1903–04 Ottawa Hockey Club season

The 1903–04 Ottawa Hockey Club season, the club's 19th season of play, lasted from December 30, 1903, until March 11, 1904. Ottawa resigned from the CAHL after four games and played only Stanley Cup challenges for the rest of the season, winning them all.

1903–04 Ottawa Hockey Club
Stanley Cup champions
League- CAHL
1903–04 record4–0–0
Team information
General managerBob Shillington
CoachAlf Smith
CaptainHarvey Pulford
ArenaAberdeen Pavilion
Team leaders
GoalsFrank McGee (12)
Goals against averageBouse Hutton (3.8)

Team business

The Club moved to a new rink installed at the Aberdeen Pavilion, which provided 4,000 seats, more than Dey's Rink could provide. A partnership was struck with the Central Canada Exhibition Association which received 40% of the gross receipts and provided facilities. The Club contributed $500 to the installation of the rink.[1]

Season

Highlights

The season started out with Ottawa winning their first four games. A home game with Quebec was postponed when Quebec could not travel due to a severe snowstorm.

In their third game against the Victorias at Westmount's arena, the Ottawa team arrived 1½ hours late due to a loss of their baggage. The game was called at midnight due to a curfew, with Ottawa ahead 4–1, with 16 minutes left to play. Ottawa and the Victorias had disagreed on substitution for injured players instead of 'recuperation time' and the Victorias used 43 minutes of injury time, which the Ottawa club complained was a stalling tactic to get the game canceled as Ottawa was ahead.[2]

One week later, the League met to reschedule the Quebec-Ottawa game. At the meeting, the League levied a $10 fine against Ottawa for its lateness to the Victorias game, and a fine to the Montreal Shamrocks for lateness to a game in Ottawa. The League then discussed the Ottawa-Victoria match and ordered it to be rescheduled. J. P. Dickson, Ottawa's representative to the meeting, had proposed that it only be played if the match mattered in the standings and threatened to take Ottawa out of the league if the league went ahead and forced the game to be played.[2]

The threat failed, and Dickson called a meeting of the Club back in Ottawa to discuss the situation. The Club executive, against Bob Shillington's wishes agreed to pull the Club out of the league. The team executive was concerned about losing its status as Stanley Cup champions over the matter and consulted with P. D. Ross who agreed that the Cup would stay with Ottawa. The Federal Amateur Hockey League (FAHL) was consulted and Ottawa would join the FAHL for the next season. The Club then submitted its resignation from the CAHL.[2]

After leaving the CAHL, the Ottawas played only one game other than a Cup challenge, an 18—1 exhibition win over the Ottawa Capitals of the FAHL.[3]

Final standing

Team Games Played Wins Losses Ties Goals For Goals Against
Quebec Hockey Club
8
7
1
0
50
37
Montreal Victorias
8
5
3
0
75
48
Montreal Hockey Club
8
3
5
0
34
49
Montreal Shamrocks
8
1
7
0
32
74
Ottawa Hockey Club
4
4
0
0
32
15

Results

Month Day Visitor Score Home Score
Jan. 9Victorias6Ottawa10
16Ottawa8Montreal3
30†Ottawa4Victorias1
Feb. 6Shamrocks5Ottawa10
MontrealOttawa
OttawaShamrocks
QuebecOttawa
OttawaQuebec

† Ordered to be replayed but never replayed as Ottawa resigned from league.

Goaltending averages

Name GP GA SO Avg.
Hutton, John Bouse41503.82

Scoring

Name GP G A Pts PIM
Frank McGee4121139
Alf Smith47186
Suddy Gilmour36173
Rat Westwick45160
Scott22020
Art Moore40009
James McGee20003
Harvey Pulford20003

Stanley Cup Challenges

Winnipeg vs. Ottawa

Before the CAHL season started, Ottawa defended the Cup against the Winnipeg Rowing Club in a best two-of-three series played in Ottawa 9–1,2–6,2–0 (2–1).

