1906 ECAHA season

The 1906 ECAHA season was the inaugural season of the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association (ECAHA). Six teams played a 10-game schedule. The Ottawa HC and Montreal Wanderers tied for the league championship with a record of 9–1, while the Montreal Shamrocks didn't win a single game. The Senators and the Wanderers then played a two-game playoff for the league championship and the Stanley Cup, and the Wanderers won 9–1,3–9 (12–10) on goals.

1906 ECAHA season
LeagueEastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association
SportIce hockey
DurationJanuary 3, 1906 – March 10, 1906
Number of teams6
1906
ChampionsMontreal Wanderers
Top scorerHarry Smith (31 goals)

League business

League executive Howard Wilson.

Executive

Initial:

  • Howard Wilson, Montreal (President)
  • G. P. Murphy, Ottawa (1st Vice-President)
  • Dr. Cameron (2nd Vice-President)
  • James Strachan, Wanderers (Secretary-Treasurer)

After December 20:

  • Howard Wilson, Montreal (President)
  • William Northey, Montreal Arena Corp. (Secretary-Treasurer)

Rule Changes

  • Teams must appoint game timers for each game,
  • a two referee system was adopted,
  • new Arena Trophy would be awarded to the regular season winner,
  • three-quarters vote would be needed to admit new teams,
  • if a team resigns, all of its played games would be considered cancelled,
  • $25 fine for delay of start of game, and
  • $50 charge to make a protest, non-refundable.

Regular season

The Ottawas played two Cup challenges during the regular season, defeating Queen's College of Kingston, the OHA champion, and defeating Smiths Falls, the FAHL champion.

Highlights

This season saw many new players. Wanderers brought in Lester Patrick, Ernie Johnson and Ernie Russell and Ottawa brought in Harry and Tommy Smith.

Fred Brophy, of Montreal HC, repeated his goal-scoring performance from the goaltender position in a game against Montreal Victorias on March 7.

Again, the league was high scoring, with Harry Smith scoring 31 goals in 8 games, Russell Bowie scoring 30 goals in 9 games, and Frank McGee scoring 28 goals in 7 games. Mr. Smith scored 6 in one game, 5 in another, topped by 8 against the Shamrocks on February 17. Mr. McGee would equal the 8 goals in a game feat against Montreal HC on March 3. Seven players scored at least 5 goals in a single game.

Final standing

Playoff qualifiers in bold.

Team Games Played Wins Losses Ties Goals For Goals Against
Ottawa Hockey Club
10
9
1
0
90
42
Montreal Wanderers
10
9
1
0
74
38
Montreal Victorias
10
6
4
0
76
73
Quebec Hockey Club
10
3
7
0
57
70
Montreal Hockey Club
10
3
7
0
49
63
Montreal Shamrocks
10
0
10
0
30
90

Playoffs

Stanley Cup challenges

The Ottawas played two Cup challenges during the regular season, defeating Queen's College of Kingston, the OHA champion, and defeating Smiths Falls, the FAHL champion.

Queen's University vs. Ottawa Hockey Club Silver Sevens

Date Winning Team Score Losing Team Location
February 27, 1906Ottawa HC16–7Queen's UniversityDey's Arena
February 28, 1906Ottawa HC12–7Queen's University
Ottawa wins best-of-three series 2 games to 0
Feb 27, 1906
Queen's University 7 Ottawa Hockey Club Silver Sevens 16
Player G Pos Player G
R.M. "Dick" MillsGBilly Hague
Hugh McDonnellPHarvey Pulford, Capt.
Eric SutherlandCPArthur Moore
Marty Walsh2RHarry Westwick4
Vernon Crawford1CFrank McGee4
George Richardson2RWAlf Smith5
William Dobson2LWHarry Smith3
Referees R. Meldrum, Frank Patrick
  • Spare - Queens University - B. Sutherland -C
  • Spares - Ottawa - Hamilton "Billy" Gilmour -RW, Tommy Smith -C, "Coo" Dion -F, Jack Ebbs -F.
Feb 28, 1906
Queen's University 7 Ottawa Hockey Club Silver Sevens 12
Player G Pos Player G
R.M. "Dick" MillsGBilly Hague
Hugh McDonnellPHarvey Pulford, Capt.1
Eric Sutherland1CPArthur Moore2
Marty Walsh2RHarry Westwick2
Bruce Sutherland1CFrank McGee2
George Richardson1RWAlf Smith2
William Dobson1LWHarry Smith5
Referees R. Meldrum, Frank Patrick
  • Spare - Queens University - V.W. Crawford -C
  • Spares - Ottawa - Hamilton "Billy" Gilmour -RW, Tommy Smith -C, "Coo" Dion -F, Jack Ebbs -F.

