After knowing about National Hockey League, it’s structure and the teams participating, now it’s time to know some of the most interesting facts about NHL, so fasten your seat belts and let the knowledge flow!!
Interesting Facts about NHL
- When the Stanley Cup was introduced it was only 7 inches high. Currently the height of the Stanley Cup is more than 35 inches.
- Two Canadian teams are leading the list of the Stanley Cup winners. These teams are, the Montreal Canadiens which has won the trophy 23 times and the other is the Toronto Maple Leafs which has won it 13 times.
- Normally, if an NHL game is tied after 3 periods of 20 minutes each, teams go for a sudden-death five minute overtime till the result is achieved. But in playoffs teams keep on playing until the winner is decided just in case there is a tie.
- The longest playoff game due to overtime was recorded in the year 1936 when the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Montreal Maroons after six overtime periods. Theoretically, both the teams played three full games in a single night by doing this.
- Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux are the only players who have been named MVP for 3 NHL All-Star games.
- Bernie Geoffrion is nicknamed as ‘Boom Boom’ because his ability to hit the shot hard and fast. He is also credited for bringing the slapshot in the league.
- The goaltender in NHL wearing a mask is common these days, but it was not until in 1959 when Jacques Plante of the Montreal wore it for the first time because his nose got broken in a game.
- A rival league called WHA (World Hockey Association) was also established in 1973 but it couldn’t last and was closed in 1979. Legendary Ice Hockey players like Bobby Hull, Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe played in that league. Even the current NHL teams like the Phoenix Covotes (then Winnipeg Jets), Colorado Avalanche (then Quebec Nordiques), Carolina Hurricanes (then Hartford Whalers) and Edmonton Oilers are shifted to NHL after WHA was closed.
- There is a Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Canada. US also has a Hockey Hall of Fame for the US born players and coaches.
- Speaking about racking up points, Phil Esposito (Boston Bruins) was the first player to ever post more than 100 points in an NHL season back in 1969. In 74 games, he had 49 goals and 77 assists, recording 126 points.
- 1914 marked another change within the hockey rules. Before 1914 referees had to place a puck on the ice between both centres’ sticks. This resulted in many cuts, bruises, fractures and breaks. The rule was passed in 1914 that the referee could drop the puck between the two sticks so they could avoid those injuries.
- The shortest player to play in the NHL was Roy Woters who was 5 feet and 3 inches tall. He served as goaltender throughout 1925-1937, playing combined 484 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Americans, and Montreal Canadiens.
- Some teams have multiple Stanley Cups, and leading the way is the Montreal Canadiens with 24. But there are 11 active teams who have yet to win a cup: the Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators (expansion era), Arizona Coyotes, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Washington Capitals, Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets.
- The Buffalo Sabres are the only team to have killed a live animal during a hockey game. In 1974, the team killed a bat during the game.
