United States National Hockey League
CountriesUnited States
Region(s)Northeast
Founded1918
Folded1918
No. of teams4
Most successful clubPittsburgh Athletic Association (1 title)

The United States National Hockey League (or National Amateur Hockey League[1]) was an amateur ice hockey league that operated in Boston, New York City and Pittsburgh for one season in early 1918.

History

The league consisted of the New York Wanderers, Pittsburgh Athletic Association, Boston Arenas and a team representing the Boston Navy Yard. It formed in January 1918 after the American Amateur Hockey League, in which New York and Boston teams had previously participated, failed to survive the player shortages of World War I.[1] The schedule was drawn up in quadruple round-robin format, with each team slated to play two home and two away games against each of the other teams.[2]

The Pittsburgh Athletic Association won its first ten games to clinch the league title.[3] The team thus earned the right to face the holders of the Art Ross Cup in a three-game international championship series. Pittsburgh defeated the Montreal Hochelaga club in that series to claim a new honor called the Fellowes International Trophy.[4][5]

At one point during the season, the league's governing body, the International Skating Union of America, was hopeful that the circuit would not only return for the following winter but also expand to Cleveland, Detroit, and possibly Chicago and New Haven.[6] After the season, however, the ammonia needed to operate artificial ice rinks was diverted to wartime munitions production, prompting expectations of lengthy rink closures.[7][8] Suspension of the league was all but ensured as St. Nicholas Arena in New York was leased out for roller skating and dancing, Pittsburgh's Duquesne Garden was given over for use as a barracks,[9] and the Boston Arena burned down.[10] The league never returned before a new national amateur league was created in 1920 in the form of the United States Amateur Hockey Association.

Boston Navy Yard team

Final standings

GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Allowed

Team GP W L T GF GA
Pittsburgh Athletic Association 12 10 2 0 48 26
Boston Navy Yard 11 7 4 0 41 22
New York Wanderers 10 3 7 0 28 42
Boston Arenas 11 2 9 0 15 42

[11]

References

  1. ^ a b "Form Big League of Hockey Clubs". The Sun. New York. January 24, 1918. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Boston Arena Seven To Play Here To-night". New York Tribune. January 28, 1918. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Winged Head Is Winner". The Pittsburg Press. March 10, 1918. Sporting sec., p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Pittsburgh Gains New Hockey Honor". The Boston Globe. March 27, 1918. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Large Variety of Hockey Champions This Year". The Sun. New York. March 30, 1918. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Plan Big Hockey League". The New York Times. March 6, 1918. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Guy, Richard (August 12, 1918). "Frank Moran Says Boxing Will Flourish After War; Develops 3 Heavyweights". The Gazette Times. Pittsburgh. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Closing of Ice Rinks Big Blow to Skating Enthusiasts". The Sun. New York. September 24, 1918. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Daniel (October 11, 1918). "Pittsburg[h] Follows New York Out of Hockey Activity". The Sun. New York. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Macbeth, W.J. (December 23, 1918). "Little Hockey in the East". New York Tribune. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "United States National Hockey League". Society for International Hockey Research. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
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