- 1910 NHA season
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1910–11 NHA season League National Hockey Association Sport Ice hockey Duration January 5, 1910 – March 15, 1910 Number of games 12 Number of teams 7 Regular season Top scorer Newsy Lalonde (38) O'Brien Cup O'Brien Cup champions Montreal Wanderers Runners-up Ottawa Hockey Club NHA seasons The 1910 NHA season was the first season of the National Hockey Association men's ice hockey league. The season started on January 5, but was suspended immediately and the league then absorbed the Ottawa and Shamrocks teams of the Canadian Hockey Association and the season continued from January 15 to March 15. Seven teams played 12 games each. The Ottawa Hockey Club played two Cup challenges during the season, but lost the Cup to their rivals the Montreal Wanderers who won the league championship and played a Cup challenge afterwards.
Contents
League business
Part of the series on Emergence of the NHL 
Leagues AHAC (1886–1898) WPHL (1896–1910) CAHL (1898–1905) FAHL (1904–1909) IPHL (1904–1907) ECAHA (1906–1909) TPHL (1906–1911) OPHL (1908–1911) CHA (1909–1910) NHA (1909–1917) PCHA (1912–1924) NHL (1917–present) WCHL (1921–1926) Ice hockey portal · After the CHA turned down the Wanderers' application to join, Wanderers' manager Jimmy Gardner, along with Renfrew's Ambrose O'Brien worked to put together enough teams to form a league. Gardner approached the Ottawa Senators of the Federal League to have an Ottawa entry, but the players decided to fold the team, rather than compete with the Ottawa Hockey Club.[1] Gardner also approached the Mutual Street Rink of Toronto to form a professional team, but was turned down as the rink was fully booked.[2]
The league was founded on December 2, 1909 at a private meeting at 300 St. James Street, the headquarters of the Dominion Office and Store Fitting Limited in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.[3] At this meeting four franchises were approved:
- Wanderers (represented by P. J. Doran, R. R. Boon, Jimmy Gardner)
- Renfrew (represented by Ambrose O'Brien, George E. Martel, Jim Barnett)
- Cobalt (Thomas C. Hare)
- Haileybury (Noah Timmins)
Eddie McCafferty acted as secretary, and he also was representative of interests in Toronto. A franchise would be held for a future Toronto team. The NHA discussed organizing a team in Ottawa with the Ottawa Lacrosse Club and getting Montreal Le National to join the NHA.[3] The Wanderers and Renfrew signed a pact not to merge with the CHA unless Cobalt and Haileybury were also admitted.[4] The teams pledged a $1,000 bond to stay together.[5]
Two days later on December 4, the NHA held an organizing meeting at the Windsor Hotel in Montreal. The CHA was meeting at the hotel also, and a message was sent to the Ottawa, Shamrocks and Le National teams to seek a merged seven-team league. This was turned down by the CHA, which would not accept Cobalt and Haileybury.[4] The CHA proposed that Renfrew and Wanderers join the CHA, but the NHA teams turned that proposal down.[5]
An executive was elected:
- President - M. Doheney, Renfrew
- Vice-President - Thomas C. Hare, Cobalt
- Sec.-Treasurer - E. John McCafferty
- Executive - J. Ambrose O'Brien, Slaght, Boon, Jack Laviolette and Thomas C. Hare
At the meeting, a franchise for 'Les Canadiens' was granted, to be organized by Jack Laviolette. Mr. Hare of Cobalt put up a security deposit for the franchise on the understanding that it would be transferred to Montreal French sportsmen as soon as possible.[6]
The NHA decided to run the league in a more business-like manner. The league decided to write a standard player's contract. McCafferty, who was also secretary of the Montreal Baseball Club, was to draw up the contract. The NHA also decided to have professional referees. Both of these were innovations in the world of ice hockey.[5]
