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It is a common misconception that the NHL is the alpha and the omega of professional hockey. Granted, it has become a household name around the world, and is the most followed league, but the National Hockey League grew out of several other leagues well after the turn of the century.
In the first few years of the twentieth century, three hockey leagues had been formed across Canada: The Canadian Hockey Association, the National Hockey Association, and the Pacific Coast Hockey Association. The players in these leagues were very much considered amateurs, though they often made more money from playing hockey than they did from their "regular" jobs.
During World War I, many men left and joined the armed forces, but by that point, hockey had become so popular in Canada that many servicemen devoted as much time to playing it as they did to their military duties.
The National Hockey League was officially formed on November 22, 1917. However, many historians claim that the league did become official until four days later, when the five teams that would make up the first NHL season signed on. These teams were the Ottawa Senators, the Quebec Bulldogs, the Montreal Canadiens, the Montreal Wanderers, and the Toronto Arenas.
The first president and secretary of the NHL was Frank Calder, who had previously served as secretary/treasurer for the National Hockey Association. He agreed to lead the NHL for a sum of $800 per season.
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Due to the fact that many members of the Quebec Bulldogs had joined the service, there were not enough players for them to put forth a team for the 1917-1918 season. The remaining players were then distributed amongst the four teams remaining.
It has often been said that "a bad dress rehearsal means a good performance." One could say that the opening game of the NHL could have been such a dress rehearsal. Only 700 people attended the first game, despite having been heavily advertised. Soldiers in uniform were invited to attend free of charge, but even that did not manage to fill the seats. Nonetheless, interest in the NHL and its teams have steadily grown over the years.
The NHL was nearly destroyed on January 2, 1918 when a devastating fire ripped through the Montreal Arena, at the time being shared by both the Wanderers and the Canadiens. Plagued by financial problems, the Wanderers owner quickly left the NHL, leaving the team without a rink and without a coach. After only having played six games, the Wanderers were forced to withdraw. The Canadiens, however, moved into a smaller rink, and continued the season along with the Toronto Arenas and the Ottawa Senators.
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By 1919, most of the players who had left for the military had returned home. The Quebec Bulldogs, now complete again, regained their players from the other teams and joined the 1919-1920 season. Joe Malone, who had been playing for the Canadiens, returned to his home team, and on January 31, 1920 scored seven goals in a game against Toronto. This marked the most goals scored by one player in a single game, and this record has not yet been broken.
Despite their sudden success, the Quebec Bulldogs were forced by financial problems to relocate to Hamilton, Ontario, where under new management they were renamed the Hamilton Tigers.
Expansion first began in 1924. Montreal gained another franchise, named the Maroons. The first American franchise was also started in Boston, called the Bruins. That same year, a new trophy was introduced, called the Lady Byng Award. It was named after the wife of the Canadian Governor-General, and was awarded to the player displaying the best sportsmanship and gentlemanly behavior.
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