United States National Hockey League

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

United States National Hockey League
Countries United States
Region(s) Massachusetts
 New York
 Pennsylvania
Founded1918
Folded1918
No. of teams4
Most successful clubPittsburgh Athletic Association (1 title)

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 Pittsburgh Athletic Association won the league title and went on to defeat the Montreal Hochelaga club, holders of the Art Ross Cup, in an international championship series.[2][3]

Hopes for a second season, which once included expansion of the league to Cleveland, Detroit, and possibly Chicago and New Haven,[4] later faded as the ammonia needed to operate artificial ice rinks was diverted to wartime munitions production.[5][6] To bring finality to the situation, 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,[7] and the Boston Arena burned down.[8] The league never resumed before a new national amateur league was created in 1920 in the form of the United States Amateur Hockey Association.

Final standings

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

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

Source:[9]

References
  1. "Form Big League of Hockey Clubs". The Sun. New York. January 24, 1918. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Pittsburgh Gains New Hockey Honor". The Boston Globe. March 27, 1918. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Large Variety of Hockey Champions This Year". The Sun. New York. March 30, 1918. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Plan Big Hockey League". The New York Times. March 6, 1918. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. 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.
  6. "Closing of Ice Rinks Big Blow to Skating Enthusiasts". The Sun. New York. September 24, 1918. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Daniel (October 11, 1918). "Pittsburg[h] Follows New York Out of Hockey Activity". The Sun. New York. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. Macbeth, W.J. (December 23, 1918). "Little Hockey in the East". New York Tribune. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "United States National Hockey League". Society for International Hockey Research. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
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