International Intercollegiate League
The International Intercollegiate League was a league made up of probably the best university teams of the day. It existed from 1936 to 1940. The winner was awarded the Thompson Trophy.
History
The IIL included four teams each from Canada and the U.S.A. The four Canadian teams were the four in the CIAU: (McGill University, University of Toronto, Queen's University, and University of Montreal). The four American teams came from the Ivy League: (Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, and Dartmouth University).
There was no Canadian university championship in these years.
The early 1930's were rough times for intercollegiate hockey in Ontario and Quebec. Lack of money and long travel distances often reduced the number of teams in the CIAU Central to two. The four CIAU universities entered teams in provincial senior and intermediate leagues with varying degrees of success. Yet there was a desire to restart a university-only league.
By 1936 there was an agreement between the four CIAU teams and the four teams of the American Ivy League to form a new international league. Each team would play home-and-home games against teams from their own country. These would count for a separate championship. They would also play one game against each of the international opponents, alternating home-and-home each season, All the games would count for the international championship.
The league proved to be of mixed success. The Canadian teams dominated their American counterparts on the ice. But attendance was a problem in Canada as the American teams only drew small crowds. The Canadian teams made money on their trips to the USA but could not draw enough to pay for the American teams' trips to Canada.
The league disbanded after the 1939-40 season, mostly because of World War II. The University of Montreal withdrew after the 1938-39 season because of its dismal record.
The league was not resurrected after the war. However in 1947, 1948, and 1949 there was a one game playoff between the winners of their respective leagues.
Thompson Trophy
List of Champions
- 1936-37: McGill University
- 1937-38: McGill University
- 1938-39: McGill University
- 1939-40: University of Toronto
One Game Playoffs
- 1946-47: 3/14: Toronto 2 Dartmouth 2 (The game was called at the end of regulation time because of poor ice.) @ Providence
- 1947-48: 3/15: Toronto 5 Dartmouth 0 @ Boston
- 1948-49: 3/15: Montreal 4 Dartmouth 3 @ Montreal
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