When did Canada accept professional ice hockey?

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ice hockey Goalie Marc-André Fleury of the Vegas Golden Knights blocking a shot by Jakub Vrána of the Washington Capitals in game five of the 2018 Stanley Cup finals. The Capitals won the game and the series.

Canada officially accepted professional ice hockey in 1908 with the formation of the Ontario Professional Hockey League.

Prior to this, the sport in Canada was strictly amateur, as it was considered ungentlemanly to accept payment for athletic services. While the first professional team and league were established in the United States in 1903 and 1904, respectively, by Canadian players, Canada did not formally embrace the professional model until the 1908 league was organized.12