National Hockey League (NHL) All Star Game Format

All Star Game Format History

1934

Hockey's "all-stars" game takes place at Maple Leaf Gardens, serving as a benefit fundraiser for Toronto's Ace Bailey, who career was ended by an injury earlier in the season.

1947

The NHL stages its first official All-Star Game, pitting defending Stanley Cup champion Toronto against the league's best. The All-Stars score twice in the third period to overcome a deficit and win 4-3.

1951

The All-Star Game format goes through its first change, pitting players from Canadian-based teams against those from the U.S. After two consecutive games end in ties, the format is dropped.

1967

The All-Star Game goes through its biggest change ever, shifting from an event that takes place before the season starts to one that occurs at the midway point in the campaign.

1969

With the most number of teams ever now playing in the NHL, the All-Star Game format changes again to pit the older East Division teams against the new upstarts from the West Division.

1975

There are now 18 teams in the NHL, playing in two conferences of two divisions each. The All-Star Game format changes again to reflect the new alignment, pitting the Wales Conference against the Campbell Conference.

1979

League pride is at stake as the NHL suspends the traditional All-Star model for one year in favor of a Challenge Cup series against the Soviets. A similar series, called Rendez-vous '87, replaces the contest eight years later.

1998

In preparation to allow players to participate in its first Olympics, the NHL adopts a new All-Star format, matching a squad of North American players against those from the rest of the world.

2003

Format reverts back to East Conference vs West Conference. The format remains in effect today.