Regular season
The first Canadiens game ever took place on January 5 under a cloud. Didier Pitre had signed a contract with both the Canadiens and the Nationals. Pitre was risking a $2,000 fine and 60 days's jail time. The Nationals had a legal injunction against Pitre playing for the Canadiens. This contributed to an over-capacity crowd at the Jubilee Rink of about 5,000. Pitre did play (he was guaranteed any fines by Canadiens' management) and court action commenced. Pitre was found to not to have a binding contract with the Nationals by the courts. By this time, the CHA had folded, and no contract was enforceable. Pitre would have a long career with the Canadiens, playing into the 1920s.[7]
On January 15, a meeting was held by the league executive and Ottawa and Montreal Shamrocks were admitted to the NHA. The games played before that date were thrown out, and games from that date forwards counted towards the final standings.[8]
On January 22, at a game between Renfrew and Shamrocks, Shamrock's Joe Hall was ejected for striking the judge-of-play Rod Kennedy. After regulation time, the game was tied. Referee Tom Hodge proposed that Hall return for the overtime, but Renfrew objected and did not play the overtime. Hall was later fined $100 for the incident and suspended until January 30. The game was ordered replayed but wasn't due to ice conditions and the game results were accepted as a tie.[9]
On Cyclone Taylor's first return to Ottawa as a member of the Renfrew team, he made his famous promise to score a goal backwards against Ottawa. This led to incredible interest, with over 7000 in attendance. A bet of $100 was placed at the King Edward Hotel against him scoring at all.[10] The Senators would win 8–5 (3 goals in overtime) and more importantly keep Taylor off the scoresheet. Later in the season at the return match in Renfrew, Taylor made good on his boast with a goal scored backwards. This was the final game of the season, and the Senators had no chance at the league title, and don't appear to have put in an effort, losing 17–2.[11]
Final standings
National Hockey Association GP W L T GF GA Montreal Wanderers 12 11 1 0 91 41 Ottawa Hockey Club 12 9 3 0 89 66 Renfrew Creamery Kings 12 8 3 1 96 54 Cobalt Silver Kings 12 4 8 0 79 104 Haileybury Hockey Club 12 4 8 0 77 83 Montreal Shamrocks 12 3 8 1 52 95 Les Canadiens 12 2 10 0 59 100 Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against
The Wanderers as champions of the league, took over the Stanley Cup from Ottawa, and were awarded the O'Brien Cup as league champions.Stanley Cup challenges
During the season Ottawa as Cup champion played a challenge against Edmonton in addition to their regular schedule. They had played a challenge during the CHA season against Galt.
Ottawa vs. Edmonton
Edmonton was champion of the Alberta Amateur Hockey Association.
January 18 Edmonton 4 at Ottawa 8 Jack Winchester G Percy LeSueur William Field P Fred Lake Hugh Ross CP Hamby Shore Fred Whitcroft 2 F Bruce Stuart 2 Harold Deeton 1 F Marty Walsh 1 Hay Millar 1 F Gordon Roberts 4 Boulton F Bruce Ridpath 1 Referees - Bowie & Campbell January 20 Edmonton 7 at Ottawa 13 Jack Winchester G Percy LeSueur William Field P Fred Lake Hugh Ross CP Hamby Shore 1 Fred Whitcroft 3 F Bruce Stuart 5 Harold Deeton 2 F Marty Walsh 1 Hay Millar F Gordon Roberts 3 Bert Boulton 2 F Bruce Ridpath 3 Referees - Bowie & Campbell NHA League Champions Take Over Cup
Since Ottawa won the challenges, the winner of the regular season of the NHA would take over the Stanley Cup championship. The Wanderers having won the championship of the NHA, took possession of the Cup from Ottawa. They had a challenge from Berlin, champions of the Ontario Professional Hockey League and easily defeated them. For 1910, there would be two Stanley Cup holders, Ottawa until March, and Montreal for the rest of the year.
