1907 ECAHA season

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1907 ECAHA season
League Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association
Sport ice hockey
Duration January 3, 1907 – March 10, 1907
Number of teams 6
1907
Champion Montreal Wanderers
Top scorer Ernie Russell (42 goals)
ECAHA seasons
← 1906
1908 →

The 1907 ECAHA season was the second season of the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association (ECAHA). Teams played a ten-game schedule. The Montreal Wanderers won the league championship going undefeated, with their only loss of the season coming in a Stanley Cup challenge series with Kenora.

League business

Part of a series on the
Emergence

of the NHL

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† League had team(s) challenge for the Stanley Cup

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Executive

  • Fred McRobie (President)
  • Thomas D'Arcy McGee, Ottawa (1st Vice-President)
  • Gordon Blair, Quebec (2nd Vice-President)
  • Emmett Quinn, Shamrocks (Secretary-Treasurer)

Nationals and Grand Trunk applied for franchises but did not get three-fourths approval.

Rule changes

  • Teams could have professionals as well as amateurs
  • After a puck strikes a goalie, the rebound could now be played by the defending team without it being called offside
  • A player injured in the first half can sit for ten minutes and the other team has to take off a player.

Regular season

Frank McGee of Ottawa retired to pursue his government career. The Wanderers added two professionals, Riley Hern from the Portage Lake-Houghton pros and Hod Stuart from the Pittsburgh pros.

Prior to the season, Ottawa travelled to Winnipeg for a series of exhibition games against Manitoba league teams including the Kenora Thistles, who then came east to play a challenge in Montreal.[1] The Montreal Victorias hosted the St. Nicholas Hockey Club from New York in an exhibition on December 22, 1906, defeating them 16–3.[2]

Highlights

A major battle took place for the game between the Senators and Wanderers on January 12. Stick work was the order of the day as Charles Spittal of Ottawa knocked Cecil Blachford in the head, Alf Smith hit Hod Stuart in the head and Harry Smith broke Ernie Johnson's nose. The Wanderers would still win, 4–2.

After the game, a special league meeting was called to hand out discipline, with Victorias and Wanderers wanting Spittal and Alf Smith suspended for the season. The players were not suspended, leading the league president Mr. McRobie to resign, leaving Darcy McGee to take over as president.

On the next visit of the Ottawa team to Montreal, to play the Victorias, the three Ottawa players were arrested by Montreal police. Eventually Alf Smith and Spittal were fined $20 for their actions and Harry Smith was found not guilty.

The scoring championship was close, with Ernie Russell of the Wanderers placing first with 42 goals in 9 games, and Russell Bowie scoring 38 in 10 games.

Final standings

Team Games Played Wins Losses Ties Goals For Goals Against
Montreal Wanderers
10
10
0
0
105
39
Ottawa Hockey Club
10
7
3
0
76
54
Montreal Victorias
10
6
4
0
101
70
Montreal Hockey Club
10
3
7
0
58
83
Quebec Hockey Club
10
2
8
0
62
88
Montreal Shamrocks
10
2
8
0
52
120

Stanley Cup challenges

The 1907 season had two Stanley Cup champions, Montreal Wanderers and Kenora Thistles.

Wanderers vs. New Glasgow at Montreal

The Wanderers played one Stanley Cup challenge before the season, defeating the New Glasgow Cubs in a two-game series 10–3, 7–2, December 27–29, 1906. This was the first series in which professional players played for the Stanley Cup, as the Wanderers and other teams in the ECAHA were starting to mix amateurs with pros in their squads.

Date Winning Team Score Losing Team Location
December 27, 1906 Montreal Wanderers 10–3 New Glasgow Cubs Montreal Arena
December 29, 1906 Montreal Wanderers 7–2 New Glasgow Cubs
Montreal wins total goals series 17 goals to 5.
December 27, 1906
New Glasgow Cubs 3 at Montreal Wanderers 10
Frank Morrison G William "Riley" Hern
James Musick P Billy Strachan
Evan MacMillian CP Rod Kennedy
Jack Marks 2 RO Lester Patrick 2
Jack McDonald 1 C Frank "Pud" Glass 4
Jimmy Williams LW Ernie "Moose' Johnson
Bill Lannon RW Ernie Russell 3
Percy MacDonald Spare Cecil Blachford, Capt
James Murphy Spare Hod Stuart
Referees Howard, Russell Bowie
December 29, 1906
New Glasgow Cubs 2 at Montreal Wanderers 7
Frank Morrison G William "Riley" Hern
Jack McDonald 1 P Billy Strachan
Percy McDonald CP Rod Kennedy 1
Bill Lannon RO Lester Patrick 3
Jimmy Williams C Frank "Pud" Glass 1
James Murphy 1 LW Ernie "Moose" Johnson 2
James Musick RW Cecil Blachford, Capt
Evan MacMillan Spare Hod Stuart
Jack Marks Spare Ernie Russell
Referees Howard, Russell Bowie

Wanderers vs. Kenora at Montreal

The Wanderers played one Stanley Cup challenge during the season, losing to the Kenora Thistles 2–4, 6–8 on January 17–21. Aided by future Hockey Hall of Famers Joe Hall, Tom Hooper, Tommy Phillips, and Art Ross, the Thistles came away with 4–2 and 8–6 victories for a combined score of 12–8 to win a two-game total goals series. Hall and Ross were borrowed from the Brandon Wheat City team.

