Ottawa Capitals

Ottawa Capitals, 1897 CCHA champions, 1897 Stanley Cup challengers

The Ottawa Capitals were an early amateur senior men's ice hockey club playing in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada from the 1890s until 1920. The club would challenge for the Stanley Cup in 1897, but abandon its challenge after one game, after it lost 15–2. It would later precipitate the breakup of the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC). The nickname 'Capitals' is often applied to the Ottawa Hockey Club, however the two teams were not affiliated.

History

The Capital Hockey club, affiliated with the Capital Amateur Athletic Association, (CAAA) was formed in 1896. The Capitals formed the rival Central Canada Hockey Association (CCHA) senior league, entering its club as one of league teams, competing against Brockville, Ontario and Cornwall, Ontario.^[1] This was similar to the Ottawa City Hockey League (OCHL) which was organized by the Ottawa Hockey Club. The CAAA also organized the Capital Lacrosse Club. The Capitals also organized a junior team, which played in the OCHL, winning the City championship in 1897.

After winning the CCHA championship in 1897, the club challenged the Montreal Victorias HC for the Stanley Cup, but abandoned its challenge after only one game of a projected best-of-three, after losing 15-2.^[2] The club, despite the loss joined the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) intermediate division and won the 1898 intermediate championship.^[1]

In 1898, the club attempted to join the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) senior league, but several clubs of the AHAC (Ottawa HC, Montreal HC, Shamrock HC (Montréal), Victoria HC (Montréal) and Quebec HC) resisted this. 'The Globe noted that the Capitals were "questionably amateur", referring to the paying of the players.^[3] Rather than admit the Capitals, the other five clubs dissolved the AHAC and formed the Canadian Amateur Hockey League (CAHL).

The Capitals applied to the CAHL in 1899 but were turned down again. Unlike the AHAC, the CAHL required unanimous consent to join the senior ranks and the Ottawas vote was enough to block the club. Instead, the club joined the Senior league of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA).^[4]

In 1903, the club helped found the Federal Amateur Hockey League, playing one season in 1904, finishing last. President Bill Foran of the Capitals was president of the FAHL. Foran later became a Stanley Cup trustee. The club took over the ice rink lease of Dey's Skating Rink, forcing the Ottawa Hockey Club to move to the Aberdeen Pavilion.^[5] The club withdrew from the league before the 1905 season.

In 1919, by order of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, the Capital HA was forced to join the Ottawa City League to be eligible for Allan Cup play.

See also

• 1898 AHAC season
• Ice hockey in Ottawa
• List of Stanley Cup champions
• List of Stanley Cup Challenge Games

References

• Coleman, Charles L (1966). The Trail of the Stanley Cup, Vol. 1, 1893–1926 inc.. Montreal, Quebec: National Hockey League. 
• Kitchen, Paul (2008). Win, Tie or Wrangle. Manotick, Ontario: Penumbra Press. ISBN 978-1-897323-46-5. 

1. ^ ^{a b} Kitchen(2008), p. 83
2. ^ Coleman(1966), p. 38
3. ^ "A Brake-Up Down East.". The Globe: p. 8. December 12, 1898. 
4. ^ "The O.H.A. Winter Program". The Globe: p. 29. December 16, 1899. 
5. ^ Kitchen(2008), p. 124