Professional Era

Professional ice hockey has existed since the early 1900s (decade). The professional game originated in the United States in 1904 and became prominent in Canada during the early 20th century before expanding back into the United States and eventually to many other countries.

The history of the National Hockey League begins with the end of its predecessor league, the National Hockey Association (NHA), in 1917.

In February 1966, the National Hockey League decided that the future was now. Responding to forces transforming other professional sports leagues, such as the growth of televised coverage and the expansion of franchises to the West Coast of the United States, the NHL decided to expand its static lineup of “Original Six” franchises in Eastern and Midwestern cities—Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Detroit, Chicago and New York. A new division of six expansion franchises, evenly distributed through all regions of the United States, reintroduced professional ice hockey in Philadelphia. Over the next fifty years, the Philadelphia Flyers transformed the region from a professional hockey wilderness to a hockey hotbed.

Ice hockey one of the more physical sports, is one of the four major professional sports, and is represented by the National Hockey League (NHL) at its highest level. The sport itself is played on numerous levels, including men and women's NCAA hockey, men and women's national hockey league, etc.

The game of hockey is much like the surface on which it is played.  Zambonis scrub the ice every twenty minutes (more frequently during outdoor games) to ostensibly restore it to a baseline state. …

Chronicling the history of the sport of ice hockey, from the beginning to the present day. In this episode our journey through the evolution of the game cont...

Ice hockey is considered to have evolved from stick-and-ball games, played outdoors, and adapted...

As one of Canada’s national sports, Hockey has seen many changes over the years as it has grown from an outdoor pastime played on the frozen pond with little or no rules and limited equipment, to its present day form as a highly organized and extremely competitive sport contested at all levels of play, and until now few changes have truly revolutionized the sport.

(2004). Newspaper Coverage of Early Professional Ice Hockey: the discourses of class and control. Media History: Vol. 10, No. 3, pp. 157-173. doi: 10.1080/1368880042000311528

The NHL became more determined than ever to find its launchpad to the 21st century-and its share of the public sports dollar.

LOWELL, MASS. -- In the fourth series of voting in the "All-Era" teams to celebrate the 50th anniversary season of UMass Lowell hockey, a record number of votes were tallied and the 1997-2007 All-Era Team has been selected.

Visit the home of the origin and beginning of ice hockey in North America. Skate back in time to look at Long Pond where the game began, view the game's