#NHLPeachy #NHLStats Pack: Hub Cities @NHL

* Edmonton and Toronto are the provincial capitals of Alberta and Ontario, respectively.

* The 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs will mark the first time since 1925 that an NHL postseason will take place entirely in Canada. That year, all games were contested in either Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver or Victoria.

* Edmonton has hosted the Stanley Cup Final seven times, most recently in 2006 when the Oilers won Game 6 at Rexall Place before losing Game 7 at Carolina. The other years: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1990.

* Toronto has hosted at least one Stanley Cup Final game in 23 different seasons, most recently in 1967 when Terry Sawchuk made 40 saves in a Cup-clinching victory against Montreal in Game 6 at Maple Leaf Gardens. In addition to the 21 times that the Maple Leafs franchise has reached the Final, the city has hosted a game in the championship series in two other years. In 1920, the final two contests were held at Mutual Street Arena due to unseasonably warm weather and poor ice conditions at Laurier Avenue Arena in Ottawa; in 1950, Maple Leaf Gardens played host to two games on account of the circus taking over Madison Square Garden.

* The Stanley Cup has been awarded in Edmonton four times, with Wayne Gretzky accepting the trophy as Oilers captain each time (1984, 1985, 1987 & 1988).

* It was in Edmonton that the tradition of posing for a team picture with the Stanley Cup on the ice was established. The Oilers were the first to do so in 1988, following what was Wayne Gretzky’s last game with Edmonton.

* Edmonton is the northernmost city in which the trophy has been awarded (53.63 degrees latitude).

* Edmonton also hosted the coldest (and first) regular-season outdoor NHL game, the 2003 NHL Heritage Classic at Commonwealth Stadium. The temperature at puck drop was 0°F/-18°C, with severe wind chill.

* Toronto has hosted one NHL outdoor game, the Centennial Classic at Exhibition Stadium – which now is part of the Phase 4 Secure Zone – on Jan. 1, 2017 when then-rookie Auston Matthews scored in overtime against the Red Wings.

* Edmonton has hosted one NHL All-Star Game, at Northlands Coliseum on Feb. 7, 1989. Wayne Gretzky, in the midst of his first season since being traded from the Oilers to the Kings, won his second of three career NHL All-Star Game MVPs (also 1983 & 1999).

* In a way, Toronto hosted the first NHL All-Star Game twice. In 1934, the ‘All-Star’ game took place at Maple Leaf Gardens, serving as a benefit fundraiser for Maple Leafs forward Ace Bailey, who suffered a career-ending injury during the 1933-34 season. Then in 1947, Toronto hosted the first official NHL All-Star Game, also at Maple Leaf Gardens, when the defending Stanley Cup champions played against a selection of All-Stars from the other five teams – a format that lasted four years. In total, the city has hosted the NHL All-Star Game eight times (since 1947), most recently at Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena) in 2000.

* The 1995 NHL Draft took place at Edmonton Coliseum where, in his hometown, Jarome Iginla was chosen by Dallas with the 11th overall pick. He would go on to record more goals, assists and points than anyone from that draft class.

* Toronto has hosted the NHL Draft on two occasions. The Maple Leafs selected Wendel Clark with the No. 1 pick in 1985 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The Blue Jackets, Toronto’s opponent in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers, chose Rick Nash at No. 1 in 2002 at Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena).

* The hockey world converged upon Toronto for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey at Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena). Toronto also hosted the winner-take-all final for the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

* Edmonton has served as a host city for the World Junior Championship twice (1995 & 2012). In 1995, Canada – which featured future Oilers captain Ryan Smyth – went 7-0 to win the gold medal, including a 6-4 win over Finland at Edmonton Coliseum.

* Toronto has served as a host city for the World Junior Championship three times (1986, 2015 & 2017). In 2015, Canada – which featured several future NHLers including Eastern Conference forwards Max Domi, Frederik Gauthier, Nic Petan, Brayden Point and Nick Ritchie – earned a 5-4 win over Russia at Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena) to claim the gold medal.

* The Stanley Cup has resided in Toronto year-round at the Hockey Hall of Fame since 1962. The Hall’s first Toronto location was at Exhibition Place – part of the Phase 4 Secure Zone – before it moved to Brookfield Place in 1993.