National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL) was established in Montréal on 26 November 1917.
November 17, 1877
National Hockey League
Birth of NHL’s Founding President, Frank Calder
Frank Calder was born in Bristol, England. He served as president of the National Hockey League (NHL) from its founding in 1917 until his death in 1943. The NHL’s Rookie of the Year award (Calder Memorial Trophy) and the American Hockey League’s championship trophy (Calder Cup) are both named in his honour.
November 26, 1917
National Hockey League
National Hockey League Formed
The National Hockey League was formed. The original teams were the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators and Toronto Arenas.
December 19, 1917
National Hockey League
First NHL Games Played
Two games, two Montreal teams: On this, the first day of NHL play in history, the Montreal Wanderers played the Toronto Arenas on Wanderers' home ice. Montreal Wanderers defenceman Dave Ritchie scored the league's first goal, and the game ended 10-9 in Montreal's favour. Meanwhile, in Ottawa, the Montreal Canadiens played the Ottawa Senators. Joe Malone, Canadiens player, scored five goals for his team, beating Ottawa 7-4. (see The Birth of the National Hockey League (NHL).
January 10, 1920
National Hockey League
Most Goals in NHL Game
Montréal and Toronto combined to set an NHL record for most goals in a game (21) in a 14-7 win for the Canadiens.
April 01, 1920
National Hockey League
Ottawa Senators Win Stanley Cup
The Ottawa Senators won the Stanley Cup, beating the Seattle Metropolitans 3 games to 2. Because of warm weather, the final game was played in Toronto to take advantage of an artificial ice surface there.
August 04, 1921
National Hockey League
Birth of Maurice Richard
Hockey player Joseph-Henri-Maurice "Rocket" Richard, who scored 50 goals in 50 games, long hockey's most celebrated record, was born at Montréal.
March 30, 1925
National Hockey League
Victoria Wins Stanley Cup
The Western Canada Hockey League champion Victoria Cougars were the last non-NHL team to win the Stanley Cup, beating the Montreal Canadiens by 3 games to one.
February 14, 1927
National Hockey League
Toronto St. Patricks Renamed Maple Leafs
The Toronto St. Patricks hockey team was renamed the Maple Leafs, shortly after the club’s sale to a group headed by Conn Smythe. The original Leafs jerseys featured a green maple leaf, but the signature blue leaf appeared the next year and has been standard ever since.
March 31, 1928
National Hockey League
Birth of Gordie Howe
Hockey player Gordon Howe was born at Floral, Sask.
January 06, 1931
National Hockey League
Birth of Dickie Moore
Montréal Canadiens hall-of-famer Richard "Dickie" Moore was born in Montréal, QC. Moore played left wing for the Habs from 1951 to 1963, winning six Stanley Cup championships as part of a legendary lineup that included Maurice "Rocket" Richard, Henri Richard and Jean Béliveau. A leading scorer in the NHL of his era, Moore won the Art Ross Trophy two years in a row.
January 10, 1938
National Hockey League
Birth of Frank Mahovlich
Hockey great Frank “The Big M” Mahovlich was born in Timmins, ON. Mahovlich joined the Maple Leafs in 1957, taking the Calder Trophy for best rookie. Known for his power-skating and booming slap shot, he was a key component in the Leafs' four Stanley Cup victories in the 1960s. Mahovlich was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1981, and appointed to the Senate in June 1998. He retired in 2013.
March 22, 1940
National Hockey League
Birth of Dave Keon
Dave Keon was born in Noranda, Quebec. Named the NHL’s Rookie of the Year in 1961, Keon began his professional career with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He won four Stanely Cups and the 1967 Conn Smythe Trophy with the Leafs and played in the NHL for 18 seasons. Keon was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. He was voted the greatest player in Leafs franchise history in 2016.
April 13, 1940
National Hockey League
New York Rangers Win Stanley Cup
The New York Rangers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs to win the Stanley Cup, the last that they won until 1994.
