Ice hockey in the United States facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ice hockey in the United States
The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals compete in the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C.
Country	United States
Governing body	USA Hockey
National team(s)	Men's national team Women's national team
First played	1894
Club competitions
List Men's: National Hockey League (Major League) American Hockey League (first tier Minor League) ECHL (second tier Minor League) Federal Prospects Hockey League (third tier Minor League) Southern Professional Hockey League (third tier Minor League) Women's: Professional Women's Hockey League
International competitions
IIHF World Championships Winter Olympics World Cup IIHF Women's World Championship

Ice hockey, often just called "hockey" in the US, is a super popular sport in the United States. It all started in the US in 1894. That's when the first rink with artificial ice was built in Baltimore, Maryland.

Today, hockey is most popular in colder parts of the US. This includes the Northeast and the upper Midwest. But since the 1990s, it's also grown a lot in warmer areas. This is thanks to the National Hockey League (NHL) adding teams there. Plus, many people who love hockey moved from northern cities to these warmer places.

The Cool History of US Ice Hockey

Ice hockey as we know it today began in Canada. The very first indoor hockey game was played in Montreal, Quebec, on March 3, 1875. Some parts of that game, like the size of the rink and using a puck, are still the same today.

The game quickly came to the US with Canadian immigrants. They played a stick-and-ball game called "shinny" on frozen ponds. The first organized game like this in the US was on November 17, 1883. It happened at St. Paul's School in Concord, NH.

The first official ice hockey game in the US was in 1893. It was played between Yale University and Johns Hopkins University. Many people see this as the true start of modern ice hockey in the country.

In 1894, the first artificial ice rink in the US opened. It was called the North Avenue Ice Palace in Baltimore, Maryland. A few years later, in 1896, the first US hockey league was formed. It was called The US Amateur Hockey League. This league started in New York City. Around the same time, the second artificial ice rink opened there. It was the St. Nicholas Arena.

The US Amateur Hockey League later joined the International Professional Hockey League in 1904. This league had five teams from the US and Ontario, Canada. It was the first professional hockey league the US was part of. It only lasted three seasons.

By 1898, other leagues had also formed. These included the Amateur Hockey League of New York. In western Canada, teams formed the Pacific Coast Hockey Association in 1911. This league came up with new ideas that changed hockey. They added blue lines on the ice. Goalies were allowed to slide to block shots. Forward passing was allowed in the middle of the ice. And games were split into three 20-minute periods.

The National Hockey League (NHL)

The NHL is the biggest professional hockey league in North America. It has 25 teams from the US and 7 from Canada. These teams all compete for the famous Stanley Cup.

Even though NHL stars might not be as famous as football or basketball players, more people go to NHL games than NBA games now. This is partly because of cool outdoor games like the NHL Winter Classic.

In 1924, the Boston Bruins became the first American team to join the NHL. That season, the first NHL game in the US was played. The Boston Bruins beat the Montreal Maroons 2–1. The NHL also made its season longer, from 24 to 30 games.

Three more American teams joined the NHL in 1926. These were the New York Rangers, Chicago Black Hawks, and Detroit Cougars. That same year, another league, the Western Canada Hockey League, broke up. Many of its players joined the new NHL teams. This made the NHL the top hockey league in North America.

In 1942, the Brooklyn Americans left the NHL. This left only six teams for the next 25 years. These teams were the Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Red Wings, Bruins, Rangers, and Black Hawks. They are now known as "the Original Six."

Willie O'Ree, born in New Brunswick, became the first black ice hockey player in the NHL. He played for the Boston Bruins. Later, Val James was the first African American player in the NHL. He played for the Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs.

In 1972, the World Hockey Association (WHA) was formed. It had 12 teams from Canada and the US. It tried to compete with the NHL, but it didn't last. Many of its teams later joined the NHL.

