1895–96 American ice hockey season

This was the 1895-96 American ice hockey season:

Baltimore, Maryland

Caricatures of Baltimore Athletic Club players.

Queen’s University from Kingston, Ontario, played two games against the Baltimore Athletic Club at the North Avenue Ice Palace on January 7 and 8, 1896. The visitors inflicted heavy defeats on the local side in both games. The teams met a third time in Washington, DC, on January 9.

The University of Maryland formed an ice hockey team that played its first game on January 22, getting drubbed 13-0 by the Baltimore Athletic Club. Yale University played their inaugural ice hockey game on January 31, falling 3-2 to the Baltimore Athletic Club.

On February 1, the North Avenue Ice Palace hosted what is considered the first intercollegiate ice hockey game in the United States, between Yale University and Johns Hopkins. The teams tied 2-2 after overtime.Yale, captained by Malcolm Chace, won the rematch on February 13, 2-1, with Chace scoring both goals. The teams played six-per-side, (minus the rover) making the game an early instance of six-per-side hockey.

New York St. Nicholas traveled to Baltimore to face the Athletic Club on February 8. They were narrowly beaten by the score of 2-1. Johns Hopkins thumped the Washington Hockey Club 8-0 at the Ice Palace on the 21st. On March 9, Montreal AAA defeated the Montreal Shamrocks 6-5 in Baltimore.

1895-96 Game Results

• January 7: Queen’s University - Baltimore Athletic Club 10:0
• January 8: Queen’s University - Baltimore Athletic Club 9:1
• January 16: Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore Athletic Club 3:2 - BAC disputed JHU's second goal, claiming it was scored after time had been called; no official scorer was present as game was an exhibition one
• January 22: Baltimore Athletic Club - University of Maryland 13:0
• January 31: Baltimore Athletic Club - Yale University 3:2
• February 1: Johns Hopkins University - Yale University 2:2 OT
• February 8: Baltimore Athletic Club - New York St. Nicholas 2:1
• February 14: Yale University - Johns Hopkins University 2:1
• February 15: Yale University - Baltimore Athletic Club 3:1
• February 18: Baltimore Athletic Club - University of Maryland 5:1
• February 21: Johns Hopkins University - Washington Hockey Club 8:0
• February 21: Druid Hockey Club - Arundels Hockey Club 1:0
• March 9: Montreal AAA - Montreal Shamrocks 6:5
• March 16: Baltimore Athletic Club - Baltimore Victorias 6:2
• March 18: Baltimore Athletic Club - Johns Hopkins University 3:1

Baltimore Hockey League results

• February 4: Baltimore Athletic Club - Johns Hopkins University 3:0
• February 12: Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore Athletic Club 1:1
• February 26: Baltimore Athletic Club - Johns Hopkins University 4:3
• March 4: Baltimore Athletic Club - Johns Hopkins University 3:0

Chicago, Illinois

Teams were organized by the Chicago Athletic Association, North Side Saddle and Cycle Club, Kenwood Country Club, Chicago Beach Hotel, Prairie Avenue Club, and the Tattersall's rink. All the teams except for the Chicago AA and Tatersall's were dependent on outdoor rinks, and were thus unable to practice much. There were talks of forming a Chicago Hockey League, and the Chicago AA planned to tour Canada, visit Minneapolis and St. Paul, and also play a game against Baltimore.

On December 19, 1895, the Chicago Athletic Association and Tatersall's met at the Tatersall's rink, in a game that ended in a 2-2 tie. The first ice hockey game of 1896 was played in Chicago on February 7. The Chicago Athletic Association defeated Tatersall's 2-0 in a game played on horrible ice, that was covered by two inches of snow.

The Chicago Spaldings (also called All-Chicago) traveled to Pittsburgh in mid-February, playing four games against local teams, winning them all. Captain H.A. Parkyn took seven players with him to Pittsburgh: McHardy (goal), Moore (point), O'Brien (cover point), Miller and McBrine (center), Hill (left wing), Wonham (right wing). See the Pennsylvania section of this article for game results.

On February 21, the All-Chicago team faced the "Home Team", composed of players who were not selected for the Pittsburgh tour, at Tatersall's rink. A polo ball was used instead of a puck for this game.

1895-96 Game Results

• December 19: Chicago Athletic Association - Tattersall's 2:2
• December 26: Chicago Athletic Association - Tattersall's 0:0

CAA roster: Tencle (goal), O'Brien (point), Edwards (cover point), Orchard, Weed, Taylor, Wonham (forwards). Tattersall's roster: Emerson (goal), Moore (point), Matheson (cover point), Hill, Miller, Wylie, Woods (forwards).