The first game was filled with rough play, with Alf Smith knocking out Joe Hall with a stick hit to the head and knocking out Nick Bawlf. Hall returned to the game and Hall and Smith fought, leaving Hall with a five stitch cut and Smith a four stitch cut. Westwick scored four goals, Frank McGee three. The Ottawa fans booed Ottawa for their rough play. After the game, Winnipeg captain Billy Breen said it was the 'dirtiest game of hockey he had ever played.'[4]

The second game was tame by comparison. Because of the injuries of the first game, Winnipeg needed replacements and added Tammy Hamber of the Toronto Argonaut Rowing Club. Ottawa did not play a rough game and Winnipeg won by a 6–2 score. There was speculation that Ottawa had let up to ensure a lucrative third game.[5]

In the third game, Winnipeg showed that it was capable of keeping up with Ottawa. Smith missed the game to be replaced by Billy Gilmour. The game was scoreless after the first half. Frank McGee scored the winning goal and Suddy Gilmour scored a second goal to clinch the game with seven minutes to play during a power play.[3] Hamber was protested by Ottawa, although he was allowed to play. Referee Trihey was confronted by rough play in the first half, which he countered with ever-increasing penalties to players. According to the Gazette report on the game, at one point only three Ottawa players were on and four Winnipeg players, meaning seven were sent off. During the break between the first and second halves, the ice was not cleaned. The audience numbers were down and this was attributed to the Ottawa Post Office being on fire.[6]

Date Winning Team Score Losing Team Location
December 30, 1903Ottawa HC9–1Winnipeg Rowing ClubAberdeen Pavilion, Ottawa
January 1, 1904Winnipeg Rowing Club6–2Ottawa HC
January 4, 1904Ottawa HC2–0Winnipeg Rowing Club
Ottawa wins best-of-three series 2 games to 1
December 31, 1903
Ottawa (9) Winnipeg (1)
Player G Pos Player G
John "Bouse" HuttonGArt Brown
Harvey Pulford, CaptPPercy E. Brown
Arthur MooreCPS. Crawford Richards
Harry Westwick4RJoe Hall
Frank McGee3CWilliam Breen, Capt
Suddy Gilmour1LWBilly Bawlf1
Alf Smith1RWClint E . Bennest
Jim McGeesubClaude Borland
Billy GilmoursubHarry Kirby
RefereeHarry Trihey
Umpires – William A. Northey, C. J. Hanratty

Source: Montreal Gazette[7]

January 1, 1904
Ottawa (2) Winnipeg (6)
Player G Pos Player G
John "Bouse" HuttonGArt Brown
Harvey Pulford, CaptPPercy E. Brown
Arthur MooreCPEric "Tammy" Hamber
Harry Westwick1RJoe Hall1
Frank McGeeCWilliam Breen, Capt2
Suddy GilmourLWBilly Bawlf2
Alf Smith1RWClaude Borland1
Referee – Harry Trihey
Umpires – M. J. McCrory, C. J. Hanratty

Source: Montreal Gazette[8]

January 4, 1904
Ottawa (2) Winnipeg (0)
Player G Pos Player G
John "Bouse" HuttonGArt Brown
Harvey Pulford, CaptPPercy E. Brown
Arthur MooreCPEric "Tammy" Hamber
Harry WestwickRJoe Hall
Frank McGee1CWilliam Breen, Capt
Suddy Gilmour1LWBilly Bawlf
Billy GilmourRWClaude Borland
Referee – Harry Trihey
Umpires – M. J. McCrory, C. J. Hanratty

Source: Montreal Gazette[6]

Toronto vs. Ottawa

Next, Ottawa would defeat the Ontario Hockey Association champion Toronto Marlboros in a two-game total-goals series, played in Ottawa, 6–3,11–2 (17–5).

Date Winning Team Score Losing Team Location
February 23, 1904Ottawa HC6–3Toronto MarlborosAberdeen Pavilion, Ottawa
February 25, 1904Ottawa HC11–2Toronto Marlboros
Ottawa wins best-of-three series 2 games to 0

In the first game, the Marlboros led the Ottawas 3–1 after the first half before the Ottawas scored five in the second half to win the game.

