ChronoFive
Play today’s puzzle
Setting the scene
The National Hockey Association collapsed amid owner disputes, and surviving franchises reorganized into a new league hoping to stabilize professional hockey in Canada during World War I.
What happened
The NHL's first games were played in December 1917, with four teams; the Montreal Canadiens and Montreal Wanderers opened the schedule before the league expanded across North America.
Why it still matters
What began as a wartime replacement circuit became the world's premier hockey league and home of the Stanley Cup. Memorable detail: the Wanderers' arena burned down early in the inaugural season, forcing the team to withdraw.
Background
The league emerged from the National Hockey Association's collapse.