The lopsided score of the first game gave indications that the series would be quickly over. One interesting emergence was that of Marty Walsh. Walsh would help hold Ottawa to a 5–3 lead scoring two goals. In the game's second half, Ottawa broke away after the score was made 5–4 with nine unanswered goals.[1] Ottawa would win game one by a score of 16–7. The game featured many multiple goal scorers; Westwick, McGee, A. Smith and H Smith would all score four goals for the Senators, and Richardson, Dobbson, and Walsh would each score two for Queen's.

Smiths Falls vs. Ottawa

Date Winning Team Score Losing Team Location
March 6, 1906Ottawa Hockey Club6–5Smiths Falls Hockey ClubDey's Arena
March 8, 1906Ottawa Hockey Club8–2Smiths Falls Hockey Club
Ottawa wins best-of-three series 2 games to 0
March 6, 1906
Smith Falls Hockey Club 5 Ottawa Hockey Club 6
Player G Pos Player G
Percy Lesueur, Capt.GBilly Hague
Harry Brown1PHarvey Pulford, Capt.
Harold Armstrong1CPArthur Moore
Hugh RossRHarry Westwick
Art Serviss2CFrank McGee5
Bob MayRWAlf Smith1
Jack Fraser1LWHarry Smith
Referees R. Meldrum, Frank Patrick
  • Spares - Smith Falls - Unknown
  • Spares - Ottawa - Hamilton "Billy" Gilmour -RW, Tommy Smith -C, "Coo" Dion -F, Jack Ebbs -F.
March 8, 1906
Smith Falls Hockey Club 2 Ottawa Hockey Club 8
Player G Pos Player G
Percy Lesueur, Capt.GBilly Hague
Harry BrownPHarvey Pulford, Capt.
Harold ArmstrongCPArthur Moore
Hugh Ross1RHarry Westwick2
Art ServissCFrank McGee4
Bob MayRWAlf Smith1
Jack Fraser1LWHarry Smith1
Referees R. Meldrum, Frank Patrick
  • Spares - Smith Falls - Unknown
  • Spares - Ottawa - Hamilton "Billy" Gilmour -RW, Tommy Smith -C, "Coo" Dion -F, Jack Ebbs -F.

ECAHA Playoff

As the season produced a tie for the season championship, the defending champion Ottawas and Wanderers played a two-game playoff, with the winner being awarded the Stanley Cup. The series took place on March 14 in Montreal and March 17 in Ottawa. The Wanderers would win the series 9–1, 3–9 (12–10) in dramatic fashion..

Game one

Ottawa was installed as 2–1 betting favourites, but the Wanderers upset the bookies.[2] In the first game in Montreal, the Wanderers dominated Ottawa, as Ernie Russell got four goals, Frank Glass got three and Moose Johnson would get two for a 9–1 victory.

Game two

After the first game, the Ottawas would replace their goalie Billy Hague with the Smiths Falls goalie Percy LeSueur in to play his first game for the club. Despite being down by eight goals, interest in Ottawa for the return match was high. Rush seats on sale the day of the game produced a throng that caused the ticket seller's glass to break. The venue, Dey's Arena, was modified to hold more spectators, including setting up temporary bleachers, removing the grandstand which had been used as a press box, and the installation of a press box attached to the rafters. Over 5,400 would attend the game and the top $2 tickets were being sold for $10. Betting interest was high, including one $12,000 bet.[2]

After twelve minutes, the first goal was scored by the Wanderers' Moose Johnson to increase the goal lead to nine. Ottawa's Frank McGee, Harry Smith, and McGee again scored before half-time, cutting the deficit to 10–4. Harry Smith would score to open the second half, followed by Rat Westwick. Then Westwick scored again to make it 10–7 before Harry Smith scored three straight goals to make the score 9–1, evening the series with ten minutes to play to tie the series, causing a five-minute standing ovation.[3] With seven minutes to play Smith was sent off for the rest of the game and Lester Patrick would score with ninety seconds to play to put the Wanderers back in the lead. Patrick would ice the game with a goal with a few seconds to play. The Silver Seven reign was over.[3][4]