Wanderers vs. Berlin
March 12 Berlin 3 at Wanderers 7 Hugh Lehman G Riley Hern Earl Seibert 1 P Jack Marshall Harvey Corbeau 1 CP Ernie Johnson E. "Toad" Edmunds F Frank Glass Ezra Dumart F Ernie Russell 4 Ray Anderson F Harry Hyland 3 Oren Frood 1 F Jimmy Gardner Referees - Bowie & Kirby NHA Exhibitions at New York
After the season, the NHA arranged an 'international championship' at New York's St. Nicholas Rink. Like the previous spring, Ottawa and Wanderers played a two-game series in New York for a purse of $1,500. Wanderers won both games 4–3. Renfrew next travelled to New York and defeated the Wanderers in a single game for $1,000.
Date Winning Team Score Losing Team March 15, 1910 Montreal Wanderers 4–3 Ottawa HC March 16, 1910 Montreal Wanderers 4–3 Ottawa HC March 19, 1910 Renfrew Millionaires 9–4 Montreal Wanderers - Source
- "Wanderers Won at New York". The Globe: p. 9. March 16, 1910.
- "Wanderers Won Again". The Globe: p. 9. March 17, 1910.
- "Renfrew 9, Wandererer 4". The Globe: p. 9. March 21, 1910.
Schedule and results
Month Day Visitor Score Home Score Jan. 5 Cobalt 6 Canadiens 7 (5'35" over.)† 8 Cobalt 6 Wanderers 10 † 12 Cobalt 11 Renfrew 9 † 15 Renfrew 2 Wanderers 7 15 Shamrocks 3 Ottawa 15 18 Cobalt 7 Haileybury 6 (4'30" over.) 19 Canadiens 4 Renfrew 9 22 Canadiens 4 Ottawa 6 22‡ Renfrew 1 Shamrocks 1 22 Wanderers 2 Haileybury 4 25 Wanderers 11 Cobalt 6 25 Haileybury 2 Shamrocks 3 (30" over.) 26 Ottawa 8 Canadiens 4 28 Shamrocks 2 Renfrew 10 29 Haileybury 4 Ottawa 11 Feb. 1 Haileybury 3 Wanderers 8 2 Canadiens 3 Shamrocks 8 4 Haileybury 3 Renfrew 6 5 Shamrocks 1 Wanderers 10 5 Ottawa 5 Cobalt 4 7 Haileybury 5 Canadiens 9 9 Wanderers 11 Shamrocks 6 9 Ottawa 8 Haileybury 4 12 Shamrocks 6 Haileybury 12 12 Renfrew 5 Ottawa 8 (10' over.) 12 Wanderers 9 Canadiens 4 15 Shamrocks 4 Cobalt 11 15 Renfrew 8 Canadiens 6 19 Ottawa 5 Wanderers 7 19 Renfrew 12 Cobalt 7 22 Renfrew 11 Haileybury 5 23 Ottawa 9 Shamrocks 6 24 Canadiens 7 Cobalt 11 25 Wanderers 5 Renfrew 0 26 Cobalt 5 Ottawa 11 26 Canadiens 3 Haileybury 15 Mar. 2 Cobalt 3 Wanderers 7 5 Wanderers 3 Ottawa 1 5 Cobalt 6 Canadiens 4 8 Cobalt 6 Shamrocks 8 8 Ottawa 2 Renfrew 17 9 Canadiens 6 Wanderers 11 11 Shamrocks 4 Canadiens 5 (12' over.) 11 Cobalt 4 Renfrew 15 15 Haileybury 14 Cobalt 9 † Games played before January 15, which were played before the CHA teams joined were not counted against the final standings.
‡ The January 22 game was abandoned due to an on-ice incident. It was ordered replayed on March 2 in Ottawa, but wasn't played due to soft ice in Ottawa.
