Who invented hockey you may ask? Hockey was invented in the mid 1850’s by British soldiers who were staying in Nova Scotia. They played with a rubber ball and was played with very basic rules. Montreal Canada had the first ever Hockey League (Amateur Hockey Association of Canada…eh?) Today, we have the National Hockey League (NHL). It has 30 teams and is separated into two conferences, the Western and the Eastern.

Teams in the Eastern Conference – Atlantic Division New Jersey Devils Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins New York Islanders New York Rangers – Northeast Division Buffalo Sabres Boston Bruins Ottawa Senators Montreal Canadiens Toronto Maple Leafs – Southeast Division Washington Capitals Atlanta Thrashers Carolina Hurricanes Tampa Bay Lightning Florida Panthers

Teams in the Western Conference Central Division – Chicago Blackhawks – Detroit Red Wings – Columbus Blue Jackets – St. Louis Blues – Nashville Predators Northwest Division – Calgary Flames – Vancouver Canucks – Colorado Avalanche – Minnesota Wild – Edmonton Oilers Pacific Division – San Jose Sharks – Dallas Stars – Phoenix Coyotes – Los Angeles Kings – Anaheim Ducks

The Stanley Cup This is the cream of the crop for all NHL players. Every NHL player wants to touch it. When the team has gone through every round in the playoffs, they get to hold it and spend a day with it. It was donated by Lord Stanley as the trophy for the first hockey league in Canada.