The Stanley Cup Trophy

The Stanley Cup is the oldest trophy in North American sports. It was named after Lord Stanley of Preston. He was the Governor General of Canada starting in 1888. He saw his first hockey game in Montreal in 1889. He and his family loved the game.

His sons, Arthur and Algernon, convinced their dad to donate a trophy. They wanted it to be a clear sign of the hockey championship. This trophy was a silver bowl with gold. It was first given out in 1893. It was first called the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup. Later, its name was changed to the famous Stanley Cup.

In 1914, the Portland Rosebuds, a team from the US, joined the Pacific Coast Hockey Association. After this, the people in charge of the Stanley Cup made a big announcement. They said the Stanley Cup was no longer just for the best team in Canada. It was now for the best team in the whole world!

The Rosebuds became the first American team to play in the Stanley Cup Finals two years later. Then, in 1917, the Seattle Metropolitans became the first American team to actually win the Stanley Cup. After that season, the National Hockey Association changed its name to the NHL, or National Hockey League.

Hockey's Minor Leagues

Besides the NHL, there are other professional hockey leagues in the US. These are called minor leagues. They include the American Hockey League (AHL) and the ECHL. Some US teams also play in the Canadian Hockey League.

USA Hockey is the main group that organizes amateur hockey in the US. You can find the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth, Minnesota.

How Ice Hockey is Organized

The way ice hockey is set up in the US is like a pyramid. At the bottom are many local and development leagues. As you go up, you find professional minor leagues. At the very top is the National Hockey League. This system includes high school and college teams too.

Amateur Ice Hockey Fun

College hockey is very popular in the northeastern and upper midwestern US. In 2015, the Arizona State hockey program became a top-level college team. College hockey is becoming a great way for players to get ready for the NHL. The Frozen Four is the national championship for college hockey.

Summer hockey for adults is also getting more popular. Leagues like Da Beauty League in Minnesota and Fattey Hockey League in New York attract NHL players. They use these leagues to stay in shape during the off-season. Da Beauty League started in 2016. It's seen as the best summer hockey league in the country.

The GLHL is a full-contact league. Teams play for the Kohlman Cup every year. These teams are from Wisconsin and Michigan. Some GLHL teams, like the Portage Lake Pioneers, are among the oldest hockey teams in the world. They started in the early 1900s!

Hockey at the Olympics

The bronze medal winning 1936 American Olympic team.

Hockey first appeared in the Summer Olympics in 1920. This event was also the first World Ice Hockey Championship. Canada won the gold medal, and the US got the silver. Hockey then moved to the Winter Olympics in 1924. Canada won three gold medals in a row.

In 1936, Great Britain ended Canada's winning streak. They beat Canada and tied the US to win the gold. Canada won gold again in 1948 and 1952. But then the Soviet Union took over in 1956. They won most Olympic tournaments until 1992. The US won gold in 1960 and 1980. This was often because the Soviets could use their best players, but Canadians couldn't.

Since 1992, Canada, Sweden, Czech Republic, Russia, and Finland have won gold. From 1998 to 2014, NHL players played in the Olympics. But in 1994, 2018, and 2022, players from other professional leagues played instead.

Before 1947, there was no national group for US hockey. The Amateur Hockey Association of the United States (AHAUS) was created that year. It later became USA Hockey. It's been the main group for US hockey ever since.

The US men's team has won two gold medals. These were in 1960 and 1980. They also have eight silver medals and one bronze. The 1980 gold medal win is famous. The US team beat the Soviet Union, who had won four times in a row. It's known as the "Miracle on Ice."

For women's hockey, the US national team won the first Olympic tournament for women in 1998. They won gold again in 2018. They've played in almost every Olympic final. In 2006, they won bronze. They also have four silver medals.

Women's Ice Hockey Growth

Women's ice hockey is growing fast in the United States. The Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) started in 2015. It was the first league in North America to pay its players. It began with four teams in the Northeast.