February 25, 1945
National Hockey League
Richard Breaks Malone's Record
Maurice "Rocket" Richard of the Montreal Canadiens scored his 45th goal of the season to break Joe Malone's NHL single-season record of 44 goals set in 1918.
March 18, 1945
National Hockey League
Richard Scores 50th
Maurice "Rocket" Richard scored his 50th goal in his 50th game of the NHL season, a record that stood for almost 40 years.
April 21, 1951
National Hockey League
Barilko's Last Goal
Bill Barilko of the Toronto Maple Leafs scored the last game of his life in the first overtime period against the Montreal Canadiens, winning the Stanley Cup for the Leafs. He perished in a plane crash shortly after and his body was only recovered 11 years later. Ironically, the Leafs did not win another cup until the year his body was found.
March 23, 1952
National Hockey League
Fastest Three Goals
Bill Mosienko of the Chicago Black Hawks set an NHL record by scoring 3 goals in 21 seconds. He scored at 6:09, 6:20 and 6:30 of the third period against the New York Rangers.
March 17, 1955
National Hockey League
Montreal Riots 1955
The suspension of Montreal Canadiens player Maurice Richard by NHL president Clarence Campbell triggered a riot at the Montreal Forum that spread into the streets.
January 18, 1958
National Hockey League
O'Ree Joins NHL
Hockey player Willie O'Ree has his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins in a game against the Montreal Canadiens, thus becoming the first Black person to enter the league.
January 16, 1960
National Hockey League
Howe Passes Richard in Goals
Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings scored one goal and assists on another to pass Maurice (Rocket) Richard as the leading scorer in NHL history.
April 14, 1960
National Hockey League
Canadiens Win Fifth Cup
The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs, winning the Stanley Cup for an NHL-record fifth year in a row.
March 11, 1965
National Hockey League
NHL Expansion
The National Hockey League announced the formation of a 6-team division, consisting of Los Angeles, San Francisco/Oakland, St Louis, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Minneapolis-St Paul. The division began play in the 1967-68 season.
March 12, 1966
National Hockey League
Hull Breaks Goal-Scoring Record
Bobby Hull of the Chicago Black Hawks became the first NHL player to score more than 50 goals in a season.
December 01, 1969
National Hockey League
Vancouver Awarded NHL Franchise
Vancouver was awarded an NHL franchise. The Canucks' team name comes from a comic book character who protected Canada from the Nazi menace during WWII.
April 03, 1970
National Hockey League
Bobby Orr Wins Scoring Title
Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins was the first defenceman to win the NHL scoring title.
May 22, 1970
National Hockey League
Vancouver Canucks Join NHL
The Vancouver Canucks joined the NHL.
October 09, 1970
National Hockey League
Vancouver Canucks Play First NHL Game
The Vancouver Canucks played their first NHL game, losing to the Los Angeles Kings.
February 07, 1976
National Hockey League
Darryl Sittler Sets Record
Darryl Sittler of the Toronto Maple Leafs set the single game NHL scoring record with 6 goals and 4 assists in a 11-4 defeat of the Boston Bruins.
December 23, 1978
National Hockey League
Bryan Trottier Sets Record for Most Points in a Period
Métis hockey player Bryan Trottier set an NHL record when he scored four goals and two assists in the second period of a game — the most points in one period in NHL history. He later won four Stanley Cups with the New York Islanders, two with the Pittsburgh Penguins and one as an assistant coach with the Colorado Avalanche. In 2001, the Islanders retired his No. 19.
January 09, 1979
National Hockey League
NHL Merges with WHA
The NHL Players' Association ratified the merger of the National Hockey League and the World Hockey Association. Former WHA teams Québec, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Hartford joined the NHL.
June 22, 1979
National Hockey League
WHA Folds
The NHL rival World Hockey Association folded. Winnipeg, Québec, Hartford and the Edmonton Oilers were taken into the NHL.
