Hockey Night in Canada

FUN WITH MAPS – ISSUE 2022-225 DAILY FEATURE:

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (December 19, 2022) – In Issue 2022-225 of Steve Kovacs Fun with Maps, we celebrate the 105 year birthday of the National Hockey League.         

WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER, WE’LL PLAY HOCKEY THERE TOO

The first NHL games were played on December 19, 1917, 105 years ago today.

It was a good day to be from Montreal as both winners came from there.  The Montreal Wanderers beat the Toronto Arenas 10-9 in a home game while the Montreal Canadiens posted a 7-4 victory over the Ottawa Senators.

The NHL expanded into the US in 1924 with the Boston Bruins.  Although the League grew to 10 teams, the Great Depression and World War II played a role in the demise of several teams who either merged or disbanded.  Today the “Original Six” are considered to be the teams who were the League members in 1942 – Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Today there are 32 teams in the NHL – 25 in the US and 7 in Canada.

This McNally Map of Montreal was issued six year prior to the first games.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.