Timeline of the National Hockey League facts for kids
The National Hockey League (NHL) is a super exciting professional ice hockey league in North America. It's made up of teams from both the United States and Canada. Have you ever wondered how all these teams got started? This article will take you on a journey through time, showing you how the NHL grew from just a few teams to the big league it is today!
You'll see how some teams changed their names or moved to new cities. We'll also look at the famous "Original Six" era, when the league had only six teams for a long time. Get ready to learn about the cool history of your favorite hockey teams!
Contents
How the NHL Began: The First Teams
The NHL started way back in 1917. Only a few teams were around at first. These early teams helped create the league we know and love today.
The Original Five Teams
When the NHL first began, there were five teams:
- Montreal Canadiens: This team is one of the oldest and most famous in hockey history. They started in Montreal, Canada, and are still there today!
- Montreal Wanderers: Also from Montreal, but they didn't last very long. They stopped playing in 1918.
- Toronto Arenas: This team was from Toronto, Canada. They later changed their name to the Toronto St. Patricks.
- Ottawa Senators (original): This was the first team from Ottawa, Canada. They played for many years before moving.
- Quebec Bulldogs: Hailing from Quebec City, Canada, this team also had a short run in the very early days of the league.
Early Team Changes and Moves
After the first season, things started to change quickly for some teams:
- The Toronto Arenas became the Toronto St. Patricks in 1919. Then, in 1926, they became the Toronto Maple Leafs, which is the name they still use!
- The Quebec Bulldogs moved to Hamilton, Ontario, in 1920 and became the Hamilton Tigers.
- The Ottawa Senators (the original team) played until 1934. They then moved to St. Louis and became the St. Louis Eagles for one season before stopping.
- The Hamilton Tigers moved to New York City in 1925 and were renamed the New York Americans. They later became the Brooklyn Americans for their last season in 1942.
New Teams Join the League
As hockey grew more popular, more teams joined the NHL in the 1920s. This was an exciting time for the league!
Teams from the Mid-1920s
- Boston Bruins: This team joined the league in 1924 and is still playing in Boston today. They are one of the oldest teams in the U.S.
- Montreal Maroons: Another team from Montreal, they joined in 1924 and played until 1938.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: This team joined in 1925. They later moved to Philadelphia in 1930 and became the Philadelphia Quakers for one year.
- Chicago Blackhawks: They joined the NHL in 1926 and have been playing in Chicago ever since.
- Detroit Cougars: This team started in Detroit in 1926. They changed their name to the Detroit Falcons in 1930. Then, in 1932, they became the Detroit Red Wings, a name they still proudly use!
- New York Rangers: This team joined in 1926 and has been a big part of New York City's sports scene ever since.
The "Original Six" Era
From 1942 to 1967, the NHL had only six teams. This period is known as the "Original Six" era. These teams played against each other for many years, creating some amazing rivalries and hockey history.
Who Were the "Original Six"?
The six teams that played during this special era were:
- Montreal Canadiens
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Boston Bruins
- Chicago Blackhawks
- Detroit Red Wings
- New York Rangers
These teams are still very important in the NHL today.
NHL Expands: More Teams Join
After 1967, the NHL started to grow much faster. Many new teams joined the league, and some existing teams moved to different cities. This made the NHL much bigger and more exciting!
The "Expansion Six" of 1967
In 1967, six new teams joined the NHL, doubling the size of the league!
- St. Louis Blues: This team joined from St. Louis, Missouri.
- Los Angeles Kings: They brought hockey to Los Angeles, California.
- Pittsburgh Penguins: This team joined from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- Philadelphia Flyers: They started playing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Minnesota North Stars: This team was from Minnesota. They later moved to Dallas in 1993 and became the Dallas Stars.
- Oakland Seals: This team started in Oakland, California. They changed their name to the California Golden Seals in 1970, then the Cleveland Barons in 1976, before stopping in 1978.
New Teams in the 1970s
More teams continued to join in the 1970s:
- Buffalo Sabres: They joined in 1970 from Buffalo, New York.
- Vancouver Canucks: This team joined in 1970 from Vancouver, Canada. They had played in other leagues before joining the NHL.
- New York Islanders: They joined in 1972, giving New York another hockey team.
- Atlanta Flames: This team started in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1972. They moved to Calgary, Canada, in 1980 and became the Calgary Flames.
- Kansas City Scouts: They joined in 1974. They moved to Colorado in 1976 and became the Colorado Rockies. Then, in 1982, they moved to New Jersey and became the New Jersey Devils.
- Washington Capitals: This team joined in 1974 from Washington, D.C.
Teams from the WHA Join the NHL
In 1979, four teams from another hockey league, the World Hockey Association (WHA), joined the NHL. This was a big moment for hockey!
- Edmonton Oilers: This team from Edmonton, Canada, was a WHA powerhouse and continued to be successful in the NHL.
- Hartford Whalers: They were originally the New England Whalers in the WHA. They joined the NHL as the Hartford Whalers and later moved to Carolina in 1997 to become the Carolina Hurricanes.
- Quebec Nordiques: This team from Quebec City, Canada, joined the NHL. They later moved to Colorado in 1995 and became the Colorado Avalanche.
- Winnipeg Jets: This team from Winnipeg, Canada, joined the NHL. They later moved to Phoenix in 1996 and became the Phoenix Coyotes.
Modern NHL Expansion
The NHL kept growing in the 1990s and early 2000s, adding even more teams across North America.
Early 1990s Teams
- San Jose Sharks: They joined in 1991 from San Jose, California.
- Ottawa Senators: A new team with the same name as the original, they joined in 1992 from Ottawa, Canada.
- Tampa Bay Lightning: This team joined in 1992 from Tampa, Florida.
- Mighty Ducks of Anaheim: They joined in 1993 from Anaheim, California. They later changed their name to the Anaheim Ducks in 2006.
- Florida Panthers: This team joined in 1993 from Florida.
Late 1990s and Early 2000s Teams
- Nashville Predators: They joined in 1998 from Nashville, Tennessee.
- Atlanta Thrashers: This team joined in 1999 from Atlanta, Georgia.
- Minnesota Wild: They joined in 2000 from Minnesota, bringing hockey back to the state after the North Stars moved.
- Columbus Blue Jackets: This team joined in 2000 from Columbus, Ohio.
This timeline shows how the NHL has grown and changed over many years. From just a few teams in 1917 to a large league today, the history of hockey is full of exciting moves and new beginnings!
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