1877:
The first known hockey rules are published by the Montreal Gazette.

1888:
The Amateur Hockey Association of Canada is formed, with four teams in Montreal, one in Ottawa and one in Quebec City.

1889 or 1892:
The first women's hockey game is played in Ottawa or Barrie, Ontario.

1893:
Frederick Arthur, Lord Stanley of Preston and Governor-General of Canada, donates a trophy to be called the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup. It will be known more commonly as the Stanley Cup. The first winning team is from the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association, champions of the AHAC.

1894:
The first artificial ice rink is opened in Baltimore.

1895:
College athletes from the United States and Canada play the first international series of matches, with the Canadians winning all four games. College and club teams in the Eastern U.S. soon take up the game.

1896:
The Winnipeg Victorias become the first team from Western Canada to win the Stanley Cup.

Late 1800s and early 1900s:
North American ice hockey appears in European countries, taking its place alongside similar games such as bandy.

1900:
The goal net is introduced.

1910:
The Montreal Canadiens play their first game after joining a new league called the National Hockey Association.

1911:
Teams in Western Canada form the Pacific Coast Hockey Association. The league introduces several innovations: Blue lines are added to divide the ice into three zones, goaltenders are permitted to fall to the ice to make saves and forward passing is allowed in the neutral zone.

The 60 minute game is divided into three 20 minute periods.

1912:
The number of players allowed on the ice is reduced from seven to six per team.

1917:
Four NHA teams reorganize to form the National Hockey League. A new Toronto franchise, the Arenas, is added. The Arenas will become the Maple Leafs in 1927.

The Seattle Metropolitans of the PCHA become the first American-based team to win the Stanley Cup, after the Cup's trustees rule that teams outside Canada can compete for the trophy.

1930's:

Russ Blako was the first player to wear glasses in the NHL.

1955:
Maurice "Rocket" Richard is suspended for the remainder of the season and the playoffs after punching a linesman during a fight. The suspension sparks the "Richard Riot" in Montreal.

NHL officials wear striped sweaters for the first time.

The Zamboni makes its NHL debut when Montreal hosts Toronto.

1956:
Jean Beliveau is the first hockey player to appear on the cover of "Sports Illustrated."

The USSR enters Olympic ice hockey for the first time, winning the gold medal.

1957:
The first NHL Player's Association is formed with Detroit's Ted Lindsay as president. The owners soon crush the organization and the Red Wings trade Lindsay to the last place Chicago Black Hawks.

CBS is the first U.S. television network to carry NHL games.

1958:
Willie O'Ree of the Boston Bruins is the first black player in the NHL.

1961:
The Hockey Hall of Fame opens in Toronto.

1963:
The first NHL amateur draft is held in Montreal, with 21 players selected.

1965:
Ulf Sterner plays four games with the New York Rangers, becoming the first Swedish-born player in the NHL.

1967:
The NHL doubles in size, adding franchises in Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Oakland, St. Louis and Philadelphia.

1970:
The Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks join the NHL.

1972:
The World Hockey Association begins play, outbidding NHL teams for several star players. Bobby Hull becomes hockey's first million-dollar man when he leaves the Chicago Black Hawks and signs a 10-year, $2.75 million contract with the WHA's Winnipeg Jets.

The Atlanta Flames and New York Islanders join the NHL.

The Summit Series pits the best Canadian professionals against the best from the Soviet Union for the first time. Canadian players who have jumped from the NHL to the WHA are not invited to play. Canada wins the last three games to finish with four wins, three losses and a tie, clinching the series on a dramatic goal by Paul Henderson in the final game.

1974:
The Kansas City Scouts and Washington Capitals join the NHL.

The USSR wins the first World Junior Hockey Championship.

A second Canada-Soviet exhibition series takes place, featuring Canadians from the WHA against the Soviet nationals.

1975:
Soviet club teams play in North America for the first time when Central Red Army and Soviet Wings play a series of exhibition games against NHL teams.

1976:
Two franchises move: The California Seals become the Cleveland Barons and the Kansas City Scouts become the Colorado Rockies.

Canada defeats Czechoslovakia in the final to win the first Canada Cup tournament.

1978:
The Cleveland Barons merge with the Minnesota North Stars.

1979:
The World Hockey Associaton folds, with the Edmonton Oilers, Quebec Nordiques, Hartford Whalers and Winnipeg Jets joining the NHL.

1980:
The United States defeats the USSR in the semifinal and Finland in the final to win the Olympic gold medal. The "Miracle on Ice" will be enshrined as one of the greatest moments in American sports history.

The Atlanta Flames move to Calgary.

1982:
The Colorado Rockies move to New Jersey and become the Devils.

1989:
Sergei Priakin plays for the Calgary Flames, becoming the first Soviet player permitted to join an NHL club.

1990:
Canada wins the first Women's World Hockey Championship.

1991:
The San Jose Sharks join the NHL.

The NHL introduces video review.

1992:
The Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning join the NHL.

1993:
The Florida Panthers and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim begin play.

The Minnesota North Stars move to Dallas and become the Stars.

1994:
In the league's first major labour dispute, NHL players are locked out for 103 days. The regular season, which begins January 20, 1995, is the shortest in 53 years.

1995:
Jaromir Jagr becomes the first European to lead the NHL in scoring.

The Quebec Nordiques move to Denver and become the Colorado Avalanche.

1996:
The Winnipeg Jets move to Phoenix, where they are re-named the Coyotes.

1997:
The Hartford Whalers become the Carolina Hurricanes.

Craig Mactavish, the last remaining helmetless player in the NHL, retires.

1998:
The Nashville Predators join the NHL.

The NHL begins using two referees in each game.

NHL players compete at the Olympics for the first time, with the Czech Republic winning the gold medal.

The United States defeats Canada to win the first Olympic gold medal in women's hockey.

1999:
The Atlanta Thrashers join the NHL.

2000:
The Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild bring the total number of NHL teams to 30.

2002:
NHL players return to the Winter Olympics, with Canada winning the gold medal. The victory comes 50 years to the day after the last Canadian gold medal in men's hockey.

Canada defeats the United States to win the second Olympic gold medal in women's hockey.

The Detroit Red Wings win the Stanley Cup, with Swedish-born defenseman Niklas Lidstrom claiming the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Lidstrom is the first non-Canadian to win the award.

2004:

Prince George OldTimers Hockey Association (PGOHA) 25th Annual Charity Tournament.

2004-2005:

NHL - NHLPA can't agree on a collective agreement.  Season and draft cancelled.