In 1919-20, professional hockey existed in a state of beautiful chaos: teams' home stadiums were literally burning to the ground, forcing athletes to live out of suitcases; Stanley Cup finals had to be relocated mid-series because the ice was melting in spring warmth; and a player could set an all-time scoring record while remembering nothing except the bitter frostbite. On pplpod, we navigate the chaotic high-scoring origins of the National Hockey League through the lens of the 1919-20 season, examining Joe Malone's unbreakable seven-goal record and the forgotten rover position that once defined the sport. This wasn't a disorganized pickup league masquerading as professional competition—it was the actual foundation of the modern NHL, built through raw human determination despite infrastructure that barely existed.

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Source credit: Research for this episode included Wikipedia articles accessed 3/5/2026. Wikipedia text is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; content here is summarized/adapted in original wording for commentary and educational use.