The National Hockey Association

The National Hockey Association (NHA), the forerunner of the National Hockey League, introduced the professional game to the country.

While there were no Alberta-based teams in the original NHA when it formed in 1909, it quickly became the destination for all Canadians who wanted to play the game for a living. That year, the Montréal Canadiens made their debut in the NHA, and despite finishing in dead last that first season, the team would go on to become Canada’s most successful hockey franchise— winning 24 Stanley Cups in the 20th century. Also members of the fledgling league were the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Wanderers, Montreal Shamrocks, Renfrew Creamery Kings, Cobalt Silver Kings and Haileybury Hockey Club.

Other notable teams that later joined the NHA were the Toronto Blueshirts and the Quebec Bulldogs.

In a move designed to attract fans and help the owners make money, the NHA governors decided to change the rules of hockey. The NHA changed the timing of the game. Before 1910, teams played in two 30-minutes halves; the governors introduced the idea of three 20-minute "periods," so fans would have more opportunities to stretch their legs and visit the concession stands at the NHA arenas.

After the completion of the first season, the rulemakers made another major change to the game. Up until 1911, Hockey had always been played seven-a-side. Each team played with a goalie, two defencemen, a centre, a right wing, a left wing and a "rover" —a Jack-of-all-Trades who covered as much of the ice as he could. To make the game faster, the league decided less players were needed on the ice, and the rover was eliminated.

That same year, brothers Frank and Lester Patrick founded a new Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA) based in British Columbia. The PCHA would soon include American teams from the United States. By gentleman’s agreement, the NHA and PCHA decided that their champions would play for the Stanley Cup each year. In 1917, the PCHA’s Seattle Metropolians became the first American team to win the Cup when they defeated the Canadiens.

The new league introduced the idea of the hockey superstar to Canadian culture. Joe Malone, who starred for the Quebec Bulldogs, became a household name and Canadiens goaltender Georges Vézina was later immortalized when the NHL created an award for best goalie in honour of him.

NHA CHAMPIONS
1909-10  -  Montreal Wanderers (won Stanley Cup)
1910-11  -  Ottawa Senators (won Stanley Cup)
1911-12  -  Quebec Bulldogs (won Stanley Cup)
1912-13  -  Quebec Bulldogs (won Stanley Cup)
1913-14  -  Toronto Blueshirts (won Stanley Cup)
1914-15  -  Ottawa Senators (lost Stanley Cup to Vancouver Millionaires)
1915-16  -  Montréal Canadiens (won Stanley Cup)
1916-17  -  Montréal Canadiens (lost Stanley Cup to Seattle Metropolitans)

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