• February 7: Chicago Athletic Association - Tattersall's 2:0

CAA roster: Smith (goal), O'Brien (point), Parkyn (cover point, Capt.), Hoagland (left wing), Mulligan (left center), Weed (right center), Wonham (right wing). Tattersall's roster: Erickson (goal), Moore (point), Milligan (cover point), Boake (left wing), Woods (left center), Miller (right center, Capt.), Wyley (right wing).

• February 21: All-Chicago - Home Team 3:2

All-Chicago roster: McHardy (goal), Moore (point), Parkyn (cover point), Wanham, Miller, Hill (forwards). Home Team: Smith (goal), Norton-Taylor (point), Mulligan (cover point), Weed, McBrien, Boak (forwards).

Colorado

The Leadville Crystal Palace

On December 8, 1895, the Military Athletic Hockey Club held a practice game at Ellesmere in Leadville. 15 men turned out, and the event was reported to be a decided success. Another such game was held a week later, and Canadian Charles Macnutt was named captain of the team. Denver, Aspen, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Cripple Creek were approached about fielding teams in the Leadville Crystal Carnival hockey tournament, held at the magnificent Crystal Palace, a 58,000 square foot structure, which attracted 250,000 visitors during the winter of 1896.

Soon, four teams existed in Leadville, including the Tomkins Lasalle Invincibles, and Captain W.R. Harp's team. Charles Macnutt arranged for a series of games with the newly-formed Denver Athletic Club, but these did not materialize, nor did a challenge Captain Harp's team made to the Military club.

A practice game of hockey was slated to be played at Williams lake in Aspen on December 15, for the purpose of forming a team to travel to Leadville for the carnival.

The hockey tournament at the Leadville Crystal Carnival was contested between the Military Athletic Hockey Club and the Tomkins Lasalle Invicibles on January 15, 1896. The Military club won the 30-minute game and a silver cup offered by the American Jewelry Company, and claimed the title of Colorado champions.

1895-96 Game Results

• 1/15: Military Athletic Hockey Club - Tomkins Lasalle Invincibles 2:0

MAHC roster: C.H. Macnutt (captain), A. Robinson, R. Glaser, W. Jones, E. Stevens, D. Bloss, A. Harvey. Invincibles roster: David La Salle (captain), W. Riggs, R. Cornings, O. Bassinger, A. Lomsden, D.G. Houghton, S. Coleman.

• 2/3: Military Athletic Hockey Club I - Military Athletic Hockey Club II 5:2

MAHC I roster: C.H. Macnutt (captain), W. Riggs, A. Robinson, W. Jones, R. Glaser, A. Harvey. MAHC II roster: W.A. Moore (captain), S. Coleman, R. Comings, D. La Salle, G. Hall, John Harvey, D. Houghton.

Connecticut

On January 11, 1896, the Hillhouse High School ice polo team defeated the Springfield High School side 2-1 at Lake Whitney. Hartford High School forfeited to the Hopkins Grammar School.

Massachusetts

Planned playing schedules for the Interscholastic and Suburban leagues.

Ice polo was once again popular in Massachusetts this winter. The Interscholastic and Suburban school leagues were organized, but the Interprepatory League did not operate in 1895-96.

1895-96 Game Results

• 12/11: Roxbury Latin School - English High School 1:0 @ Franklin Field
• 12/12: Wellington - West Roxbury 3:2 @ Franklin Field
• 12/12: Chester - Roxbury 5:3 @ Franklin Field
• 12/16: Dorchester - Franklin 3:2
• 12/17: Oxfords - Cambridge High and Latin 4:3 @ Spy Pond
• 1/7: Malden High School - Wakefield High School 4:1 @ Wakefield
• 1/14: Waltham High School - Cambridge Latin School 97 2:0 @ Waltham
• 1/22: Winchester High School - Woburn High School 2:0 @ Wedge Pond - Woburn scored one goal, but it was cancelled as they committed three fouls
• 1/22: Burdetts College - Malden High School 2:1 @ Malden
• 1/22: Milton Academy - Rochester High School 4:0 @ Franklin Field
• 1/23: Falmouth Athletic Association - Winthrop 3:1 @ Winthrop
• 1/27: Waltham High School - Arlington High School 4:0 @ Waltham
• 1/29: Waltham High School - Newton High School 1:0 @ Spy Pond
• 1/29: English High School - English Advance Class 6:1 @ Franklin Field
• 1/29: Arlington High School - Malden High School 5:1 @ Spy Pond
• 1/30: English High School - Dorchester High School 1:1 @ Franklin Field
• 1/31: Woburn - Cambridge 2:1 @ Woburn
• 2/5: Winthrop - Cambridge 1:0 @ Winthrop
• 2/26: Tiverton - Portsmouth 2:0 @ Portsmouth
• 2/26: Cambridge - Tufts College 3:1 @ Spy Pond

