The National Hockey League is celebrating its hundredth anniversary in
2017-2018--but Bob Duff's The First Season reveals how close the
league came to folding in its very first year. Set against the turmoil
of the Great War and born out of a ruse to rid the league of reviled
Toronto owner Eddie Livingstone, the new league suffered from a series
of crises: from a shortfall of quality players due to military
conscription, to rival leagues and divided fan loyalties, to the burning
down of the Montreal Arena that was home ice to two teams. But despite
all this, the league survived--and became the worldwide standard for
competitive hockey.
With chapters devoted to the first-ever NHL playoffs and Stanley Cup
championships, in addition to team and player profiles and vintage black
and white photos, Duff's The First Season is essential reading for
every hockey fan, providing real insight about the first generation of
hockey heroes.