The First Super Bowl – 1967

National Hockey Association History
The NHL Hockey History actually begins with the NHA's beginning in 1910 based in Canada. The Eastern Canada Hockey Association dated back from 1906 and from the first recognized hockey league called the AHAC (Amateur Hockey Association of Canada).

Wanting to get the Montreal Wanderers out of the picture, the ECHA dissolved formed the CHA (Canadian Hockey Association) Ambrose O'Brien and his father, countered by making a league of their own, the National Hockey Association. The O'Briens sponsored 4 teams: Vancouver Millionaires, Cobalt, Haileybury and Les Canadiens of Montreal. These teams and players even went into the History of NHL players later on due to their success in the game.

The First Bidding War

The first bidding war in the history of NHL player started soon after the formation of the NHA. Frank and Lester Patrick were signed at $3,000 apiece to the Millionaires. History of NHL players shows that player unrest was ever prevalent during the 1910-11 season due to the unfit salaries. The NHA’s championship trophy was the O'Brien Trophy, which was also used as the championship trophy in NHL hockey history. The Stanley Cup was brought into the fold when the Ottawa Senators joined the NHA. The Cup then was awarded to the champions from then on.

The NHA births the NHL

The 1916-17 season birthed the 228th Battalion (Northern Fusiliers), team and consisted of players that had enlisted in WW I. The team wore traditional khaki uniforms and was the most popular team until called to battle in February of 1917. The history of NHL players states that a scandal to place that said many players were promised commissions if they played. This brought about the last season of the NHA. Hockey would not be stopped there; November 1917, the NHL was born.

The first meeting in the NHL hockey history would bring the former tycoon of the NHA, Robert Livingstone, to his knees and without a voice. September 20th of 1918, a vote was caste and Livingstone would not be able to join the league or share in its profits. This was finalized on December 11 of the same year.

Without the formation of the NHA, the NHL would have never taken place. Also, without the sheer hatred toward Livingstone from the other teams, the world probably would have never seen the NHL take place. Ironically though, Livingstone is considered to be the man who made the NHL a league, even after all the attempts and scandals on his record.