The National Hockey League (NHL) is one of the most popular sports leagues in North America, with millions of fans tuning in to watch their favorite teams compete for the Stanley Cup. But how much do you really know about this exciting sport and its history? Here are five fun facts that will surprise even the biggest hockey fanatics:
1. The Origin of the NHL – Did you know that the NHL was founded on November 26, 1917, at a meeting held at the Windsor Hotel in Montreal? At the time, there were only four teams in the league: the Toronto Arenas, the Ottawa Senators, the Montreal Canadiens, and the Quebec Bulldogs. Today, there are 31 teams spread across North America, including new additions like the Vegas Golden Knights and the Seattle Kraken.
2. Firsts in NHL History – There have been many historic moments in NHL history, but did you know that the first goal ever scored in the league was by Dave Ritchie of the Montreal Canadiens against the Toronto Arenas on December 19, 1917? Another interesting fact is that the first player to score 50 goals in a season was Maurice “Rocket” Richard of the Montreal Canadiens, who accomplished this feat during the 1944-45 season.
3. Unusual Records Held by Players – Speaking of Rocket Richard, he also holds another unusual record – he’s the only player in NHL history to have scored two hat tricks in the same game twice! Other notable records include Wayne Gretzky’s all-time points leader title with an impressive total of 2,857 career points, as well as Martin Brodeur’s record for most wins by a goaltender with 691 victories under his belt.
4. Funny Superstitions and Rituals – Hockey players can be superstitious creatures, and there are plenty of strange rituals and superstitions that they follow. For example, some players refuse to step onto the ice until they’ve touched the boards or tapped their sticks on the ice, while others insist on wearing the same pair of socks throughout a winning streak. And let’s not forget the famous story of Patrick Roy, who refused to wear his team’s jersey after it lost a game and instead wore a white shirt and tie for several games before finally returning to the regular uniform.
5. Surprising Facts about Hockey Equipment – Finally, here’s a surprising fact about hockey equipment: did you know that the modern hockey puck wasn’t always made out of rubber? In fact, early versions of the puck were actually made from wood or bone, which could lead to some pretty dangerous situations if a piece broke off mid-game. These days, the standard NHL puck is made from vulcanized rubber and weighs between 5.5 and 6 ounces.