April 30, 1980
National Hockey League
Gordie Howe Retires
Gordie Howe retired from hockey, having played his last game with the Hartford Whalers.
August 09, 1988
National Hockey League
Gretzky Traded from Oilers
Though House Leader Nelson Riis demanded the government block the trade, Wayne Gretzky was traded from Edmonton to Los Angeles. The “Great One” left the Oilers along with defenceman Marty McSorley and centre Mike Krushelnyski. Gretzky would lead the Kings to their first Stanley Cup final in 1993. The trade was the driving force behind the NHL’s expansion into such “non-traditional” hockey markets as Arizona.
September 23, 1992
National Hockey League
Rhéaume Plays Goal
Goalie Manon Rhéaume became the first woman to play goal for an NHL hockey team, the Tampa Bay Lightning.
October 08, 1992
National Hockey League
New NHL Senators Debut
NHL hockey returned to Ottawa after a 58-year hiatus. The Ottawa Senators defeated Montreal 5–3 in their first game, but then proceeded to have a dismal year, winning only nine more games all season and finishing last in the league.
May 25, 1995
National Hockey League
Nordiques Sold
The Québec Nordiques were sold to Comsat Corporation for US $75 millions. The new team was moved to Denver, Colorado, and renamed the Avalanche. The new team won the Stanley Cup the following year.
July 01, 1996
National Hockey League
Jets Become Coyotes
The Winnipeg Jets officially changed their name to the Phoenix Coyotes.
December 03, 1996
National Hockey League
Eagleson Charged
The RCMP finally charged Alan Eagleson, former executive director of the NHL Players Association, with fraud and theft. He had been indicted in 1994 for racketeering and fraud.
June 17, 1997
National Hockey League
NHL Expands Again
The NHL approved expansion to 4 more cities: Nashville, Tenn (1998-99), Atlanta, Ga (1999-2000), Columbus, Ohio and St Paul, Min (2000-01).
February 13, 1999
National Hockey League
Last Game at the Gardens
The Toronto Maple Leafs played their last game at the storied Maple Leaf Gardens. Future games would be played at the Air Canada Centre.
April 16, 1999
National Hockey League
Gretzky Retires
Wayne Gretzky, aged 38, announced that he would retire from hockey at the end of the season. He had played for 21 years and held or shared 61 NHL records.
September 25, 1999
National Hockey League
NHL Teams Seek Aid
The 6 Canadian-based NHL hockey teams petitioned the federal government for financial aid. It was refused.
November 26, 1999
National Hockey League
Yzerman Scores 600th Goal
Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings, who was born at Cranbrook, BC, scored his 600th NHL goal, the 11th NHL player to do so.
February 21, 2000
National Hockey League
McSorley Injures Brashear
In the remaining seconds of an NHL hockey match, the Boston Bruins' Marty McSorely delivered a crushing head blow to Donald Brashear of the Vancouver Canucks. McSorely faced jail time, a first for an incident during an NHL game. He received 18 months' probation and a suspension from the NHL that marked the end of his career in the league. The hit is widely regarded as one of the most disgraceful hits in NHL history.
May 27, 2000
National Hockey League
Death of Rocket Richard
Legendary Montreal Canadien and Hockey Hall of Famer Maurice "Rocket" Richard died in Montréal at age 79.
May 28, 2003
National Hockey League
Patrick Roy Retires
Patrick Roy, one of the NHL's premier goalies, retired after 18 seasons. He won 551 games during the regular season and 151 in playoffs.
April 04, 2015
National Hockey League
Death of Elmer Lach
Elmer Lach, the centre who played alongside Maurice Richard on the Montréal Canadiens’ Punch Line in the 1940s, died in Montréal. At 97, the Nokomis, SK, native was the oldest surviving NHL player.
