The National Hockey League today is one of the most exciting leagues in the world with over thirty franchised teams that employs some of the best players in the world. The league was originally founded in Montreal Canada with the first season being the 1917-1918 season. This came directly after the National Hockey Association was shut down at the start of World War One after just seven seasons. The league for the first twenty five years was divided primarily between the Pacific Coast Hockey Association and Western Canada Hockey League.Confused? Here ‘s a little help . The league originally had six teams but slowly began expanding in 1942. The league grew in number of teams and in fans until the 1990′s where it underwent some major changes. One of the most notable changes was the defensive gear which essentially reduced goals scored by a considerable amount. The NHL suffered a major loss in 2004-2005 season with a lockout. Fans interest in the league dropped considerably and as a result, many major network televisions ceased coverage. The league is still feeling these effects today.

The NHL has given rise to many legendary players over the years. Several pioneers such as Maurice Richard who had the NHL’s first 50 goal season have contributed much to the game. Gordie Howe entertained crowds for over 35 seasons and setting records for all time goals and points. Willie O’Ree is an icon for being the first Black man to play in an NHL game paving the way for continued civil rights in America. Today, if you ask experts who the all time greatest player is, the most common answer will be Wayne Gretzky, who holds many of the leagues all time best records. The NHL also boasts of one of the most coveted trophies in all of sports, the Stanley Cup which has been touched deservingly by many great players since 1892.