Why were assists added to ice hockey scoring records?

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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.

Assists were introduced to ice hockey scoring records as an innovation by the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA) to recognize the contributions of players who helped set up a goal.12

Prior to this change, only the player who scored the goal was credited with a point. By awarding assists to those who facilitated the scoring play, the PCHA acknowledged the collaborative nature of the game, alongside other rule changes—such as dividing the ice into three zones and allowing forward passing in the center zone—that were designed to open up the game and make it more exciting for spectators.12