April 06, 2015
National Hockey League
Death of Dollard St-Laurent
Former Montréal Canadiens defenceman Dollard St-Laurent died in Belœil, QC, at age 85. The Verdun, QC, native won five Stanley Cups in his time with the Canadiens during the 1950s, and one with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1961.
June 24, 2015
National Hockey League
Price Makes NHL History With Four Awards
Montréal Canadiens goalie Carey Price received the Hart Trophy (NHL's most valuable player), the Vézina Trophy (NHL's best goalie), and the Ted Lindsay Award (most outstanding player as voted by the players). In April 2015, he won the William M. Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest goals in regular season play (189), which he shared with Corey Crawford (Chicago Blackhawks). Price is the first goalie in NHL history to win those four awards, and the second Canadiens player to win four NHL awards (the first was Guy Lafleur).
September 16, 2015
National Hockey League
Subban Pledges $10 Million to Montreal Children's Hospital
Montral Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban pledged $10 million to the Montreal Children's Hospital — the largest philanthropic commitment from a professional athlete in Canadian history.
December 15, 2015
National Hockey League
Carey Price Wins Lou Marsh Trophy
Montréal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price won the Lou Marsh Trophy, given annually to Canada's top athlete as determined by a jury of Canadian sports writers. He is the first goalie to ever win the award. The trophy was Price's fifth award of 2015, in addition to the Hart Trophy, the Vézina Trophy, the Ted Lindsay Award and the William M. Jennings Trophy.
December 19, 2015
National Hockey League
Death of Dickie Moore
Montréal Canadiens hall-of-famer Richard "Dickie" Moore died in Montréal, QC, at age 84. Moore played left wing for the Habs from 1951 to 1963, winning six Stanley Cup championships as part of a legendary lineup that included Maurice "Rocket" Richard, Henri Richard and Jean Béliveau. A leading scorer in the NHL of his era, Moore won the Art Ross Trophy two years in a row.
May 23, 2016
National Hockey League
Death of John Brophy
Hockey coach John Brophy, who led the Toronto Maple Leafs for two and a half seasons in the late 1980s, died in his hometown of Antigonish, Nova Scotia. He was 83. Though the Leafs’ performance during Brophy’s tenure was not the finest of its history, Brophy left his mark on several hockey leagues as a hard-nosed player and coach. He ranks second only to Scotty Bowman in professional coaching victories and holds the Eastern Hockey League record for penalty minutes.
June 10, 2016
National Hockey League
Death of Gordie Howe
Twenty-one-time National Hockey League all-star Gordie Howe — known to generations of fans as “Mr. Hockey” — died in Sylvania, Ohio, at age 88. The Floral, Saskatchewan native played for 32 seasons in the major leagues, including 26 years in the NHL — 25 of these with the Detroit Red Wings. Few players have come close to matching his overall proficiency, and none his longevity.
May 21, 2021
National Hockey League
Maple Leafs and Canadiens Faceoff in First Playoff Series Since 1979
Arch rivals Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens began the first playoff series against each other since 1979. The higher-seeded Maple Leafs took a commanding 3–1 lead in the series before the Canadiens won two games in overtime to force a Game 7, which they won 3–1 en route to their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance in almost 30 years.
October 27, 2021
National Hockey League
Kyle Beach Comes Forward as Victim in Chicago Blackhawks Sexual Assault Case
Kyle Beach, a 2008 first-round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, came forward as the central figure in an investigation into allegations of sexual abuse within the organization. Beach alleged that Brad Aldrich, the team’s video coach from 2008 to 2010, sexually assaulted him in May 2010. Beach reported the incident to the team at the time, but no disciplinary action against Aldrich was taken. In the
wake of Beach’s allegations, Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman resigned from the team and from the US men’s Olympic hockey team; former Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville resigned from his position as head coach of the Florida Panthers; and the Blackhawks
were fined $2 million by the NHL. Aldrich’s name was later removed from the Stanley Cup, which Chicago won in June 2010.