The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league as a joint venture for its self perpetuating membership of 30 member clubs all of which are located in the United States (24 teams) and Canada (6 teams It is widely considered the premier professional ice hockey league in the world, and one of the North American major professional sports teams. The Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America, is awarded annually to the league playoff champion at the end of each season. The league was organized in 1917 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada after the suspension of operations of its predecessor organization, the National Hockey Association (NHA), which had been founded in 1909. It started with four teams and, through a series of expansions, contractions, and relocations, the league is now composed of 30 teams active franchises. After a labor dispute that led to the cancellation of the entire 2004/2005 season, the league has staged a successful comeback, including revenue and profit growth. In 2009, the NHL enjoyed record-high sponsorships, crowds and television viewers. No matter which hockey team you support, you are sure to find a pair of cufflinks that fit your tastes. These cufflinks also make the perfect item for a close friend.