With help from NHL teams, the league grew. In 2018, it added the Minnesota Whitecaps. It even expanded into Canada in 2020. However, many top women players, including Olympians, wanted a stronger league. They formed the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association (PWHPA). They decided not to play in existing leagues.

In 2023, the PHF was bought and closed down. This led to the creation of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). This new league is what many players had hoped for. It started in January 2024. Three of its six teams are in the US. These are in Boston, New York, and Minnesota.

Hockey on TV

In 1957, CBS was the first US TV network to show NHL games. Later, NBC also showed some games. But neither network showed all the games. They only showed a few games from the Stanley Cup Finals.

From 1971 to 1995, no single US network had all the NHL games. The USA network showed 35 regular-season games and all playoff games from 1981 to 1985. ESPN took over from USA network in 1985. Then Sports Channel replaced ESPN in 1989.

ESPN came back and got the NHL contract again in 1993. The Fox network joined ESPN in 1995. After the 1999 season, ABC took over as the main TV partner. They held this role until 2004.

After a player lockout in 2004-05, the NHL signed a new TV deal with NBC. NBC's sister networks like CNBC and the USA Network also showed some playoff games. In 2011, NBC and the NHL signed a new 10-year deal. This deal made all playoff games available nationally.

After the 2021 season, the NHL split its TV rights. ESPN and a new partner, TNT, signed new seven-year deals. This deal also means all Stanley Cup Final games will be shown on regular TV (ABC) every other year.

Hockey in Pop Culture

Many movies about hockey have become popular in American culture. Some examples are Miracle, The Mighty Ducks, Youngblood, Soul on Ice, and Goon (film).

Who Loves Hockey?

Ice hockey is one of the four biggest sports watched in the United States. The US-based National Hockey League is watched by many people around the world.

Hockey has always been popular in the Northeast and Midwestern United States. This is especially true in Massachusetts (and New England), Michigan, New York, and Minnesota. Minnesota is even called the "State of Hockey." The Minneapolis–Saint Paul area is known as the hockey capital of the US.

The NHL has also become popular in places not traditionally known for hockey. Teams in North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, and California have helped. Teams like the Dallas, Tampa Bay, Carolina, Anaheim, Los Angeles, and Vegas have all won the Stanley Cup since 1999.

The NHL is working to make hockey popular with more different kinds of people. For example, the Chicago Blackhawks have seen more interest from different groups. They have programs for young people in cities and low-income areas. The Washington Capitals also have great programs to get more kids interested in hockey.

The NHL has programs like "Hockey is for Everyone." These programs help make ice hockey available to more young people.

Hockey Today

As of 2015, there are over 2,000 ice rinks in the United States. The NHL now has 32 teams. 25 of these teams are in the United States, and 7 are in Canada. As of spring 2014, the US has won 16 total medals (gold, silver, and bronze) in international hockey.

The US now has more young hockey players than all other countries (except Canada) combined. Many believe the "Miracle on Ice" game helped make hockey a mainstream sport in the US.

Hockey Players by State

USA Hockey Registered Players

In the 2022-23 season, USA Hockey had over 556,000 registered hockey players. This includes male, female, and junior players.

