![brief history 1917](png/yxjckmvjvuexpngr5owb.png)
The National Hockey League was organized on November 26, 1917, in Montréal following the suspension of operations by the National Hockey Association of Canada Limited (NHA). The Montréal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators and Quebec Bulldogs attended the founding meeting. The Toronto Arenas later were admitted as a fifth team; Quebec decided not to operate during the first season and its players were allocated to the remaining four teams. The first NHL games were played on December 19, 1917.