Fun NHL Facts
1) The NHL was founded on November 22nd, 1917
2) Wayne Gretzky holds 61 NHL records, the most of any player
3) Phil Esposito of the Boston Bruins was the first NHL player to record 100 points in a season, in 1969
4) On February 22nd, 1980, team USA beat the Soviets at the Lake Placid Olympics
5) The Anaheim Duck's team name was inspired by the 1992 Disney film, The Mighty Ducks
6) On March 10th 1970, Bobby Orr scored 40 seconds into overtime giving the Bruins their first Stanley Cup in 29 years.
7) Wayne Gretzky holds the most NHL goals at 894 goals
8) On the Montreal Canadiens team in 1956, 12 players would go to be Hall of Famers
9) In 1971, Bobby Orr became the first player to receive a million-dollar contract
10) Gordie Howe was the oldest player in NHL history, retiring at age 54
11) The NHL team to win the most Stanley Cups are the Montreal Canadiens
12) The first organized indoor hockey game was played in Montreal in 1875
13) Wayne Gretzky has the most points in NHL history with 2,857 points
14) Bobby Orr has 915 points in 657 games, the highest of any defenseman
15) In 1993, Kris Draper got his nickname of "One Dollar Man" because he was traded to the Red Wings for just 1 dollar
16) Even if Gretzky never scored a goal, he would still lead the NHL in all-time points
17) In 1954-55 Marguerite Norris was the first woman to have her name engraved on the cup
18) Bobby Hull holds the record for the fastest slap shot ever at 118 mph
19) On November 28th, 1979, Billy Smith for the Islanders became the first goalie to score a goal
20) Phil Kessel has played in over 1,000 consecutive games, not missing one since 2009
21) On average about 12 hockey pucks are used during an NHL game
22) Throwing an octopus on the ice after a home game playoff win is a lucky tradition for the Red Wings
23) After a Stanley Cup win, each player gets to keep the cup for 24 hours
24) In 2020, a 42 year old from the stands was pulled in as the hurricane's double backup goalie
25) The Bruins set the NHL record for the most points in a season at 133 points
26) Through 81 games, the Bruins have won 64 games which is an NHL record
27) On January 18, 1958, Willie O'Ree became the first Black player in the NHL for the Boston Bruins
28) On April 14, 1960, the Canadians become the only team in NHL history to win 5 Stanley Cups in a row
29) On April 18, 1999, Wayne Gretzky played his final NHL game
30) Boston Bruins had the most wins and points in the 22/23 season