I was very surprised during the telecast of the game between Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadians, when the announcer declared the first game played in NHL between those two clubs.
The history of the league sheds the light on this in a different way. Unfortunately the announcer was grossly misleading the public.
The predecessor of the NHL was NHA, which was at first no more then the Ottawa valley league, created by the local tycoon Ambrose O'Brien in Renfrew Ontario in 1909. Town just in a stone thrown away from Kanata, where the Ottawa Senators play right now. He also sold the rights of one of his clubs to Toronto for 50$ in cash. Where eventually local businessmen Eddie Livingstone took over, and the Toronto blue shorts were founded. Disagreement between Ambrose O'Brien and Eddie Livingstone, ended up in creating the new league NHL by Ambrose O'Brien and other owners, but the trophies, the rules and regulations were continued from NHA. Ottawa valley businessman Ambrose O'Brien founded also the Montreal Canadians. The first games of the newly formed league, were played three weeks later on December 19. Joe Malone scored five goals in a 7–4 victory for the Canadians over the Senators on opening night. Newly formed Toronto Arenas played at the same time Montreal Wanderers, club which was collapsed the same year for good, due to the fire which destroyed its rink. Montreal Wanderers have nothing to do with the Montreal Canadians. And the real Montreal Canadians lived on, and the actual fist game in the newly formed NHL was played between the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadians. The only two original and founding teams in the newly formed league NHL. There were no original 6, because it does not make any sense. Because the first American team to join the league, was Boston Bruins in 1924. In a way the Ottawa valley is the birth place of the North American organized hockey. The real museum of NHL is located not in Toronto, but in Renfrew Ontario.
The history of the league sheds the light on this in a different way. Unfortunately the announcer was grossly misleading the public.
The predecessor of the NHL was NHA, which was at first no more then the Ottawa valley league, created by the local tycoon Ambrose O'Brien in Renfrew Ontario in 1909. Town just in a stone thrown away from Kanata, where the Ottawa Senators play right now. He also sold the rights of one of his clubs to Toronto for 50$ in cash. Where eventually local businessmen Eddie Livingstone took over, and the Toronto blue shorts were founded. Disagreement between Ambrose O'Brien and Eddie Livingstone, ended up in creating the new league NHL by Ambrose O'Brien and other owners, but the trophies, the rules and regulations were continued from NHA. Ottawa valley businessman Ambrose O'Brien founded also the Montreal Canadians. The first games of the newly formed league, were played three weeks later on December 19. Joe Malone scored five goals in a 7–4 victory for the Canadians over the Senators on opening night. Newly formed Toronto Arenas played at the same time Montreal Wanderers, club which was collapsed the same year for good, due to the fire which destroyed its rink. Montreal Wanderers have nothing to do with the Montreal Canadians. And the real Montreal Canadians lived on, and the actual fist game in the newly formed NHL was played between the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadians. The only two original and founding teams in the newly formed league NHL. There were no original 6, because it does not make any sense. Because the first American team to join the league, was Boston Bruins in 1924. In a way the Ottawa valley is the birth place of the North American organized hockey. The real museum of NHL is located not in Toronto, but in Renfrew Ontario.
Last edited:
