1913–14 NHA season

The 1913–14 NHA season was the fifth season of the National Hockey Association (NHA). At the end of the regular season, a tie for first place necessitated a playoff to determine the championship. The Toronto Hockey Club defeated the Montreal Canadiens 6–2 in a two-game, total-goals playoff. The Torontos then played the Victoria Aristocrats of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA) in the first Stanley Cup 'World's Series' between the leagues.

1913–14 NHA season
LeagueNational Hockey Association
SportIce hockey
DurationDecember 27, 1913 – March 11, 1914
Number of games20
Number of teams6
Regular season
Top scorerTommy Smith (39)
O'Brien Cup
ChampionsToronto Hockey Club
  Runners-upMontreal Wanderers
Toronto Blueshirts in 1913–14.

League business

Board of directors

Rule Changes

The referees now would drop the puck, instead of placing it on the ice.

A goalkeeper lying down to stop a puck would receive a minor penalty and $2 fine.

Penalties were set at $2 fine for minor fouls. Major fouls would cost more per incident, starting at $3 and 5 minutes off, increasing to $5 and 10 minutes, and to $10 and a match penalty.

Deliberate injury was a $15 fine and banishment until the injured player returned to play.

Goalkeeper sticks now had a limit on their width of 3½ inches.

Assists were now to be recorded.

A dark line between the goal posts was now mandatory.

The first permanent, paid referees for the season were named:

Source: Coleman(1966), pp. 248–249.

Peace with the PCHA and Maritime League

In the fall of 1913, the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA) and the NHA agreed to support a draft arrangement, whereby the PCHA could draft NHA players annually for four years. The PCHA would draft three players on a rotating basis among the NHA teams. Amateur players from west of Port Arthur, Ontario, would be considered to belong to the PCHA, and players east of Port Arthur to be considered NHA property.[1] The first draft, in 1914, would have the PCHA select one player from Ottawa, one from Quebec, and one from the Wanderers.[2]

The two leagues also agreed on arrangements to play off annually for the Stanley Cup. At the end of the 1913–14 season, the NHA champions would host the PCHA champions. The NHA would be responsible for arranging the series with the Stanley Cup trustees, something that they would neglect to do, leading to confusion over the first official series between the two leagues.

At the November 8, 1913, annual meeting, the NHA ratified the four-year working agreement with the PCHA and agreed on a similar deal with the Maritime League. The NHA gave up its claim on any players now employed by the MHL.[3]

Regular season

Highlights

On January 21, Tommy Smith would score nine goals for Quebec against the Wanderers. He would score 4 against the Canadiens on January 4. Newsy Lalonde would score six against Wanderers on January 10, and haunt the Wanderers with another five on February 11. Harry Hyland would score five in a game for the Wanderers against Toronto on March 4. Allan Davidson would score five against the Ontarios on January 21. Sprague Cleghorn would score five against Ontarios on December 27.

In the game of February 28 between Canadiens and Wanderers, the referee Leo Dandurand was assaulted by Canadiens manager George Kennedy.

The new arena at Quebec opened on December 30 with a game between Canadiens and Quebec. The first goal in the new building was scored by Jack Laviolette of Montreal, and won by Montreal 4–3. The game was marred by a match penalty to Newsy Lalonde for hitting Joe Hall in the head, opening a cut requiring eight stitches. On the return match at Montreal on January 14, Mr. Hall would charge Lalonde into the boards for a ten stitch wound.

The longest team winning streak was seven by Ottawa.

In the latter half of the season, the league banned checking into the boards. The rule was adopted permanently at a league meeting after the season.[4]

Final standings

National Hockey Association
GP W L T P GF GA
Toronto Hockey Club201370269365
Montreal Canadiens201370268565
Quebec Bulldogs2012802411173
Ottawa Senators201190226571
Montreal Wanderers20713014102125
Toronto Ontarios204160861118

[5]

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, P = Points, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against

Playoffs

Tied at the top of the standings, the Blue shirts and Canadiens faced off in a two-game, total goals series to determine a league champion and holder of the Stanley Cup. The Blueshirts won the series 6–2.

