The National Hockey League was established in 1917 as the successor to the National Hockey Association (NHA) Founded in 1909, the NHA began play in 1910 with seven teams in Ontario and Quebec. At its inception, the NHL had four teams, all in Canada, thus the adjective "National" in the league's name. The NHL's regular season is typically held from October to April, with each team playing 82 games. 16 teams advance to the Stanley Cup playoffs, a four-round tournament that runs into June to determine the league champion.