Toronto Maple Leafs' First Game: Dec 19, 1917 at Arena Gardens

The **Toronto Arenas** (franchise name; "Maple Leafs" adopted 1927) played their **first NHL game** on:

• Date: **December 19, 1917**
• Venue: **Arena Gardens** (later Mutual Street Arena), Toronto
• Opponent: **Montreal Canadiens**
• Result: **Toronto 2 – Montreal 1**
• Attendance: ~3,000 (capacity 7,500)
• Scorers: **Harry Cameron** (2 goals) for Toronto; **Joe Malone** for Montreal.

Context: NHL's **inaugural season** (4 teams: Toronto, Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators). Wanderers' arena burned down Jan 1918; they folded. Toronto won the **first Stanley Cup of the NHL era** (1918) vs. Vancouver Millionaires (PCHA).

Arena Gardens was demolished 1989; site now **BMO Field / Coca-Cola Coliseum area**.