Interscholastic League

• 1/9: English High School - Cambridge High and Latin 1:1 - EHS won as Cambridge had one foul charged against them @ Franklin Field
• 1/17: Cambridge High and Latin - Roxbury Latin School 5:0 @ Franklin Field
• 1/18: Roxbury Latin School - Somerville High School 3:1 @ Jamaica Pond
• 1/20: Cambridge High and Latin - Somerville High School 0:0 OT @ Franklin Field
• 1/21: Somerville High School - English High School 2:0 @ Franklin Field
• 2/27: Melrose High School - Cambridge High and Latin 4:3 @ Spy Pond - Melrose won Interscholastic Championship

Suburban League

• 1/7: Melrose High School - Medford High School 4:1 @ Melrose
• 1/11: Melrose High School - Malden High School 3:0 @ Melrose

Michigan

There was a meeting at the Hotel Cadillac on January 8, 1896, to organize the Detroit Hockey Club.

Minnesota

It was reported that the first ice polo game of the season was set to take place on December 25, 1895, between the Summits and Fort Snelling. Lineups: Summits - Newson (right rush), Staus (left rush), Miller (center point), Gerber (right back), Henke (left back), Muggley (cover goal), Kieffer (goal), Schafer (substitute). Snelling - Moorcraft (right rush), Larsen (left rush), Shrump (center point), Peterson (right back), Potter (left back), Kreft (cover goal), Downs (goal), Burnquist (substitute).

A game between two picked Summits teams was played on January 1, and was won 2-1 by the second team.

On January 24-25, 1896, there was an international ice hockey tournament played at the Aurora rink as part of the St. Paul Winter Carnival. Four teams entered the tournament - two from St. Paul and one from Minneapolis and Winnipeg. There were talks of the Chicago Athletic Association and a team from Duluth competing as well, but neither did.

The rosters for the two St. Paul teams were as follows:

• St. Paul One: B.B. Clark, H. Trowbridge, B. Newsom, B.B. Thomas, H. Steer, F. Pfeifer, Homer Clark
• St. Paul Two: J. Synod, R. Neely, A.B. McCoughy, M. Berry, T.D. Edd Brisay, H. McDonald, F. Saben

There were plans for the St. Paul Carnival Club to visit Duluth from January 30-February 1. The St. Paul Summits also wanted games with Duluth. These did not wind up materializing.

1895-96 Ice Hockey Game Results

• January ?: Winnipeg Hockey Club - St. Paul Hockey Club 10:1

1895-96 Ice Polo Game Results

• December 27: Duluth Zeniths - Superior (WI) 2:2 @ Duluth
• January 1: Duluth Zeniths - Superior (WI) 1:1 @ Superior
• January 3: Duluth Polo Club - Superior Badgers (WI) @ Duluth
• January 10: West Superior Polo Club (WI) - Superior Badgers (WI) 0:0 @ Superior
• January 17: Duluth Zeniths - Superior (WI) 3:1 @ Duluth

Duluth roster: David Kemp (right rush), Peter Berg (left rush), Harry Carroll (right back), Joseph Lloyd (left back), C. Lemieux (point cover), W. Murphy (goal cover), Fred Winters goal). Superior roster: Sid Buchanan (right rush), Joseph Deering (left rush), George During (right back), Barker (left back), Grant (point cover), McNair (goal cover), J. Foreman (goal).

1896 St. Paul Winter Carnival Ice Hockey Tournament

• January 24: Winnipeg - St. Paul One 13:2 (Semifinal)
• January 24: Minneapolis Hockey Club - St. Paul Two 4:1 (Semifinal)
• January 25: Winnipeg - Minneapolis Hockey Club 7:3 (or 7:2) (Final)

Ice Polo Tournament

There was also an ice polo tournament played as part of the Carnival.

• January 24: Mascottes - Company E 4:0
• January 24: Summits - Fort Snelling 2:0
• January 27: Carnivals - Company C 10:1
• January 28: St. Paul Polo Club I - St. Paul Polo Club II 3:1 - 3rd place game

St. Paul Polo League

There were plans to set up a polo league involving the Companies C, E and H of the national guard, along with the Summits, Fort Snelling, and the Mascottes. It was hoped that the teams would play 10 games each. A schedule featuring 12 games was eventually drawn up.

