Lord Stanley's Donation, the Original Six, Hockey Night in Canada
1946:
Babe Pratt becomes the first NHL player suspended for betting on games.
Referees begin using hand signals to indicate penalties and other rulings.
1947:
Billy Reay of the Montreal Canadiens becomes the first NHL player to raise his arms and stick in celebration after scoring a goal.
1949:
The center red line first appears on the ice.
1952:
Hockey Night in Canada makes its television debut.
1955:
Maurice "Rocket" Richard is suspended for the remainder of the season and the playoffs after punching a linesman during a fight. The suspension sparks the "Richard Riot" in Montreal.
NHL officials wear striped sweaters for the first time.
The Zamboni makes its NHL debut when Montreal hosts Toronto.
1956:
Jean Beliveau is the first hockey player to appear on the cover of "Sports Illustrated."
The USSR enters Olympic ice hockey for the first time, winning the gold medal.
1957:
The first NHL Player's Association is formed with Detroit's Ted Lindsay as president. The owners soon crush the organization and the Red Wings trade Lindsay to the last place Chicago Black Hawks.
CBS is the first U.S. television network to carry NHL games.
1958:
Willie O'Ree of the Boston Bruins is the first black player in the NHL.
1961:
The Hockey Hall of Fame opens in Toronto.
1963:
The first NHL amateur draft is held in Montreal, with 21 players selected.
1965:
Ulf Sterner plays four games with the New York Rangers, becoming the first Swedish-born player in the NHL.
1967:
The NHL doubles in size, adding franchises in Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Oakland, St. Louis and Philadelphia.
1970:
The Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks join the NHL.
1972:
The World Hockey Association begins play, outbidding NHL teams for several star players. Bobby Hull becomes hockey's first million-dollar man when he leaves the Chicago Black Hawks and signs a 10-year, $2.75 million contract with the WHA's Winnipeg Jets.
The Atlanta Flames and New York Islanders join the NHL.
The Summit Series pits the best Canadian professionals against the best from the Soviet Union for the first time. Canadian players who have jumped from the NHL to the WHA are not invited to play. Canada wins the last three games to finish with four wins, three losses and a tie, clinching the series on a dramatic goal by Paul Henderson in the final game.
1974:
The Kansas City Scouts and Washington Capitals join the NHL.
The USSR wins the first World Junior Hockey Championship.
A second Canada-Soviet exhibition series takes place, featuring Canadians from the WHA against the Soviet nationals.
1975:
Soviet club teams play in North America for the first time when Central Red Army and Soviet Wings play a series of exhibition games against NHL teams.
1976:
Two franchises move: The California Seals become the Cleveland Barons and the Kansas City Scouts become the Colorado Rockies.
Canada defeats Czechoslovakia in the final to win the first Canada Cup tournament.
1978:
The Cleveland Barons merge with the Minnesota North Stars.
1979:
The World Hockey Association folds, with the Edmonton Oilers, Quebec Nordiques, Hartford Whalers and Winnipeg Jets joining the NHL.
1980:
The United States defeats the USSR in the semifinal and Finland in the final to win the Olympic gold medal. The "Miracle on Ice" will be enshrined as one of the greatest moments in American sports history.
The Atlanta Flames move to Calgary.
Next Page - Hockey Timeline, Part Three:
The Russian Arrival, the Women's Game, the Lockout
