National Hockey League Rivalries - Early History

Early History

See also: History of the National Hockey League and Timeline of the National Hockey League

During the earliest days of the NHL, the league was limited strictly to Central Canada, and all cities in the league were in close proximity, making for bitter rivalries all around. In addition, Montreal had two teams representing its English-French divide, as the "French" Canadiens battled the "English" Wanderers (and later the Maroons). Rivalries also existed with other leagues, such as the Pacific Coast Hockey Association. It was not until 1926 that the NHL took sole ownership of the Stanley Cup. By that time, the league began expanding into the United States, and new rivalries were created. Rapid expansion into the U.S. for a short time created a cross-town rivalry in New York City between the New York Rangers and New York Americans. The economic turmoil of the Great Depression and World War II, however, forced several teams to fold, with the result that by 1942 the NHL consisted of only 6 teams.

Read more about this topic:  National Hockey League Rivalries

Famous quotes containing the words early and/or history:

    “The early Christian rules of life were not made to last, because the early Christians did not believe that the world itself was going to last.”
    —George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)

    “Properly speaking, history is nothing but the crimes and misfortunes of the human race.”
    —Pierre Bayle (1647–1706)