Why exactly is the NHL the "National" Hockey League, when the league consists of teams from Canada?

Question

Why exactly is the NHL the "National" Hockey League, when the league consists of teams from Canada?

Answer 1

The proper question is, "Why is the NHL the 'National' Hockey League when it has teams from the US in it?"

Answer 2

Its easier to say it that way

Answer 3

sigh. here we go again.

Answer 4

because they wanted to

Answer 5

Technically the question is why exactly is it the "National" Hockey League when it consists of teams from the U.S. The League actually started in Canada and had teams in the U.S. Anyway the International Hockey League wouldn't have sounded as good, as least not to me. Besides the U.S. and Canada have been good enough friends for years now that you don't really consider it International when it is the U.S. and Canada.  

Answer 6

it's just a name! kind of like how the Toronto Blue Jays are in the American League!

Answer 7

Hey, we're a nation up here, too. The league actually started here.

Now I know how the natives felt, "there's only a couple of them, what harm can they do?"

Answer 8

i think when they meant by national,they meant north America

Answer 9

When it started, there were 4 teams from canada. It followed up the National Hockey Association, which included teams from the US and Canada. Corruption with the Rangers ownership and issues led to the NHL, which very soon got US teams

They basically changed the name from the NHA with a new organization and moved those same teams into the new organization so they could get rid of a few owners.

Why the NHA was national, I have no idea. I can only guess that the national started off as Canada.

Answer 10

Because it is based in north america, not USA.  Kinda like how the NBA is.