In 1886, on January 18th The Hockey Association formed in England. But this was Field Hockey, played with no skates on a grass or a sand based surface. And it was our friends in Canada that evolved the game of hockey onto the ice. The Stanley Cup (named after the Governor General of Canada, Lord Stanley of Preston, who purchased the ornate award to honor hockey teams) was first awarded to the Montreal Hockey Club in 1893.
The National Hockey League (NHL) was formed in Canada the early 1900s and expanded into the United States. And last year, the Los Angeles Kings won the NHL Stanley Cup Championship for the first time in their franchise history. Tomorrow (1/19), after a season starter lockout, the LA Kings finally hit the ice again with a sold out crowd at the Staples Center!!
GO KINGS!!
