National Hockey Association History

The NHL Hockey History actually begins with the NHA’s beginning in 1910 based in Canada. The Eastern Canada Hockey Association dated back from 1906 and from the first recognized hockey league called the AHAC (Amateur Hockey Association of Canada). Wanting to get the Montreal Wanderers out of the picture, the ECHA dissolved formed the CHA (Canadian Hockey Association) Ambrose O'Brien and his father, countered by making a league of their own, the National Hockey Association.

The First NHL Season

The 1917-18 season was the first in NHL Hockey history.  The NHL began its first season with very few teams.  In the history of NHL players, five teams began the season, but the “Montreal Wanderers” backed out in January of 1918 after their Montreal rink was burned down.  With these humble beginnings, the NHL that we enjoy today stumbled its way onto the scene.