National Hockey League (NHL), organization of professional ice hockey teams in North America, formed in 1917 by four Canadian teams, to which the first U.S. team, the Boston Bruins, was added in 1924.

NHL Center Ice is an out-of-market sports package distributed by most cable and satellite providers in the United States and Canada. The package allows its subscribers to see up to forty out-of-market National Hockey League games a week using local and national television networks.

National Hockey League National Hockey League. ◊ The NHL is the major professional league for ice hockey in the U.S. and Canada.

National Hockey League, L.P. operates as a hockey league for ice hockey teams in North America.

As a few of our friends to the north have pointed out, the highest level of hockey in North America started as a league composed of Canadian teams. They called it the National Hockey League, even after expanding to US cities.

In an effort to remove Eddie Livingstone as owner of the Toronto Blueshirts, a majority of the NHA franchises (the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators and Quebec Bulldogs) suspended the NHA and formed the new NHL.

The technology used in indoor ice rinks is the same type found in refrigerators and air conditioners. Brine water, which is a salt and water solution, is pumped through a system of pipes under the ice. Those pipes are built into the concrete that makes up the arena floor.

The Zamboni is a mechanical ice resurfacer. It works by scraping the ice surface and collecting the snow (which is later discarded). Next, it "cleans" the ice, by putting down water which flushes the grooves deep in the ice, loosening any dirt or debris. The excess water and dirt is then collected.

The name hockey - as the organized game came to be known - has been attributed to the French word hoquet (shepherd's stick). The term rink, referring to the designated area of play, was originally used in the game of curling in 18th-century Scotland.

As a few of our friends to the north have pointed out, the highest level of hockey in North America started as a league composed of Canadian teams. They called it the National Hockey League, even after expanding to US cities.

1,312 games National Hockey League It is one of the top professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada and is regarded as the best ice hockey league. In the NHL regular season schedule, there are a total of 1,312 games, with 82 games per team.

In an effort to remove Eddie Livingstone as owner of the Toronto Blueshirts, a majority of the NHA franchises (the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators and Quebec Bulldogs) suspended the NHA and formed the new NHL.

The first NHL games were played on December 19, 1917. The NHL expanded to the United States for the first time, with the Boston Bruins making their League debut in 1925-26. The Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Cougars (later Red Wings) and New York Rangers joined the following season.

The modern game of hockey emerged in England in the mid-18th century and is largely attributed to the growth of public schools, such as Eton. The first Hockey Association was formed in the UK in 1876 and drew up the first formal set of rules.

The top three teams in each division earn automatic berths (six teams per conference) and the next two teams in the conference earn wild-card spots. The First Round pits the top ranked team in the conference against the lower ranked wild-card and the other division winner against the higher ranked wild-card.

Hockey players prefer what is known as “fast ice,” which is harder and colder with a smooth, slippery surface. “Slow ice” is softer and often has a rough surface. While hockey players want to move fast across the ice, figure skaters often prefer slower ice as it holds up better to their graceful jumps and landings.