 The International Ice Hockey Federation ( IIHF ) , the sport 's governing body , was created on 15 May 1908 under the name Ligue Internationale de Hockey sur Glace ( LHG ) . In 1908 , organised ice hockey was still relatively new ; the first organised indoor ice hockey game took place on 3 March 1875 at Montreal 's Victoria Skating Rink . In 1887 , four clubs from Montreal formed the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada ( AHAC ) and developed a structured schedule . Lord Stanley donated the Stanley Cup and the trustees decided to award it to either the best team in the AHAC , or to any pre @-@ approved team that won it in a challenge. the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association ( ECAHA ) was formed in 1905 , which mixed paid and amateur players in its rosters . The ECAHA eventually folded and as a result of the dissolution , the National Hockey Association ( NHA ) formed . 
