Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada to compete, with the provision that the Stanley Cup winners were to be recognized as "World's Champions". The phrase was repeatedly engraved on the Cup, and continued to be used, when the NHL began admitting American franchises. When the NHL assumed formal control of the Cup in 1947, the resulting agreement required "that the winners of this trophy shall be the acknowledged World's Professional Hockey Champions" (in contrast to the IIHF's Ice Hockey World Championships, at the time contested only by amateurs). When the World Hockey Association commenced play in the 1970s, they sought to challenge for the Stanley Cup,
Max Kaminsky Trophy winners from 1969–present, as most outstanding defenceman. List of Max Kaminsky Trophy winners from 1961–69, as most gentlemanly player. Max Kaminsky Trophy The Max Kaminsky Trophy is awarded annually by the Ontario Hockey League to the most outstanding defenceman. The award is named in honour of Max Kaminsky, who coached the St. Catharines Teepees to the Memorial Cup in 1960 and died shortly thereafter of cancer. The winner of the Max Kaminsky Trophy is nominated for the CHL Defenceman of the Year. Prior to 1969, the Max Kaminsky Trophy was awarded to the most gentlemanly player in the league. The