The Toronto Globe called it the "greatest game of hockey ever played on Canadian ice, or any other."[3] The Sporting News would later dub it the "Greatest Hockey Game in History."[4] Moose Johnson would end up with the Governor-General's top hat. It had been knocked off of the Earl Grey's head, and a fan had snatched it up, giving it to Johnson later in the dressing room.[5]

Date Winning Team Score Losing Team Location
March 14, 1906Montreal Wanderers9–1Ottawa HCMontreal Arena
March 17, 1906Ottawa HC9–3Montreal WanderersDey's Arena
Montreal wins total goals series 12 goals to 10
March 14, 1906
Ottawa Hockey Club 1 Montreal Wanderers 9
Player G Pos Player G
Bill HagueGHenri "Doc" Menard
Harvey Pulford, Capt.PBilly Strachan
Arthur MooreCPRod Kennedy
Harry WestwickRLester Patrick Capt.1
Frank McGeeCFrank "Pud" Glass3
Alf SmithRWErnie Russell4
Harry Smith1LWErnie "Moose" Johnson1
Referees R. Meldrum, and Brophy
  • Spares - Montreal Wanderers - Josh Arnold -RW, Cecil Blachford -RW injured-playing Coach,
  • Spares - Ottawa - Hamilton "Billy" Gilmour -RW, Tommy Smith -C, "Coo" Dion -F, Jack Ebbs -F.
March 17, 1906
Montreal Wanderers 3 Ottawa Hockey Club 9
Player G Pos Player G
Henri "Doc" MenardGPercy Lesueur
Billy StrachanPHarvey Pulford, Capt.
Rod KennedyCPArthur Moore
Lester Patrick Capt.2RHarry Westwick1
Frank "Pud" GlassCFrank McGee2
Ernie RussellRWAlf Smith1
Ernie "Moose" Johnson1LWHarry Smith5
Referees R. Meldrum, and Brophy
  • Spares - Montreal Wanderers - Josh Arnold -RW, Cecil Blachford -RW injured-playing Coach
  • Spares - Ottawa - Billy Hague -G, Hamilton "Billy" Gilmour -RW, Tommy Smith -C, "Coo" Dion -F, Jack Ebbs -F.

Because of the need for the play-off, no challenges were made against western teams until the following winter. Ottawa had won Stanley Cup challenges that season, which meant that the 1906 season would have two Stanley Cup holders: Ottawa until March, and Montreal Wanderers for the balance of the year.

Schedule and results

Month Day Visitor Score Home Score
Jan. 3Montreal9Shamrocks3
6Quebec3Ottawa6
6Wanderers11Victorias5
10Victorias9Shamrocks7
13Quebec10Victorias11 (overtime)
13Wanderers4Ottawa8
17Shamrocks2Wanderers3 (overtime)
20Wanderers6Quebec5
20Ottawa4Montreal1
24Victorias11Shamrocks2
27Quebec3Shamrocks1
27Victorias6Ottawa11
31Wanderers6Montreal2
Feb. 3Victorias6Quebec2
3Ottawa3Wanderers5
7Montreal4Shamrocks1
10Shamrocks8Quebec14
10Ottawa10Victorias4
14Wanderers6Montreal2
17Shamrocks2Ottawa13
17Quebec7Montreal6 15'20" overtime
21Wanderers9Victorias4
25Ottawa9Shamrocks3
25Montreal5Quebec2
28Victorias6Montreal5
Mar. 3Montreal9Ottawa14
3Quebec6Wanderers9
7Montreal6Victorias14
10Ottawa12Quebec5
10Wanderers15Shamrocks1

Player statistics

Goaltending averages

Note: GP = Games played, GA = Goals against, SO = Shutouts, GAA = Goals against average

Name Club GP GA SO GAA
Menard, Henri Wanderers10383.8
Hague, Billy Ottawa10424.2
Brophy, Fred Montreal10636.3
Frye, Nathan Victorias8526.5
Moran, Paddy Quebec10707.0
Mike Kenny Shamrocks8648.0
Waugh, Oliver Victorias22110.5
Brennan, Jack Shamrocks22613.0

Leading scorers

Name Club GP G
Smith, Harry Ottawa831
Bowie, Russell Victorias930
McGee, Frank Ottawa728
Power, Joe Quebec1021
Russell, Ernie Wanderers621
Smaill, Walter Montreal1017
Patrick, Lester Wanderers917
Jordan, Herb Quebec816
Smith, Alf Ottawa1013
Johnson, Ernie Montreal1012

Stanley Cup engravings

The 1906 Stanley Cup was presented twice by the trophy's trustee William Foran.

