Who’s Your Favorite Hockey Team?

The National Hockey League (NHL) was founded more than 100 years ago, and in that time, the league has expanded from six teams to 31 teams. Teams have moved to different cities, and from Canada to the USA and back again. If you’re a hockey fan, then you likely have a favorite team that you follow every season. You might not be a diehard fan, but you know who the players are, who the coach is, and when your team last won the Stanley Cup.

At Sports Integrity, we’re proud to offer amazing hockey memorabilia and autographed collectibles. We have options from a number of teams, and we can help you find a piece from your favorite club!

The Original Six

The “Original Six” era of the NHL ran from 1942 to 1967, and featured six teams — the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Boston was the first American team in the NHL, making their league debut in 1924. The Brooklyn Americans had been a part of the league, but when they suspended operations in 1942, the Original Six era began. Legendary players such as Gordie Howe and Maurice Richard began their hockey careers during this time and would go on to become some of the most popular players in the world.

The First Expansion

The Original Six era came to an end in 1967 when the NHL added six new teams — the Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, Oakland Seals, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues. In 1976, Oakland would pick up and move to Cleveland to become the Barons, until they merged with the North Stars franchise two years later. The league would continue adding teams over the years, and future hall-of-fame players like Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr would cement their legacies during this time.

Modern Times

The modern era of the NHL began in 1991, with the addition of the San Jose Sharks. More teams, such as the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators, would be founded in the following years, and other teams would move to new cities. The North Stars left Minnesota for Dallas in 1993, and the Quebec Nordiques moved to Denver in 1995 to become the Colorado Avalanche. As of 2018, there are 31 teams in the NHL, with the Vegas Golden Knights being the newest team in the league.

No matter who your favorite team is, or whether they’ve been around for one year or 100 years, Sports Integrity is here to help you find the perfect hockey collectibles. If you’re shopping for yourself or you’re looking for a gift for the hockey fanatic in your life, then look through our catalog today. We’re always adding new items, and we’ll gladly answer questions about when we will get something from a certain player or a certain team.

Hockey is loved by people all around the world, and if you have a favorite team, show your loyalty with new memorabilia and autographed collectibles.

We look forward to helping you!