IceHockeyLeagues.com categorizes Hockey into four broad categories called Layers and within each Layer there exists individual leagues and tournaments of various classifications. The first Layer that tracks Hockey from its beginnings is the Amateur Layer.
Hockey, like all of the others sports, was played initially for personal recreational development, not for money or sub-national / national pride. Amateur Hockey is the bedrock from which the other three Layers are built on.
Each link goes to a League Page where you can find more information and individual season standings.
| League | Classification | Years | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Leagues of the Ontario Hockey Association | Development Association | 1890 to now | |
| Amateur Hockey Association of Canada | Elite League | 1887 to 1898 | 12 years old |
| Montreal Winter Carnival Hockey Tournament | Proto-League | 1883 to 1887, 1889 | 7 years old |
| Canadian Amateur Hockey League | Elite League | 1899 | 1 year old |
More info to follow…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Amateur_Hockey_League (1896)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Amateur_Hockey_Association
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Canadian_sports#Organizational_infrastructure
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_hockey_in_the_United_States
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_ice_hockey
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario_Hockey_Association (1890)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottawa_City_Hockey_League (1890)