February 23, 1904
Ottawa (6) Toronto (3)
Player G Pos Player G
John "Bouse" HuttonGEddie Giroux
Harvey Pulford, Capt.2PPete Charlton
Arthur MooreCPDr. A. Wright
Harry WestwickRTommy Phillips
Frank McGee2CHerb Birmingham3
Alf Smith1RWF. McLaren
Suddy Gilmour1LWEdgar Winchester
Referee – T. Hodge
Umpires – W. Foran, J. Fitzgerald

Source: Montreal Gazette[9]

In the second game, Ottawa led by 6–0 at the half, leaving the result not in doubt. The crowd was estimated at 1500.[10]

February 25, 1904
Ottawa (11) Toronto (2)
Player G Pos Player G
John "Bouse" HuttonGEddie Giroux
Harvey Pulford, Capt.2PPete Charlton
Arthur Moore1CPDr. A. Wright
Harry Westwick1RTom Phillips1
Frank McGee5CHerb Birmingham
Alf Smith2RWF. McLaren
Suddy Gilmour2LWLal Earls1
Referee – T. Hodge
Umpires – Wiiliam Foran, J. Fitzgerald

Source: Montreal Gazette[10]

Wanderers vs. Ottawa

A two-game series between the Montreal Wanderers and Ottawa Hockey Club was arranged, for the Stanley Cup and the FAHL championship. The teams played the first game in Montreal to a tie of 5–5. Montreal refused to play overtime, demanding that the game be considered a no-contest and proposed that the series start over as a best two-of-three series. The Cup trustees demanded that the series continued as scheduled and the Wanderers abandoned the challenge.[11]

Date Winning Team Score Losing Team Location
March 2, 1904Ended in a 5–5 tieMontreal Arena
Ottawa wins series; Montreal is disqualified for refusing to play second game in Ottawa.

According to the Gazette, the game saw "the dirtiest game ever seen between two senior teams at the Arena." Thirty-six penalties were called. Leahy was injured and replaced by Mallan. James Strachan, president of the Wanderers was quoted as saying that the Wanderers would not go to Ottawa and play with Dr. Kearns as referee. Ottawa took a 2–0 lead, before the Wanderers scored five in a row. The Ottawas came back with three, the final goal by Frank McGee.[12]

March 2, 1904
Ottawa (5) Montreal (5)
Player G Pos Player G
John "Bouse" HuttonGBilly Nicholson
Jim McGeePBilly Strachan
Alf SmithCPBilly Bellingham
Harry Westwick2R"Pockey" Leahy,
Ken Mallan
1
1
Frank McGee1CJack Marshall1
Billy Gilmour1RWJimmy Gardner1
Suddy Gilmour1LWCecil Blatchford1
Harry Pulford, Capt1SpareDickie Boon, Capt.1
Referee – Dr. Kearns
Umpires – Stevens, Baskerville

Source: Montreal Gazette[12]

The Wanderers demanded a replay of the game to be held in Montreal, which Ottawa refused. The series was cancelled, with Ottawa claiming the FAHL championship.[13]

Brandon vs. Ottawa

To finish the season, Ottawa played a series with Brandon Wheat City, champions of the Manitoba & Northwestern Hockey Association. Ottawa would win the two-game series 6–3, 9–3 (15–6), held in Ottawa on March 9–11. Brandon wanted to add Clint Bennest and Joe Hall of Winnipeg for the series, but the Cup trustees disallowed the additions as the players had already played for Winnipeg in a challenge against Ottawa.[11] Lester Patrick, in a foreshadowing of the 1928 Stanley Cup Finals, took over for a few minutes when goaltender Dugald Morrison was penalized in game one.[14]

Date Winning Team Score Losing Team Location
March 9, 1904Ottawa HC6–3Brandon Wheat CityAberdeen Pavilion, Ottawa
March 11, 1904Ottawa HC9–3Brandon Wheat City
Ottawa wins best-of-three series 2 games to 0
March 9, 1904
Ottawa (6) Brandon (3)
Player G Pos Player G
Bouse HuttonGDuchie Morrison
Harvey PulfordPLester Patrick
Jim McGee1CPLorne Hanna2
Harry WestwickRGreoge Smith
Frank McGee4CJackie Brodie1
Alf Smith1RWL. Laidlaw
Suddy GilmoreLWH. Bright
RefereeFred Chittick
Umpires – Senator Watson, A. G. Pittaway

