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A collection of videos about National Hockey League
National Hockey League explained
4:31Founded in 1917, the NHL started with four Canadian teams and now spans 32 franchises across North America. Its iconic Stanley Cup, first awarded in 1893, remains a unique prize, with winners’ names hand-engraved each year. The league generates billions in annual revenue, aided by key expansions, lucrative TV deals, and global fan engagement. While player safety and labor disputes have posed challenges, the NHL remains a cornerstone of professional sports, offering an 82-game season culminating in the fiercely contested Stanley Cup Finals.
Relevant articles, podcasts, videos, and more from around the internet — curated and summarized by our team
The New York Times
From the 1980s through early 2000s, enforcers were a regular part of NHL lineups. At 6 feet 7 inches Derek Boogaard’s body was made for the part. But his mind was not. This New York Times feature dives into the life and tragic death of Boogaard at 28. The story, and later book, helped dramatically reduce enforcers in hockey and opened discussions for player safety.
Chicago Tribune
In January 1984, Boston Bruins center Craig Mactavish was driving home after a practice while under the influence of alcohol. He struck a car driven by Kim Radley, who died four days later. Mactavish was sentenced to a year in prison before resuming his career in Edmonton. Read this Chicago Tribune story from 1985, to hear what prison was like for Mactavish and how Radley’s parents forgave him.
The Filson Journal
Until the 1970s, hockey goalies didn’t wear masks to protect their face with any regularity. Instead, they took pucks off their cheeks, foreheads, and mouths, resulting in serious scars. This Filson article looks back at early hockey gear with historic photos and videos. See Terry Sawchuk’s scar-filled face from 1966, and a video of a hockey game from 1898.
Marin Independent Journal
Detroit Red Wings fans have thrown octopuses on the ice since 1952, and fans of other teams have tried their own hand at tossing things in the rink ever since. Read this hilarious account of a fan’s attempt to throw a three foot shark at a Sharks versus Red Wings game in 2007, and the consequences that followed.
A few weeks after winning the Stanley Cup in 1997, tragedy struck the Detroit Red Wings when star defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov was paralyzed in a car accident. This NHL video tells how the team dedicated the next season to him with a patch on their sweater, and shows Konstantinov celebrating with his team in his wheelchair after they won the Cup again.
Just two years after the National Hockey League was officially formed, their champion was playing the PCHA champion for the Stanley Cup. The series was tied, going into the deciding Game 5, when all but three NHL players fell ill with the Spanish Flu. Read this Sportsnet feature to learn how players dealt with the outbreak, and how no champion was crowned that year.
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