In light of the great Olympic hockey game Sunday, it seems to me the National Hockey League is missing a sure-winner by not having its annual all-star game be Canadian All-Stars vs. America/European All-Stars.
Canadians make up half of the approximately 740 players in the NHL. About 20 percent are American. The Czech Republic, Sweden and Finland contribute another 20 percent. The remaining 10% are from other European countries.
The Ligue nationale de hockey or National Hockey League was established with two Montreal teams, an Ottawa team and a Toronto franchise in 1917. The Boston Bruins joined in 1924, making the league’s name somewhat misleading. The Rangers, Red Wings and Black Hawks joined in 1926.
The NHL consisted of just six teams from 1944-1967 — the Canadiens, the Maple Leafs, the Bruins, the Rangers, the Red Wings and the Black Hawks. There are now 30 teams. You’d have to be a real fan to name all 30 cities and the team nicknames. (24 are in the U.S., six in Canada.)