Source: Ottawa Journal[15]

March 11, 1904
Ottawa (9) Brandon (3)
Player G Pos Player G
Bouse HuttonGDutchie Morrison
Harvey PulfordPLester Patrick
Jim McGeeCPLorne Hanna
Harry Westwick1RGeorge Smith1
Frank McGee3CJackie Brodie1
Alf Smith4RWL. Laidlaw1
Suddy Gilmore1LWH. Bright
RefereeFred Chittick
UmpiresWilliam Foran, Senator Watson

Source: Ottawa Journal[16]

  • Spare - Brandon - Robert Cross (Captain), William Hopper, S.G Lowe, H. Breton, F. Wheelan
  • Spares - Ottawa - Billy Gilmore - RW, Arthur Moore - D
  • Spares - Ottawa - Billy Gilmore - RW, Arthur Moore - D. Colleman Page 98-99.
  • Refeeree F. Chittick - Umpirers Senator Watson, William Foran

Ottawa Hockey Club 1904 Stanley Cup champions

Players

  Forwards
  Defencemen

Coaching and administrative staff

  • Percy Mituttler (President), Robert Shillington (manager)
  • Patrick Baskerville (treasurer), Thomas D'Arcy McGee (secretary)
  • Halder Kirby (club doctor), Llewellyn Bates (director)
  • Chauncy Kirby, Martin Rosenthal, Charles Sparks (directors)
  • Mac McGilton (Ass't Trainer), Pete Green (trainer)

Stanley Cup engraving

Cyclone Taylor scratched 'Fred W. Taylor' over the official engraving of '1904 Ottawa'.[17]

See also

References

  • Coleman, Charles L. (1966). The Trail of the Stanley Cup, Vol. 1, 1893–1926 inc.
  • Kitchen, Paul (2008). Win, Tie or Wrangle: The Inside Story of the Old Ottawa Senators – 1883–1935. Manotick, Ontario: Penumbra Press. ISBN 978-1-897323-46-5.
  • Podnieks, Andrew (2004). Lord Stanley's Cup. Triumph Books. ISBN 1-55168-261-3.
  • Shea, Kevin; Wilson, John Jason (2006). Lord Stanley: The Man Behind the Cup. Fenn Publishing Company, Ltd. ISBN 1-55168-281-8.
  • Zweig, Eric (2012). Stanley Cup: 120 years of hockey supremacy. Firefly Books. ISBN 978-1-77085-104-7.
Notes
  1. Kitchen 2008, pp. 130–131.
  2. Kitchen 2008, pp. 126–127.
  3. Kitchen 2008, p. 139.
  4. Kitchen 2008, p. 137.
  5. Kitchen 2008, p. 138.
  6. "Ottawa Holds Cup". Montreal Gazette. January 5, 1904. p. 2.
  7. "Easy for Ottawa". Montreal Gazette. December 31, 1903. p. 2.
  8. "Rowers Won Game". Montreal Gazette. January 2, 1904. p. 2.
  9. "Stanley Cup Will Stay". Montreal Gazette. February 24, 1904. p. 2.
  10. "It Stays in Ottawa". Montreal Gazette. February 26, 1904. p. 2.
  11. Kitchen 2008, p. 140.
  12. "Game Was A Draw". Montreal Gazette. March 3, 1904. p. 2.
  13. "Ottawa Says No; Others Won't Go". Montreal Gazette. March 5, 1904. p. 2.
  14. Zweig 2012, p. 247.
  15. "Ottawas Defeat Brandon By A Score of 6 To 3". Ottawa Journal. March 10, 1904. p. 2.
  16. "The Stanley Cup Will Remain in Ottawa". Ottawa Journal. March 12, 1904. p. 5.
  17. Shea & Wilson 2006, p. 430.
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