Standings as of 2/9: Company E, Summits, Mascottes, and Carnivals all 1-0, Snelling and Company C both 0-2.

• 2/1: Mascottes - Company E
• 2/4: Summits - Company C
• 2/5: Snelling - Company E
• 2/7: Mascottes - Company C 4:0
• 2/10: Snelling - Mascottes
• 2/11: Carnivals - Company C
• 2/12: Summits - Company C 3:0
• 2/14: Summits - Company E 1:0
• 2/16: Carnivals - Summits 3:1
• 2/17: Carnivals - Company E
• 2/18: Summits - Mascots
• 2/21: Snelling - Company C
• 2/22: Summits - Carnivals

New York

The Ice Palace Polo Club.

Ice polo was popular in New York during the winter of 1895-96. The Ice Palace Polo Club played 24 games this winter, winning 22 of them. One of their defeats was to Brown University on February 21 by a score of 4-2. The game was said to be for the Amateur Ice Polo Championship of the United States.

On March 6, the Baltimore Athletic Club came to New York City to face the New York Hockey Club. It was the first indoor ice hockey game to be played in New York. The enclosed rink at 107th Street and Lexington Avenue, the New York Ice Palace, had recently opened.

“Bandy, as the Englishmen call it, or hockey-on-ice, was introduced to this city last evening at the Ice Palace, at Lexington Avenue and One Hundred and Seventh Street, thanks to the efforts of Manager W.F. Falk. The New-York Hockey Club and a team from the Baltimore Athletic Club were the exponents of the game, the New-Yorkers winning by a score of 3 to 0. As it was the first appearance of the New-York players as a team they were very much elated over their success. The game jumped into popularity with the crowd of skaters at the rink at once, and it will unquestionably lead to the firm establishment here of a sport that has few, if any, rivals for an in-door Winter game…

When the whistle was sounded for the opening play, the New-Yorks got the puck and rushed it down to the Baltimores’ goal in the first minute of play, so rapidly that the Baltimore boys, who had expected to find the New-York team an easy mark, found themselves on the defense at once. For three minutes the New-Yorkers managed to keep the puck dangerously near the Baltimore goal, and clever as was the defense, skilled as were the skaters from the Monumental City, they could not get it away from the danger point, and where the New-Yorks were put on the defensive for two or three minutes after that. Malcolm Chace, the tennis expert, and C. Corning, for the visitors, and Fry and Lynch, for the New-Yorkers, did some clever rushing, and skated forward, backward, and in eccentries and circles in a fashion that a champion figure skater might envy, in driving the puck over the glassy surface.

When twelve minutes had elapsed and the puck was close to the Baltimore goal Chace got it, and threading his way clear across the rink, carried the bit of rubber down to the New York goal. There he met an obstacle in Russell, and, making too quick a turn, was thrown down just as he was pucking the disk at the goalposts. Like a flash Lynch was after the disk, and in less than a moment found his way from the New-York goal down the rink to the Baltimore goal, through which he shot the bit of rubber for the first goal of the evening. The rink resounded with the cheers of the crowd, which had now learned the intricacies and rules of the game and had been roused to a lively state of enthusiasm by the brisk, sharp play…

Two minutes later Fenwick got another goal, and the crowd cheered itself hoarse and pronounced the game a howling success. Bisnaw of the Baltimore team sprained his leg in this half and had to retire, one of the New-York forwards also retiring so as to have the sides even. In the second half, Lynch scored another goal after eighteen minutes of sharp and pretty play, which closed the scoring, as but two minutes were left in which to play. Parmley of Baltimore was hit in the head in the second half, but he pluckily finished the game, at the conclusion of which he joined the other Baltimore players in their club cheer for the victors, a cheer that was weird, sharp, and astounding. The New-Yorkers cheered for the visitors, and in less than a minute, more than 1,000 skaters were skimming over the surface of the glare ice to the merry music of the steel runners.”

The St. Nicholas Rink opened in New York City in March 1896. The building was located on 69 West 66th Street, on the northeast corner of 66th Street and Columbus Avenue. The builders included business magnates Cornelius Vanderbilt and John Jacob Astor. Flagg and Chambers were the architects.

The Montreal Shamrocks and Montreal AAA faced each other in New York on March 10. The game ended in a 1-1 tie, but resumed the next day, with the Shamrocks pulling out a 2-1 win.