Player statistics
Goalkeeper Averages
Name Club GP GA SO Avg. Nicholson, Billy Haileybury 1 3 3.0 Hern, Riley Wanderers 12 41 1 3.4 Lindsay, Bert Renfrew 12 54 4.5 Winchester, Jack Shamrocks 5 26 5.2 LeSueur, Percy Ottawa 12 66 1 5.5 Moran, Paddy Haileybury 11 80 7.3 Broughton, George Shamrocks 5 43 8.6 Cattarinich, Joe Canadiens 3 23 7.7 Groulx, Teddy Canadiens 9 77 8.6 Jones, Chief Cobalt 12 104 8.7 Baker, Shamrocks 2 26 13.0 Scoring leaders
Name Club GP G Lalonde, Newsy Canadiens & Renfrew 11 38 Russell, Ernie Wanderers 12 31 Smith, Tom Cobalt 10 24 Walsh, Marty Ottawa 11 23 Patrick, Lester Renfrew 11 22 Clarke, Herb Cobalt 11 22 Gaul, Horace Haileybury 12 22 Hyland, Harry Wanderers 11 20 Vair, Steve Cobalt 12 19 Ridpath, Bruce Ottawa 12 15 Montreal Wanderers March 1910 Stanley Cup Champions
Roster
- Frank "Pud" Glass (Captain)
- Jack Marshall
- Bill Chipcase
- Jimmy Gardner
- Ernie Russell
- Harry Hyland
- Cecil Blachford
- Ernie "Moose" Johnson
- Goaltenders
- Non-players
- Fred Strachan (President)
- Dickie Boon (Manager)
- Robert Stephanson (Vice President)
- Dr. Walter Dorion (Director)
- Paul Lefebvre (Trainer)
Stanley Cup engraving
Montreal Wanderers did not put their name on the Stanley Cup. When the trophy was redesigned in 1948 the words "1910 Montreal Wanderers" was put onto its then-new collar.
See also
- Canadian Hockey Association
- List of pre-NHL seasons
- 1909 in sports
- 1910 in sports
- List of Stanley Cup champions
References
- Coleman, Charles (1966). The Trail of the Stanley Cup, Vol. 1, 1893–1936 inc.
- Duplacey, James (2001). The Official Rules of Hockey. New York, New York: The Lyons Press
- O'Brien, Andy (1971). Les Canadiens: The Story of the Montreal Canadiens. McGraw-Hill Ryerson. ISBN 0070929509
- Podnieks, Andrew; Hockey Hall of Fame (2004). Lord Stanley's Cup. Triumph Books. ISBN 978-1-55168-261-7
- ^ "Senators Won't Have a Team". The Ottawa Citizen: p. 8. December 2, 1909.
- ^ "Toronto Will Not Enter Team". Ottawa Citizen: p. 8. December 2, 1909.
- ^ a b "Big New Professional League Was Launched at Montreal". Ottawa Citizen: p. 6. December 3, 1909.
- ^ a b "Peace Overtures Rejected". The Globe: p. 8. December 6, 1909.
- ^ a b c "Seven Club Hockey League Likely Solution of Difficulty". Ottawa Citizen: p. 8. December 6, 1909.
- ^ Coleman(1966), pg. 179
- ^ O'Brien(1971), pp. 4–9
- ^ Coleman(1966), pg. 182
- ^ Coleman(1966), pp. 185-186
- ^ Ottawa Citizen. February 11, 1910
- ^ Coleman(1966), pg. 189
- ^ Standings: Coleman, Charles (1966). Trail of the Stanley Cup, vol. 1, 1893-1926 inc.. National Hockey League. p. 190.
External links
Preceded by
Ottawa
January 1910Montreal Wanderers
Stanley Cup Champions
March 1910Succeeded by
Ottawa
1911Preceded by
1909–10 CHA season
1909 ECAHA seasonNHA seasons
1910Succeeded by
1910–11 NHA season1910 NHA season by team NHA Cobalt • Haileybury • Montreal Canadiens • Montreal Shamrocks • Montreal Wanderers • Ottawa • RenfrewSee also TransactionsCategories:- 1910 in ice hockey
- National Hockey Association seasons
- Stanley Cup Championship Finals
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