For Montreal, these were their first games after their donnybrook with Ottawa on January 12. Centre Cecil Blachfor], who had been knocked out in the Ottawa game, did not play. Johnson and Stuart, who had required hospitalization, did play. Ernie Russell substituted for Blachford.

Date Winning Team Score Losing Team Location
January 17, 1907 Kenora Thistles 4–2 Montreal Wanderers Montreal Arena
January 21, 1907 Kenora Thistles 8–6 Montreal Wanderers
Kenora wins total goals series 12 goals to 8
January 17, 1907
Montreal Wanderers 2 vs Kenora Thistles 4
William "Riley" Hern G Eddie Geroux
Billy Strachan P Art Ross
Hod Stuart CP Si Griffis
Lester Patrick, Capt. 2 RO Tom Hooper
Ernie Russell C Billy McGimsie
Frank "Pud" Glass RW Roxy Beaudro
Ernie "Moose" Johnson LW Tommy Phillips, Capt. 4
Jack Marshall 1 sub
Rod Kennedy spare Joe Hall
Bill Chipcase spare Russell Phillips
Referees Meldrun, Russell Bowie
January 21, 1907
Montreal Wanderers 6 vs Kenora Thistles 8
William "Riley" Hern G Eddie Geroux
Rod Kennedy P Art Ross
Hod Stuart CP Si Griffis
Lester Patrick, Capt 3 RO Tom Hooper 3
Ernie Russell 2 C Billy McGimsie 1
Frank "Pud" Glass RW Roxy Beaudro 1
Ernie "Moose" Johnson LW Tommy Phillips, Capt. 3
Jack Marshall 1 sub
Billy Strachan spare Joe Hall
Bill Chipcase spare Russell Phillips
Referees Chittick, Shea

After the series, the Thistles played an exhibition game in Ottawa on January 23. The Thistles lost 8–3 to Ottawa. Harry Smith scored four goals and Harry Westwick scored three for Ottawa.[3] In this game Billy McGimsie suffered a career-ending shoulder injury.

Wanderers vs. Kenora at Winnipeg

Several rows of men, some wearing hockey uniforms, the others in overcoats and top hats.
Wanderers players and team officials in Winnipeg for challenge

After returning home, Kenora had played the balance of the MPHL season and playoffs. After losing McGimsie, Si Griffis and Tom Hooper also went down to injury. Kenora signed three players to bolster its team: Alf Smith and Rat Westwick of Ottawa, and Fred Whitcroft of Peterborough to finish the season. (All three were future Hall of Fame inductees.) By the time of the MPHL playoff, Stanley Cup trustee Bill Foran notified Kenora that Smith and Westwick were ineligible for the challenge.

Kenora dressed Smith and Westwick for the challenge anyway and Montreal filed a protest with Foran. Foran ruled that both players were ineligible. The series was supposed to start on March 20 in Kenora, but did not. One report was that the ice in the rink was too poor to play on and the rink was closed.[4] The clubs went ahead and started the series on March 23 in Winnipeg instead, with Smith and Westwick playing. Mr. Foran was notified by the press (inaccurately) that Montreal had dropped its protest and that the clubs intended to play anyway. Mr. Foran threatened to take the Cup back to Ottawa:

If the two clubs ignore the instructions of the cup trustees by mutually agreeing to play against Westwick and Smith when both were positively informed these men were ineligible to participate in the present cup matches, the series will be treated as void, and the cup will be taken charge of by the trustees. It will remain in their possession till the various hockey leagues can educate themselves up to a standard where decent sport will be the order of the day.”[5]

The teams went ahead and played the series. However, Mr. Foran changed his mind after the Wanderers won the Cup, stating that the Wanderers could keep the Cup, because they had not rescinded their protest.[6]

After the series, the Wanderers returned to Montreal with the Stanley Cup. The Cup was stolen from Montreal photographer Jimmy Rice's home and held for ransom. No ransom was paid, and the Cup was returned to Rice. It was used as a geranium planter until the fall.[7]

