Overview
The 1917–18 season was the first campaign of the National Hockey League. The NHL was formed in late 1917 when the owners of the National Hockey Association suspended the NHA amid disputes among club owners and reorganized under a new name. The new league opened play in December 1917 with a split-season format: a first half running from December 19 to February 4 and a second half from February 6 to March 6. The league champion advanced to the Stanley Cup series against the leading team from the Pacific Coast Hockey Association.
Background and formation
The creation of the NHL reflected both business and personal conflicts within the NHA and a desire among several owners to continue professional hockey under a different governance structure. The new league adopted many of the contemporary rules and practices of professional hockey and arranged to meet the PCHA champion for the Stanley Cup, which at the time was still contested between leading leagues rather than awarded solely by a single organisation.
Teams, arenas and structure
The league began with four member clubs: the Montreal Canadiens, the Montreal Wanderers, the Ottawa Senators and a Toronto club organized by local interests (often referred to in histories as the Toronto Hockey Club or the "Arenas"). The season schedule was curtailed when one club unexpectedly withdrew early in January. The competition used a split-season format: the winner of each half met in a short NHL playoff to determine the league champion.
Regular season and the Wanderers fire
Montreal won the first half of the schedule and Toronto captured the second half. Early in January 1918 the Montreal Wanderers withdrew after their home rink, the Westmount Arena, was destroyed by fire, forcing a reduction in the number of games and a rework of the schedule. With three clubs remaining, the NHL completed its split-season programme and proceeded to an internal playoff to name its champion.
Playoffs and Stanley Cup Final
The two half-season winners met for the NHL playoff, with Toronto prevailing to claim the league title. Toronto then travelled to face the Vancouver Millionaires of the PCHA in a best-of-five Stanley Cup final. The inter-league series was closely contested and Toronto won three games to two to secure the Stanley Cup for the 1917–18 season.
Significance and legacy
This inaugural NHL campaign marked the beginning of a league that would grow and change into the modern National Hockey League. The season established early administrative patterns and competitive arrangements, highlighted the vulnerability of early indoor arenas to fire, and set the precedent for Stanley Cup contests between eastern and western professional leagues. Several players and officials from this season became prominent figures as professional hockey evolved.