0_Apprentice
My boyfriend wants me to go to an NHL game with him in Toronto - I don't even know much about hockey, but I guess I'll go
1_Wizard
You should be excited. The National Hockey League is one of the major professional sports leagues in Canada and the US. It is also the premier ice hockey league out there.
0_Apprentice
He's a big Leafs fan - I do know enough about the sport to know he's probably in for another year of disappointment  LOL
1_Wizard
Well currently the National Hockey League consists of 31 teams. There are seven in Canada and the rest spread out through the United States. 
0_Apprentice
Wow, that's a lot of teams!  My boyfriend told me that at one time there were only six teams - there's been a lot of expansion!
1_Wizard
As a matter of fact, the National Hockey League only consisted of four teams. They were all based out of Canada. That is also why it has the word " National" in it interestingly enough.
0_Apprentice
Only four?  That wasn't much variety of opposing teams!  When did it expand into the U.S.?
1_Wizard
The National Hockey League expanded in 1924 to the United States. The first American team to join was the Boston Bruins.
0_Apprentice
And somehow they ended up with more teams than Canada - something's wrong with that picture!  LOL  
1_Wizard
Bigger country I guess. You should also know that the National Hockey League trophy is called the Stanley Cup and it is the oldest trophy in North America. Teams compete annually for it. 