The First Season: 1917-18 and the Birth of the NHL

(Paperback)

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Description

The National Hockey League is celebrating its hundredth anniversary in 20172018but 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 survivedand 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.

Reviews

Praise for Bob Duff's Original Six Dynasties

Chief among the more enjoyable books this year ... a love letter to the Golden Age Red Wings.--Detroit Metro Times

Visually captures the Original Six glory years of the Red Wings in a way rarely seen before ... a great gift for any hockey fan.--Hometown Life

Author Bio

Formerly the sports columnist for the Windsor Star, Bob Duff has covered the NHL since 1988 and is a contributor to The Hockey News and MSNBC.com. Duffs book credits include The China Wall: The Timeless Legend of Johnny Bower, Hockey Dynasties, Without Fear, Nine: Salute to Mr. Hockey, On the Wing: A History of the Windsor Spitfires, The Hockey Hall of Fame MVP Trophies and Winners, Marcel Pronovost: A Life in Hockey, and 50 Greatest Red Wings. His newest book is Maple Leaf Moments, released in celebration of the Leafs 2017 centenary.