ABOUT THE NHL
- Appropriately birthed in the frigid confines of the Great White North, ice hockey
- Founded: 1917
- Regular season length: 82 games
Playoff format:
POSITION KEY
C = Center
Occupying 1 of 3 forward skating positions, Centers (or Centerman) are the proverbial leaders of any offense as primary faceoff participants, play callers and goal scorers though they can also be effective on the defensive side
W = Wing
Taking up the other 2 forward positions on the right and left-hand side of the centerman, Wings mainly operate on the offensive end as scoring threats providing additional goal-centric opportunities for their team though they can also be effective on the defensive side
D = Defenseman
Lining up along the blue line in 2 positions behind the 3 forwards, Defensemans' foremost agenda is to patrol the area surrounding their goaltender to better dissuade opposing offensive players from scoring though they can also be effective on the offensive side
G = Goaltender
Quite literally the final obstacle that stands between the puck and the net, Goaltenders (or Goalies) are unenviably tasked with blocking opposing goal attempts from reaching their destination by any means possible utilizing an arsenal of pads and other equipment to repel every kind of shot
AWARDS GLOSSARY
Calder Memorial Trophy (top rookie)
Awarded annually to the most outstanding first-year player in the National Hockey League as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association
elke Award (Top Defensive Forward)
Awarded annually to the National Hockey League forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association
James Norris Memorial Trophy (Top Defenseman)
Awarded annually to the National Hockey League defenseman who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-around ability in the position as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association
Vezina Trophy (Top Goaltender)
Awarded annually to the National Hockey League's top goaltender as voted by the 31 general managers within the NHL
Hart Memorial Trophy (Most Valuable Player)
Awarded annually to the National Hockey League player judged most valuable to his team as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association
Stanley Cup (NHL Championship)
Awarded annually to the team that wins the Stanley Cup Final at the end of the season
Conn Smythe Trophy (Playoff MVP)
Awarded annually to the most outstanding player in the playoffs