NHL Canadian Hockey Guys
I feel like I should shoutout to Canada, the close neighbors of the United States. I am aware Canadians love Hockey. The Maple Leaf Country is one of the coldest in Winter so they enjoy Ice Hockey which is also one of my favorite sports. Actually, Ice Hockey is one of the sports I look forward to playing. My love for Hockey started as a kid. Back in the day, VCD players came with a Disc called Game 300 and hockey was one of them. I don’t remember losing any Hockey game but if I did, oh well.
A big holla to Vegas Golden Knights who defeated Florida Panthers in the finals to lift the Stanley cup and become 2023 NHL Champions. Florida hosted the 2023 NHL All-star Weekend. It was fun, they played Golf with Hockey sticks and pucks. Las Vegas is hot right now in terms of sports because the Las Vegas Aces are the current WNBA Champions. Congratulations, y’all.
The Hockey game is a large family. There’s Field Hockey, they run a lot. One of my favorite Indian movie was about Field Hockey. Those who love Zee world and Bollywood may remember. It was really a passionate sports movie. Most countries think Field Hockey when Hockey is mentioned except in the United States, Canada, and a few European countries. Compared to Field Hockey, I like cutting the Ice with Ice Hockey Skates. That drive in Ice Hockey is preferable to me than running although other Hockey types use Roller Blades or even wear normal shoes to enjoy the game.
Sam Jack established the rules of Floor Hockey in 1936 although the name Hockey was first mentioned in a 1773 book by Richard Johnson. The first official Hockey game, considering that since the Middle ages different people played some kinds of balls with sticks, was played in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on March 3, 1875. It’s not surprising then that the Montreal Canadians, Les Canadiens de Montréal have 24 Stanley Cups, the most in NHL. The current coach of the team is Martin St. Louis while the Captain is Nick Suzuki. The team has retired 15 numbers including Maurice “The Rocket” Richard’s whose name is used for the annual NHL leading goal scorer.
Malcolm Green Chace advanced Hockey in the U.S. by putting together a team from Yale, Brown, and Harvard Universities. Stanley Cup commissioned in 1893 as Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup and named after the Governor General of Canada, Lord Stanley of Preston who played and promoted the game with his sons and daughters, is the oldest existing trophy for professional sports franchise in North America. Many don’t know that.
The 25 U.S. teams and 7 Canadian teams that compete in the NHL have different traditions. For instance, the New Jersey Devils in 1995 started a tradition where each champion retained the cup for a day while some teams make it casually mandatory for team members and staff to drink from the cup. Boston’s Mathews Arena where Northwestern University play is the oldest indoor Ice Hockey arena still in use for Hockey.
The NHL was founded in Montreal in November 26, 1917 by the Original six: Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Black Hawks, and Detroit Red Wings. These 6 teams competed amongst themselves for 25 years before NHL’s expansion brought in more teams.
Since this post is dedicated to Canadian NHL players, I will touch briefly on the other 6 Canadian teams that I have not mentioned. Also playing in the Atlantic division with Montreal Canadiens is Ottawa Senators, Sénateurs d’Ottawa who play their home games at Canadian Tire Center. Current Captain is Brady Tkachuck and the Head Coach is D.J. Smith. They have not won the Stanley Cup although the first Original Ottawa Senators won 11 Stanley Cups. However, this team boasts of 1 President trophy, 1 Conference Championship, and 4 Division Championships.
Toronto Maple Leafs also of the Atlantic division is the team with the second highest Stanley Cups (13). They play at Scotiabank Arena with John Tavares as captain and Sheldon Keefe as coach. They have gone 56 years without a championship and have retired 13 numbers for 19 players. Toronto Maple Leaf ticket is the highest prized in the league with about 10,000 people on the waiting list.
Winnipeg Jets play home games at Canada Life Center and is the only Canadian team in the Central division of the NHL. Head coach is Rick Bowness. Their team colors are Polar night blue, aviator blue, silver, red, and white. Mick E. Moose is their beloved mascot. In the Western division, there is Calgary Flames who has a lively rivalry “Battle of Alberta” with Edmonton which is also located in the Province of Alberta. The team has won 1 Stanley Cup, 2 President’s Trophy, 3 Conference Championship. Current coach is Ryan Huska and they play their home games at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames retired 3 numbers for Lanny McDonald (9), Jerome Iginla (12), and Mike Vernon (30). Edmonton Oilers of Alberta plays home games at Roger’s Place. Jay Woodcroft is the coach while Connor McDavid is the captain. The team has 5 Stanley cups with the players of the era earning a dynasty status in Hockey Hall of Fame. Edmonton Oilers won the first Inaugural President’s trophy which celebrates the team with the best regular season record. The team has 2 President trophy now, 7 Conference Championships and 9 Division titles. Vancouver Canucks also compete in the Western division of the NHL. The “Nucks” play home games at Rogers Arena with Rick Tocchet as head coach. Team colors are Blue, Green, and White. They are yet to win any Stanley Cup but have 2 President Trophy, and 10 Division championships. 6 players have their numbers retired of which 5 were team captains.