Toronto Blueshirts vs. Montreal Canadiens

Date Winning Team Score Losing Team Location
March 7, 1914Montreal Canadiens2–0Toronto HCMontreal Arena
March 11, 1914Toronto HC6–0Montreal CanadiensArena Gardens
Toronto wins total goals series 6 goals to 2. Toronto HC wins the O'Brien Cup and the Stanley Cup.
March 7, 1914
Toronto Blueshirts 0 at Montreal Canadiens 2
Harry "Happy" HolmesGGeorge Veznia
Jack MarshallPErnest Dubeau
Harry CamereonCPJack Laviolette
Frank FroystonCDonald Smith1
Allan "Scotty" Davidson, Capt.RWEdouard "Newsy" Lalonde
Jack WalkerLWHarry Scott1
Roy McGiffen -ROsubEugene Payan -C
Carol “Cully” Wilson -RWsubLouis Berlinguette -LW
  • Spares Toronto - Con Corbeau -P George McNamara -CP, Claude Wilson -G
  • Spares Montreal - Hector Dallaire -RW, Jimmy Gardner LW-Captain, Alponse Jette -RW
March 11, 1914
Montreal Canadiens 0 at Toronto Blueshirts 6
George VezniaGHarry "Happy" Holmes
Ernest DubeauPJack Marshall
Jack LavioletteCPHarry Cameron
Donald SmithCFrank Froyston1
Edouard "Newsy" LalondeRWAllan "Scotty" Davidson, Capt.2
Harry ScottLWJack Walker3
Eugene Payan -CsubRoy McGiffen -RO
Louis Berlinguette -LWsubCarol “Cully” Wilson -RW
  • Spares Toronto - Con Corbeau -P George McNamara -CP, Claude Wilson -G
  • Spares Montreal - Hector Dallaire -RW, Jimmy Gardner LW-Captain, Alponse Jette -RW

Victoria vs. Toronto

Nearing the end of the season, the NHA made arrangements for the NHA champion to receive a challenge from the Sydney Millionaires, Maritime champions, ordered by the Stanley Cup trustees.[6] As arranged by the NHA, the series would have taken place on March 9 through 11. After that, the winner would face off in a series with the PCHA champions in Toronto.[7] The tie in the NHA standings meant that the March 9–11 dates would be postponed. Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Blueshirts met March 7 in Montreal and March 11 in Toronto to determine the NHA Champion and new Stanley Cup Champion. The challenge series against Sydney Millionaires was cancelled.

After dispatching the Canadiens, the Blue Shirts faced off against the Victoria Aristocrats of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association. A controversy erupted when a letter arrived from the Stanley Cup trustees on March 17, stating that the trustees would not let the Stanley Cup travel west, as they did not consider Victoria a proper challenger because they had not formally notified the trustees.[8] However, on March 18, Trustee William Foran stated that it was a misunderstanding. PCHA president Frank Patrick had not filed a challenge, because he had expected Emmett Quinn of the NHA to make all of the arrangements in his role as hockey commissioner, whereas the trustees thought they were being deliberately ignored. In any case, all arrangements had been ironed out and the series was accepted.[9][10]

Several days later, trustee William Foran wrote to NHA president Emmett Quinn that the trustees are "perfectly satisfied to allow the representatives of the three pro leagues (NHA, PCHA and Maritime) to make all arrangements each season as to the series of matches to be played for the Cup."[11]

Total attendance for the series was 14,260 for an average of 4,753 in the 7,500 capacity Arena. At the time, professional hockey was less of a draw than Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) senior hockey. Two games between local OHA senior teams had combined to exceed 14,000 total attendance.[12] The Torontos players and staff received $297 each as their share of the gate receipts.[13]

Date Winning Team Score Losing Team Rules Notes
March 14, 1914Toronto5–2Victoria AristocratsNHA
March 17, 1914Toronto6–5Victoria AristocratsPCHA18:00, OT
March 19, 1914Toronto2–1Victoria AristocratsNHA
Toronto wins best-of-five series 3 games to 0

All games played at Arena Gardens.

Post-season exhibitions

The Vancouver Millionaires travelled east and played exhibition games in Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec.[14] Following this, the St. Nicholas Rink of New York City sponsored a three-team tournament between the Montreal Wanderers, Quebec Bulldogs and the Millionaires. After a round-robin round eliminated the Millionaires, the Wanderers defeated Quebec in a two-game total-goals final 15–12 (9–4, 6–8).[15] The Wanderers then played the Millionaires in a two-game series in Boston.[16]

Schedule and results

Month Day Visitor Score Home Score
Dec. 27Quebec3Ottawa2
27Ontarios3Wanderers10
27Canadiens0Toronto3
30Ottawa2Ontarios3
30Canadiens4Quebec3
30Toronto3Wanderers7
Jan. 3Wanderers3Ottawa8
3Quebec3Toronto6
3Ontarios3Canadiens4
7Canadiens0Ottawa6
7Quebec4Wanderers3 (18' overtime)
7Toronto9Ontarios3
10Ottawa3Toronto2 (20' overtime)
10Ontarios1Quebec6
10Wanderers2Canadiens8
14Ontarios5Ottawa6
14Quebec3Canadiens4
14Wanderers2Toronto10
17Ottawa7Wanderers1
17Canadiens9Ontarios3
17Toronto9Quebec4
21Ottawa3Canadiens2
21Wanderers6Quebec12
21Ontarios2Toronto9
24Toronto1Ottawa4
24Quebec1Ontarios4
24Canadiens9Wanderers1
28Ottawa1Quebec7
28Toronto3Canadiens4
28Wanderers8Ontarios9
31Quebec3Ottawa4
31Canadiens4Ontarios6
31Toronto5Wanderers3
Feb. 4Ottawa1Toronto2
4Canadiens1Quebec6
4Ontarios1Wanderers3
7Wanderers4Ottawa2
7Toronto3Canadiens9
7Quebec6Ontarios4
11Quebec3Toronto4
11Ontarios1Ottawa3
11Canadiens6Wanderers2
14Ontarios1Toronto3
14Ottawa0Canadiens1 (6'40" overtime)
14Wanderers6Quebec7 (7'15" overtime)
18Toronto4Ottawa1
18Quebec1Canadiens2
18Wanderers11Ontarios3
21Ottawa3Wanderers12
21Canadiens2Toronto3
21Ontarios3Quebec10
25Quebec14Wanderers6
25Canadiens5Ottawa6 (30' overtime)
25Toronto6Ontarios1
28Ottawa3Ontarios2
28Toronto3Quebec5
28Wanderers5Canadiens6 (2'20" overtime)
Mar. 4Ottawa0Quebec10
4Wanderers7Toronto5
4Ontarios3Canadiens5