Date Winning Team Score Losing Team Location
March 23, 1907 Montreal Wanderers 7–2 Kenora Thistles Winnipeg Auditorium
March 25, 1907 Kenora Thistles 6–5 Montreal Wanderers
Montreal wins total goals series 12 goals to 8
March 23, 1907
Montreal Wanderers 7 at Kenora Thistles 2
William "Riley" Hern G Eddie Geroux
Lester Patrick, Capt. P Tom Hooper
Hod Stuart CP Si Griffis
Frank "Pud" Glass 2 RO Harry "Rat" Westwick
Ernie Russell 4 C Fred Whitecroft
Cecil Blachford RW Alf Smith 1
Ernie "Moose" Johnson 1 LW Tommy Phillips, Capt. 1
Bill Chipcase spare Roxy Beaudro
T Eskrine & Rod Kennedy spare Russell Phillips
Referee- W. MacFarlane
Referee W. Kean
March 25, 1907
Montreal Wanderers 5 at Kenora Thistles 6
William "Riley" Hern G Eddie Geroux
Lester Patrick, Capt. 1 P Roxy Beaudro 1
Hod Stuart CP Si Griffis 1
Frank "Pud" Glass 1 RO Harry "Rat" Westwick
Ernie Russell 1 C Fred Whitecroft 2
Cecil Blachford RW Alf Smith 1
Ernie "Moose' Johnson 2 LW Tommy Phillips, Capt. 1
T Eskrine & Rod Kennedy spare Russell Phillips
Bill Chipcase spare Tom Hooper
Referee- W. MacFarlane
Referee W. Kean

Schedule and results

Month Day Visitor Score Home Score
Jan. 2 Wanderers 6 Victorias 5 (10' overtime)
5 Montreal 5 Shamrocks 3
5 Quebec 1 Ottawa 6
9 Wanderers 6 Montreal 3
12 Ottawa 2 Wanderers 4
12 Victorias 10 Quebec 1
16 Victorias 16 Shamrocks 3
19 Shamrocks 2 Ottawa 6
19 Quebec 8 Montreal 15
23 Victorias 12 Montreal 6
26 Ottawa 12 Victorias 10
26 Wanderers 11 Quebec 3
30 Shamrocks 5 Montreal 3
Feb. 2 Montreal 2 Ottawa 5
2 Quebec 8 Shamrocks 11
6 Wanderers 5 Victorias 2
9 Ottawa 5 Quebec 4 (2' overtime)
9 Montreal 3 Wanderers 16
13 Shamrocks 7 Victorias 19
16 Victorias 7 Ottawa 16
16 Quebec 5 Wanderers 13
19 Shamrocks 5 Wanderers 18
23 Ottawa 12 Shamrocks 6
23 Montreal 5 Quebec 9
27 Montreal 8 Victorias 13
Mar. 2 Wanderers 10 Ottawa 6
2 Quebec 6 Victorias 7
6 Shamrocks 5 Wanderers 16
9 Ottawa 6 Montreal 8
9 Shamrocks 5 Quebec 17

Player statistics

Goaltending averages

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

Name Club GP GA SO GAA
Riley Hern Wanderers 10 39 3.9
Percy LeSueur Ottawa 10 54 5.4
Nathan Frye Victorias 10 70 7.0
Charles Doddridge Quebec 4 30 7.5
White Montreal 10 83 8.3
Paddy Moran Quebec 6 58 9.7
Currie Shamrocks 10 120 12.0

Leading scorers

Name Club GP G
Russell, Ernie Wanderers 9 42
Bowie, Russell Victorias 10 38
Russell, Blair Victorias 10 25
Smith, Harry Ottawa 9 21
Sargent, Grover Montreal 10 20
Hale, Chandler Victorias 7 18
Smith, Alf Ottawa 9 17
Shore, Hamby Ottawa 10 17
Johnson, Ernie Montreal 10 15
Charles Francis Constantine Quebec 7 15

References

  • Coleman, Charles L. (1966). The Trail of the Stanley Cup, Vol. 1, 1893–1926 inc.. NHL. 
  • Podnieks, Andrew: Lord Stanley Cup, Fenn Publishing Company, 2004
  • Shea, Kevin (2006). Lord Stanley: The Man Behind the Cup. Fenn Publishing Company, Ltd.. ISBN 1-55168-281-8. 
  • Adams, Trevor J.: Long Shots, Nimbus Publishing, 2012
  1. ↑ "Kenora Didn't Stay", The Globe, January 1, 1907, p. 11. 
  2. ↑ "Vics Showed Class", Montreal Gazette, p. 2. 
  3. ↑ "Ottawas Won From Thistles", January 24, 1907, p. 2. 
  4. ↑ "No Stanley Cup Game At Kenora Last Night", Ottawa Citizen, March 21, 1907, p. 5. 
  5. ↑ "Never Too Late to Mend", March 25, 1907, pp. 9. 
  6. ↑ "The News of Sport", March 26, 1907, pp. 9. 
  7. ↑ "It was butchery, not sport, in Westmount", Montreal Gazette, Canada.com, January 12, 2007. Retrieved on December 4, 2009. 
Preceded by
Montreal Wanderers
March 1906 		Kenora Thistles
Stanley Cup Champions
January 1907 		Succeeded by
Montreal Wanderers
March 1907
Preceded by
Kenora Thistles
January 1907 		Montreal Wanderers
Stanley Cup Champions
March 1907 		Succeeded by
Montreal Wanderers
1908
Preceded by
1906 ECAHA season 		ECAHA seasons
1907 		Succeeded by
1907–08 ECAHA season
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