NHL expansion of 1967

E331808

The NHL expansion of 1967 was a landmark event in professional ice hockey that doubled the size of the National Hockey League from six to twelve teams, ushering in the league’s modern era.

All labels observed (4)

Label Occurrences
1967 NHL expansion 1
1967–68 NHL season 1
NHL expansion era 1

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf historical event
sports league expansion
addedTeam California Golden Seals
surface form: California Seals

Los Angeles Kings
Minnesota North Stars (partial use)
surface form: Minnesota North Stars

Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
St. Louis Blues
addedTeamLaterName California Golden Seals
California Golden Seals
surface form: Oakland Seals
addedTeamOfficialNameAtEntry California Golden Seals
surface form: California Seals
attendanceImpact significantly increased total league attendance
broadcastImpact helped the NHL gain a national U.S. television deal
commissionerOrPresidentAtTime Clarence S. Campbell
surface form: Clarence Campbell
competitionContext response to potential rival leagues and growing U.S. sports market
country Canada
United States of America
surface form: United States
createdDivision East Division
West Division
description doubled the size of the National Hockey League from six to twelve teams
divisionComposition East Division (NHL)
surface form: East Division contained the Original Six teams

West Division contained the six expansion teams
era beginning of the post–Original Six era
expansionFeePerTeamUSD 2000000
firstSeasonStanleyCupChampion Montreal Canadiens
firstSeasonStanleyCupRunnerUp St. Louis Blues
governingBodyDecisionMaker NHL Board of Governors
league National Hockey League
longTermImpact accelerated professional hockey growth in the western United States
increased overall player employment and talent pool in the NHL
set precedent for further NHL expansions
marketTypeTargeted large U.S. metropolitan areas
newNumberOfTeams 12
originalTeam Boston Bruins
Chicago Blackhawks
surface form: Chicago Black Hawks

Detroit Red Wings
Montreal Canadiens
New York Rangers
Toronto Maple Leafs
playoffFormatChange introduced separate playoffs for East and West Divisions
previousNumberOfTeams 6
reason to expand NHL presence in major U.S. markets
to secure lucrative U.S. television contracts
seasonAffected 1967–68 NHL season
significance ushered in the NHL’s modern era
sport ice hockey
StanleyCupFinalFormatChange pitted East Division winner against West Division winner
startTime 1967

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (4)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Clarence S. Campbell notableEvent NHL expansion of 1967
Western Division partOf NHL expansion of 1967
subject surface form: Western Division (NHL)
this entity surface form: NHL expansion era
California Golden Seals expansionTeamOf NHL expansion of 1967
this entity surface form: 1967 NHL expansion
California Golden Seals playedFirstSeason NHL expansion of 1967
this entity surface form: 1967–68 NHL season