1906 Ottawa Hockey Club

The following Ottawa Hockey Club players and staff are members of Stanley Cup winning team.

Players

  Centres
  Wingers
  Defencemen

Coaching and administrative staff

  • G.P. Murphy (President)& Robert T. "Bob" Shillington (manager)
  • Patrick Basketville (treasurer), Thomas D'Arcy McGee (secretary)
  • Halder Kirby (club doctor), David Barred (team dentist)
  • Llewellyn Bates, John Practor "J.P." Dickson, Martin Rosenthal, Charles Sparks (directors)
  • Pete Green (trainer), Mac MacGilton (ass't trainer)
  • No team picture including all executive has been found for 1906 Ottawa.
  • President's first name is Unknown
  • After losing game 9-1 to the Wanderers. Ottawa used Percy LeSueur in goal instead of Bill Hague for two games. LeSueur played his first game for Ottawa winning 9-3. However, the two-game total was 12 for Montreal Wanderers, and 10 for Ottawa. Montreal won the Stanley Cup March 17. Since LeSueur was not a member of 1906 Ottawa when they won both their others challenges in 1906 he is not considered a 1906 Stanley Cup Champion. LeSueur played goalie for Smith Falls when they lost to Ottawa only nine days earlier on March 8.

1906 Montreal Wanderers

The following Wanderers players and staff are members of the Stanley Cup winning team.

Players

  Forwards
  Defencemen

Coaching and administrative staff

  • James Strachan (President), Clarence McKerrow (Hon. President),
  • Dickie Boon (manager), George Guile (Vice President), George Hodges (Hon. Vice President)
  • Robert "Bob" Stephenson (Secretary-Treasurer), Tom Hodges (Hon. Secretary-Treasurer),
  • Robert "Bob" Ahern (director), William Jennings (director), Paul Lefebvre (trainer).

In the team picture, eight players are in uniform, and ten members are in suits, plus a mascot. (The Mascot's name remains unknown.)

  • Lester Patrick served as Captain while Cecil Blachford was sick due to a blood clot. Blachford helped manager Dickie Boon behind the bench as Coach during the March Stanley Cup challenge.
  • †-Josh Arnold(RW), and Henri "Doc" Menard(G) were replaced by Hod Stuart(CP), and William "Riley" Hern(G) for Dec 27, 29, 1906 challenge series with the New Glasgow Cubs. Cecil Blachford moved from Cover point to Right wight to replace Josh Arnold.

Stanley Cup engraving

[6] [7]

Between 1903 and 1906, Ottawa engraved each of the ten Stanley Cup series they won, and teams they played outside the bowl. The first eight series were listed separately, but both of the 1906 series are listed together in the same space. Montreal Wanderers was engraved above the 1903 to 1906 winners with the dates in March and December plus the two teams they defeated and scores of all the games. Note: The second game against New Glasgow in December was engraved as a 6 to 2 score when in actuality the Wanderers won the game 7 to 2.

See also

References

  • Coleman, Charles L. (1966). The Trail of the Stanley Cup, Vol. 1, 1893–1926 inc. NHL.
  • Podnieks, Andrew (2004). Lord Stanley's Cup. Fenn Publishing Company. ISBN 1-55168-261-3.
  • Whitehead, Eric. The Patricks: Hockey's Royal Family. Doubleday Canada.
  • Adams, Trevor J. (2012). Long Shots. Nimbus. pp. 50–54.
Notes
  1. Queen's Swamped The Montreal Gazette. February 28, 1906.
  2. Whitehead, pg. 31
  3. "Wanderers Won the Cup". Globe and Mail. March 19, 1906. p. 10.
  4. Whitehead, pg. 34
  5. Whitehead, pp. 34–35
  6. [Podnieks]
  7. 1904 Montreal Wanderers team picture
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