Source: Coleman 1966

Player statistics

Goaltending averages

Name Club GP GA SO Avg.
Holmes, Harry Toronto206513.3
Vezina, Georges Canadiens206513.3
Benedict, Clint Ottawa7233.3
Moran, Paddy Quebec207313.7
LeSueur, Percy Ottawa134813.7
Rankin, Reg Ontarios144.0
Nicholson, Billy Wanderers10525.2
Hebert, Sammy Ontarios191085.7
Cross, Jack Ontarios166.0
Leblanc, Alex Wanderers4266.5
Warwick, George Wanderers3237.6
Boyce, Art Wanderers3248.0

Scoring leaders

Harry Hyland, third in scoring.
Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Tommy SmithQuebec Bulldogs203964535
Gordon RobertsMontreal Wanderers2031134415
Harry HylandMontreal Wanderers1830124218
Scotty DavidsonToronto Blueshirts2023133664
Jack WalkerToronto Blueshirts2020163617
Jack McDonaldToronto Ontarios202783512
Joe MaloneQuebec Bulldogs172442820
Jack DarraghOttawa Senators202352869
Don SmithMontreal Canadiens2018102818
Newsy LalondeMontreal Canadiens142252723

Stanley Cup engraving

The 1914 Stanley Cup was presented by the trophy's trustee William Foran.

The following Toronto Hockey Club players and staff were members of the Stanley Cup winning team.

1914 Toronto Hockey Club "Blueshirts"

Players

  Defencemen

Coaching and administrative staff

Stanley Cup engraving

  • Originally engraved "Torontos 1913-14/Defeated Victorias B.C./3 straight games"
  • "1914 Toronto H.C." is engraved on the 1947 ring connecting the upper trophy to the barrel
  • † missing from team picture ‡ also played rover in the Stanley Cup Finals

See also

References

Bibliography

  • Coleman, Charles (1966). The Trail of the Stanley Cup, Vol. 1, 1893–1926 inc. NHL.
  • Podnieks, Andrew; Hockey Hall of Fame (2004). Lord Stanley's Cup. Triumph Books, 12, 50. ISBN 1-55168-261-3.

Notes

  1. "Pro Hockey League To Claim Amateurs". Toronto World. October 22, 1913. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
  2. "As To Drafting of Hockey Players". Toronto World. March 4, 1914. p. 8.
  3. "T. Emmett Quinn Elected President". Montreal Gazette. November 10, 1913. p. 18.
  4. "Pro Hockey Leagues Do Away With Fines". The Globe. Toronto. March 31, 1914. p. 12.
  5. Standings: Coleman, Charles (1966). Trail of the Stanley Cup, vol. 1, 1893-1926 inc. National Hockey League. p. 255.
  6. "Dates for Big Hockey Matches Uncertain". Saskatoon Phoenix. February 28, 1914. p. 8.
  7. "All Stanley Cup Games in Arena". Toronto World. February 25, 1914. p. 8.
  8. "Stanley Cup Contest May Not Be for the Mug, After all, is said". Saskatoon Phoenix. March 18, 1914. p. 8.
  9. "A Tempest In a Teapot". Montreal Daily Mail. March 19, 1914. p. 9.
  10. "Stanley Cup Muddle Cleared Up". Toronto Globe and Mail. March 19, 1914.
  11. "Three Pro Leagues as to Stanley Cup". Toronto World. March 25, 1914. p. 8.
  12. "Puckerings". Toronto Globe. March 21, 1914. p. 22.
  13. "Toronto Players Receive $297 Each". Toronto Globe. March 21, 1914. p. 22.
  14. "Puckerings". The Globe. Toronto. March 27, 1914. p. 12.
  15. "Wanderers Took Down the New York Purse". The Globe. Toronto. March 24, 1914. p. 12.
  16. "Wanderers in Overtime". The Globe. Toronto. March 26, 1914. p. 12.
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