The proffesion league that hockey is played in, is called the NHL. The National Hockey League (NHL) was created on Novemeber 26, 1917. The teams that were included back then were the Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Arenas, and Quebec Bulldogs.
They were known as the "Orginal Six". Over time more teams joined the NHL and other teams got renamed, moved, or dispanded all together. As of today (2014), there are 30 NHL teams, with the newest team, the Winnipeg Jets. And every year at the end fo the season, the top eight teams in the east and the west, have a tournament to see who is the best in each division. The top team plays the worst team, and the secound team plays the seventh team, and so on in a seven game series, (who ever wins four out of the seven games win that series). And the winner of each division comes together in the Stanley Cup Final. The winner of the Stanley Cup Finals, gets the Stanley Cup, which is the ultimate goal for a NHL Hockey Player or a team. There are still teams in the NHL that haven't won a Stanley Cup after 95 have been handed out, and was handed out last to The LA Kings.
Like every other sport, there are the best of the best. The best player to play hockey proffesionaly, is Wayne Gretzky, also known as the "Great One". He is the only playing in NHL History to get 200 points (goals or assists) in ONE season. He also holds 61 more NHL records, including the most goals and assists and points in a season. Wayne Gretzky is really the "Great One". Click Me to get to the NHL Website