State	Players	% of population
Minnesota	58,929	1.014%
Massachusetts	45,946	0.659%
New York	46,097	0.228%
Michigan	37,024	0.370%
California	30,702	0.070%
Pennsylvania	29,412	0.226%
Illinois	25,537	0.205%
Wisconsin	21,206	0.353%
Florida	19,550	0.085%
New Jersey	18,871	0.195%
Ohio	17,716	0.142%
Texas	16,294	0.054%
Colorado	17,164	0.263%
Connecticut	12,887	0.352%
Washington	11,876	0.144%
Missouri	11,426	0.172%
Virginia	10,548	0.115%
Maryland	10,160	0.161%
Arizona	9,716	0.126%
Alaska	8,503	1.102%
North Carolina	7,654	0.068%
North Dakota	7,394	0.913%
Indiana	6,481	0.095%
Montana	5,810	0.506%
Maine	5,764	0.432%
New Hampshire	5,645	0.407%
Nevada	4,975	0.168%
Tennessee	4,833	0.070%
Idaho	4,615	0.225%
Vermont	4,214	0.663%
Utah	4,041	0.114%
Iowa	3,616	0.115%
Rhode Island	3,566	0.316%
South Carolina	3,008	0.053%
South Dakota	2,941	0.339%
Oregon	2,708	0.062%
Wyoming	2,152	0.379%
Nebraska	2,151	0.108%
Georgia	2,151	0.019%
Alabama	2,120	0.041%
Kentucky	1,980	0.041%
Kansas	1,850	0.059%
New Mexico	1,490	0.067%
District of Columbia	1,241	0.183%
Oklahoma	1,069	0.025%
West Virginia	994	0.055%
Delaware	933	0.094%
Arkansas	415	0.012%
Hawaii	279	0.002%
Louisiana	272	0.006%
Mississippi	260	0.008%

US Players in the National Hockey League (NHL)

As of April 16, 2024, there are 299 US-born hockey players in the National Hockey League (NHL). These players come from 36 different states. Minnesota has more active NHL players than any other US state or Canadian province (except Ontario).

Rank	State	Total
1	Minnesota	53
2	Michigan	38
3	Massachusetts	30
4	New York	28
5	Illinois	15
5	New Jersey	15

NHL Players by US City Area

For the 2023-24 NHL season, the Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, MN-WI MSA has produced the most NHL players of any US city area.

US Players in the American Hockey League (AHL)

The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league. It's based in Springfield, Massachusetts. The AHL is seen as the main league where players develop for the National Hockey League (NHL). It currently has 400 US-born players.

Rank	State	Total
1	Minnesota	63
2	Michigan	59
3	New York	37
4	Massachusetts	33
5	Illinois	31

US Players in the ECHL

The ECHL is a league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey. It's considered the top "AA" or second-level professional league in the United States and Canada. It's one step below the American Hockey League (AHL).

Rank	State	Total
1	Michigan	82
2	Minnesota	67
3	Massachusetts	45
4	New York	40
5	Illinois	32

US Players in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL)

The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) is a professional ice hockey minor league. It's based in Huntersville, North Carolina. This league is considered a lower-level professional league.

Rank	State	Total
1	New York	32
2	Massachusetts	22
2	Minnesota	22
3	Illinois	20
4	Michigan	18
5	Pennsylvania	13

US Players in NCAA Division I College Hockey

Division I men's ice hockey has 64 schools. Minnesota produces more NCAA Division I players than any other US state or Canadian province.

Rank	State	Total
1	Minnesota	233
2	Michigan	138
3	Massachusetts	127
4	New York	109
5	Illinois	54
6	New Jersey	52
7	Pennsylvania	48
8	California	47
9	Connecticut	42
5	Wisconsin	38

US Players in the United States Hockey League (USHL)

The United States Hockey League (USHL) is the top junior ice hockey league in the United States. It has 16 teams in the Midwestern United States. Players are between 16 and 21 years old. The USHL is strictly amateur. This means players can still play NCAA college hockey later.

Rank	State	Total
1	Minnesota	123
2	Michigan	50
3	Illinois	48
4	New York	38
5	Massachusetts	33
6	New Jersey	23
7	California	22
8	Wisconsin	13
9	Pennsylvania	12
10	Texas	9

US Players in the North American Hockey League (NAHL)

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is a Tier II junior hockey league. Its main office is in Addison, Texas. It's the only Tier II junior league approved by USA Hockey. It's a good option for players who don't make it to the top junior leagues.

Rank	State	Total
1	Minnesota	193
2	Michigan	88
3	Illinois	60
4	Wisconsin	44
5	New York	43
5	California	43