NHL All-Star Game History

The National Hockey League (NHL) All-Star Game is one of the greatest events in sport. Every year, the best players from around the league gather to compete against each other to test their individual and their team skills.

The NHL All-Star Game can trace its roots back to 1934 when what almost became a tragic incident sparked an annual tradition.

On December 12, 1933, the Toronto Maple Leafs traveled to the Boston Garden to meet the Bruins for a particularly intense match. During the second period, Bruins defenseman Eddie Shore hit Leafs forward Ace Bailey from behind, knocking him unconscious and sending him into convulsions. With a fractured skull, Bailey was rushed to the hospital where doctors operated on him for more than four hours. Though at the time it was unclear if he would survive, Bailey did survive and made a full recovery, though he would never play in the NHL again.

A Montreal journalist proposed that an All-Star benefit game be held for Bailey. The NHL Board of Governors approved the idea and on February 14, 1934, the first NHL All-Star Game, albeit unofficial, was held at Maple Leaf Gardens. For the game, the best players from around the league were selected to play against the home team, in this case, the Leafs.

Interestingly, Eddie Shore was one of the greatest players of his day and was selected to play in the game. Before the game, Bailey and Shore met at centre ice where Bailey presented Shore with an All-Star Game jersey. The two shook hands and all was forgiven. The Leafs would go on to beat the NHL All-Stars 7-3.

The next All-Star Game was a benefit for deceased Montreal Canadiens forward Howie Morenz. On January 28, 1937, in a game against the Chicago Black Hawks, Hawks forward Earl Siebert checked Morenz into the boards in what appeared to be a regular hit. As it turned out, Morenz suffered a compound fracture in his leg. He was hospitalized, but on March 8, 1937, Morenz unexpectedly died of heart failure.

On November 3, 1937, a team compiled of the Montreal Canadiens and the Montreal Maroons took on a team of NHL All-Stars. The Montreal teams lost 6-5.


In the 1947-48 season, the NHL All-Star Game became an official and annual event, though not as it is known today. Back then, the previous year's Stanley Cup winner would take on a team of All-Stars of players from around the league with the All-Star Game taking place at the start of the season. Throughout the 1950s a number of different formats were experimented with to make the game more entertaining for fans.

It wasn't until the late 1960s when the league expanded from six to 12 teams that the All-Star Game began to the shape as it is known today. In 1967, the game was moved to mid-season and in 1969, the game was played between teams in the Eastern and Western conferences for the first time.

In 1974 the Eastern Conference was renamed the Prince of Wales Conference and the Western Conference was named the Campbell Conference. These to conferences would square off against each other until 1993 when the league reverted back to its geographical monikers.

In 1985, two new dimensions were added to the game. This year marked the first in which captains were selected for each team and it was also the first year where First-Team All-Stars were selected by fan balloting.

In 1990, the first-ever NHL All-Star Game Skills Competition was held, pitting players from each conference against each other in a test of individual skills. The skills competition is one of the most anticipated and entertaining events of the NHL season, determining the fastest skater, hardest shooter, best stickhandlers and the greatest goalies.

The All-Star Game and surrounding festivities have come a long way since 1934. Today the game is accompanied by numerous and charitable events that show the NHL's commitment to the many communities that have embraced the NHL. Each year, to the delight of fans around the world, a combination of sportsmanship and skill takes centre stage for one weekend in January.

This year's game will be taking place in Atlanta, Georgia, home of the Atlanta Thrashers. Be sure to check back with this site often to get the latest updates for this year's match.