909. -
The NHA is Born
Out of the ashes of the ECAHA came a new league, the National Hockey Association. Team owners of the NHA were made up of many wealthy business owners who had the capital to pay their players well, which lured them from many other leagues. The NHA became the most prominent hockey league at the time, also containing eventual NHL teams the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators. The Stanley Cup was also introduced as the championship trophy for hockey, instead of a prize in interleague play. -
The National Hockey League Is Created
Due to an ownership dispute, the owners of the NHA created the NHL to keep their teams playing despite the legal controversies. After the disputes failed to be resolved, the NHA permanently folded, and the NHL was in full operation, playing under the NHA's rules and constitution. Essentially, the NHL was a continuation of the NHA, employing all but the team under fire, the Toronto Blueshirts.
Photo Source: http://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/49114331918/National_Hockey_League/1918/Primary_Logo -
Tough Times for the League
Due to the Great Depression and World War Two taking a heavy toll on teams' rosters, several franchises were forced to cease operations. The Philadelphia Pirates renamed themselves the Quakers in an attempt to revive their revenue stream to no avail, folding in 1931. The Ottawa Senators tried moving to St. Louis as the Eagles, but it was no use as they too folded 1935. The Montreal Maroons went under in 1938. The New York Americans also went under in 1942 and never recovered. -
The Stanley Cup Becomes Exclusive
In the years between the founding of the league and 1925, the Stanley Cup was competed for by the team with the best regular-season record in several different leagues, including the NHL and Western Canada Hockey League. After the WCHL folded, however, the Stanley Cup became the NHL's de facto championship during the 1926 season, in much the same way we know it today.
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Historic Teams Added
The Boston Bruins are added to the NHL in 1924, marking the first American team to join the league. The New York Rangers joined the league in 1926, along with the Chicago Black Hawks and Detroit Cougars (later becoming the Red wings). In 1927, the Toronto St. Patricks were purchased and immediately renamed the Maple Leafs.
Photo Source: https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/info/stpatshistory -
The Original Six
During and after the Great Depression and World War Two, few teams were left standing; The Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs. These teams are what are referred to as "The Original Six" because they were the only teams to last for 25 years before the NHL expanded to more teams in 1967. They are still playing today along with 25 other franchises.
Photo Source: https://hockeysiteincanada.com/nhl-original-six-era/ -
The First Expansion
The NHL held its first-ever Expansion Draft for the six new teams added for the 1967 season. The new teams included the Los Angeles Kings, Oakland Seals, Minnesota North Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues. The move to double the size of the league came from fears of losing players to other leagues, as well as hopes for a television contract, something revolutionary for the time.
Photo Source: https://thehockeywriters.com/june-6-1967-the-day-that-changed-hockey/
