Quote:
Originally Posted by Canadiens1958
Actually none of them came into play.
Hockey was played in Canada during the winter months, reflecting its origins.Park,school/church and industrial leagues were the feeder systems to the NHL. Youngster going to school in the winter actually advanced hockey since they were on site to play at lunch time and after school.School yards especially the male Catholic elementary schools held 1 - 4 rinks. No travel was involved to just play hockey.
Various municipal job creation programs during the depression resulted in arenas being built. Verdun, St. Eustache, St. Hyacinthe, comprise just a short list of municipalities that built arenas. Likewise municipalities used job creation programs during the depression to expand athletic facilities in parks - fields were built that were used for football, soccer, baseball in season, and hockey during the winter. One CFL sized football field held up to 4 hockey/skating rinks in winter. Job creation funds assured staffing for upkeep and cleaning. Appropriate facilities were built for changing and incidentals.
All of this produced the hockey players of the post WWII era.
American players 1917 -1950 (pre Red Line development results):
http://www.hockey-reference.com/play...order_by=goals
plus goalies:
http://www.hockey-reference.com/play...y=games_goalie |
http://www.hockey-reference.com/play...order_by=goals
Just for comparison sakes and to show how much impact the US has had here is the list from 92-12
http://www.hockey-reference.com/play...order_by=goals
Here are the goalies from 92-12
http://www.hockey-reference.com/play...y=games_goalie
This is all before we even get to other countries.
The increase in the number of teams does not account for all of this either IMO.