The name Donnybrook probably means nothing to you, but if you’re a hockey fan, then you’ll know exactly what it is. Every year, at the end of the season, when the NHL playoffs begin, the name Donnybrook comes up. The league’s second-round and later-round series are usually nicknamed the ‘Stanley Cup Championsipad’. That’s because the first game played between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL’s inaugural 1917-18 season was named the ‘Donnybrook Challenge’. So, if you see a game with the name Donnybrook in it, you’ll know exactly what it is.
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History
The first hockey game played in Donnybrook was on March 25, 1917, and it was contested by the Toronto Arenas and the Montreal Canadiens. The game was played in front of an audience of 12,000 spectators, which is almost impossible to believe these days. Unfortunately, no ice was available, so the game was played on a frozen river in what is now Davenport, Ontario. The Toronto team won the game 3-0.
Just over a month later, on April 28, 1917, the NHL was formally established. The Toronto Maple Leafs were one of the eight teams who initially formed the NHL — they had previously been members of the NHA before that. The Montreal Canadiens were also one of the eight teams, and the first game played by the two sides was also referred to as the ‘Donnybrook Challenge’. This time, the ice was available in Donnybrook, and so it was that the first ever Stanley Cup was contested.
The first Stanley Cup was contested by the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens. Although both teams were fairly evenly matched, the Leafs outlasted the Habs in seven games. During that series, the teams were tied 2-2 before a Game 7 that was played in front of 20,000 people at the Toronto Arena. The Cup was eventually presented to the Leafs after that game.
Location
Like many of the NHL’s first franchises, the Toronto Maple Leafs began their life in the city of Toronto, Ontario. In fact, the team’s home arena, the Toronto Arena, was one of the first in the NHL, and it still stands today as one of the league’s most historic buildings. The arena’s architecture and its art deco design are both on display in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
The team’s first franchise jersey was white with a blue trim, as is still the case today. Unfortunately, the white and blue color scheme was very unpopular with the fans, and only a year later, in 1919, the team changed their uniform color to navy and red. This color scheme is still used by the team to this day. While not one of the eight original teams that founded the NHL, the Leafs certainly became a major force in the league, eventually winning nine Jennings Trophies as the best team in the league.
The franchise moved to their current home, the Air Canada Centre, in 1996. The arena is named after the airline that the team’s owner, John Bassett, started. The arena underwent a $26 million renovation in 2011 that gave the building a more contemporary look. Since that time, the team has won an additional three Jennings Trophies — the most recent one in 2018.
Across the Canadian border, in the city of Montreal, the Montreal Canadiens began play in the NHL in the 1910s, and one of the most historic buildings in the NHL is the Place Bonaventure. This is the rink where the Habs have played their home games since 1924. The arena’s design is inspired by the Champs-Élysées in Paris, France.
The arena underwent a massive renovation in 1995 that cost $22 million and made it one of the NHL’s newer and more modern buildings. The Habs have won six Stanley Cups since then, the most recent one coming in 2018.
Game Day
On game day, if you’re a Leafs fan, you’ll have to get up early in the morning to get to the stadium for the game. Toronto is about an hour drive from Toronto. On the other hand, if you’re a Habs fan, you’ll be able to get to the stadium later, and you won’t have to worry about traffic or getting a parking spot. A game day in the NHL is an exciting day, whether you’re a Leafs fan or a Habs fan. Many players have remarked that the pregame warm-ups are some of the most exciting parts of the game. You’ll see many fans getting up early to get good seating, and many others staying up late to get the best viewing angle.
Broadcasters
One of the most recognizable voices in hockey today is Brian Boucher. He’s been the voice of the New York Rangers since 2007 and has been part of the team’s radio broadcasts since 1995. He also called the 2011 and 2013 Stanley Cup Finals for the Rangers, as well as the 2008 Winter Olympics for Canadian TV viewers. Before that, he called the 2004 World Cup of Hockey for English-speaking viewers in Canada.
Most hockey fans will recognize Mike Emrick’s name because he’s been calling games for the NHL or its predecessor, the WHL, since the 1970s. He’s still active in the sport, and he does a weekly podcast about hockey. He’s probably most well known for his play-by-play calls of the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, and New York Rangers. He’s also called the last regular season game of the 2010-11 season for the Rangers. He’s been with the team all-time, and before that, he did play-by-play for the WHA’s Birmingham Blazers and the IHL’s Cleveland Barons. He was born in Michigan, but he now calls Montreal home.
If you want to follow the action from your phone, you can download the Sportsnet app, which gives you access to every single NHL game, as well as other major sports events such as the Stanley Cup Finals and the Olympic Games. You can also get alerts when there’s player news, team news, or game results. It’s the perfect tool for a sports fan.
Attendance
While there are no official attendance figures for NHL games, it’s estimated that there are over 1 billion hockey fans across the world. In North America, the number of people who follow the sport is truly staggering. The NHL is the most popular sports league in America, and over the last decade, the league’s average attendance has been 76,823 fans per game. That’s a remarkable figure considering the sport didn’t have the same popularity in America before the 2020 pandemic.
NHL players have also been among the major beneficiaries of the sport’s newfound popularity. They’ve been able to parlay their popularity into sponsorship deals and lucrative contract extensions. In fact, in 2020, the NHL’s average cap hit was nearly $10 million.
Awards
There are several accolades awarded to players for their achievements in the sport of hockey. The awards are presented at the annual NHL Awards show, which is usually held in mid-June. It’s one of the most prestigious events of the year, if not the biggest, primarily due to its attendance and voting memberships. The most prominent award is the Hart Trophy, which is given to the player ‘who most deserves the honour of being the Most Valuable Player of the Year.’ In the history of the trophy, which was first awarded in 1950, only four non-Canadian players have ever won it — Geoffrion, Orr, Howe, and Gretzky.
Another prominent award is the James Norris Memorial Trophy, which is given to the player who “best demonstrates throughout the season the greatest degree of skill in dodging and weaving among players and opponents, and the ability to keep his head up while on the ice.” Several other trophies are given out annually to the best player in each category, as well as the top goalie.
Many players have left a lasting impression on the game of hockey. Some of the greatest players of all time are enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Others have become legendary for their intensity on the bench or in the locker room. The names Crosby, Gretzky, and Orr are probably the best known for their intensity. Just ask the officials if you don’t believe me!