On March 28, the New York St. Nicholas club defeated Cornell University 8-0. The Cornell boys were dressed in red jerseys and stockings with gray trousers, while the home team was adorned in dark blue.

“Of the Cornell team, two-Hilborn and Lyle-are Canadians, and accounted fine players. Meiklejohn was one of the American collegiate team of two years. No sooner had the game been called, however, that it was at once evident that the college boys were no match for the St. Nicholas players. The puck was driven straight to the Cornell goal and played close upon it till Chace made a winning stroke. It was stopped short of the goal by Meysenburg, but as he used his hands the stop was declared foul and the goal awarded to St. Nicholas. Thus was five minutes after play was called, and four minutes later Barron scored the second goal for the New Yorkers. The half closed without further score.

In the second half the St. Nicholas club merely played with their opponents. At no time was their own goal even threatened. Erskine Hewitt had a sinecure. There was littler or no team play. None was necessary, so easily were the collegians handled. The first three of the six goals made in this half were driven by Larned, whose marvelous activity made him a marked man on the field. The fourth was got on a hard drive by Chace, the fifth by Crowninshield, and the last by Barron. Scarcely five seconds after the last Crowninshield so nearly drove a fine goal that it was a question for nearly a minute whether or not another score had been made. The score was then eight to nothing, and so it stood. At the end the college boys made a couple of short excursions into St. Nicholas’ territory, but were quickly repulsed. When time was called each team cheered the other justly.

The match throughout was eagerly followed by the ladies, who laughed heartily at the tumbles and showed appreciation of good plays by generous applause.”

On April 1, the New York St. Nicholas Club defeated Yale University by a score of 5-1. They met two more times later in the month, with each team winning one game.

1895-96 Game Results

• January 1: Ice Palace Polo Club - Jersey City Polo Club 3:1 @ New York Ice Palace
• January 8: Ice Palace Polo Club - Hockey Palace Club of New York 5:0 @ New York Ice Palace

IPPC roster: Ellison (goal), Lockwood (drive), Captain Tower (center), Kahn (cover), Longfield (first rush), Carroll (second rush). HPC roster: Sam See (goal), Deucas (drive), H. Phillips (center), S. Phillips (cover), Winnie (first rush), Worth (second rush).

• January 11: Ice Palace Polo Club - Brooklyn Polo Club 4:0 @ New York Ice Palace

IPPC roster: R. Wood (goal), Longfield, Kayser (rush), Tower (center), A. Wood (drive), Kuhn (cover). BPC roster: Ellis (goal), Earle, Ausir (rush), Cornell (center), O'Flarety (drive), Reinacher (cover).

• January 11: New York St. Nicholas - South Orange Field Club (NJ) 12:0 @ South Orange - ice polo game
• January 15: Ice Palace Polo Club - Hastings Polo Club 4:1 @ New York Ice Palace

IPPC roster: Ellison (goal), Longfield, Kayser (rush), Tower (center), Carroll (drive), Wood (half back). Hastings: Rupfer (goal), Dunn, White (rush), Cook (center), Van Tassel (drive), Dixon (half back).

• January 18: Rutgers University - New Brunswick Gun Club 2:0 @ Milltown pond (NJ)
• January 22: Ice Palace Polo Club - St. Bartholomew Polo Club 2:0 @ New York Ice Palace
• January 29: Ice Palace Polo Club - Passaic Polo Club 1:0 @ New York Ice Palace
• February 5: Ice Palace Polo Club - Sagamore Polo Club (Tremont) 4:0 @ New York Ice Palace
• February 12: Ice Palace Polo Club - Yonkers Polo Club 6:0 @ New York Ice Palace

IPPC roster: Longfield (first rush), Ellison (second rush), Tower (center), R. Wood (goal), Carroll (drive), A. Wood (cover). Dunn (first rush), Dickson (second rush), Moriety (center), White (goal), Van Tassell (drive), Feakins (cover).

• February 21: Brown University - Ice Palace Polo Club 4:2 @ New York Ice Palace - Amateur Championship of the United States

Brown roster: Matteson, Hale, Hunt, Merriman, Jones, Watson. Ice Palace: Ellison, Longfield, Tower, Carroll, A. Wood, W. Wood.

• February 26: Ice Palace Polo Club - Montclair Polo Club (NJ) 1:0 @ New York Ice Palace
• March 4: Ice Palace Polo Club - Jersey City Polo Club 5:0 @ New York Ice Palace
• March 6: New York Hockey Club - Baltimore Athletic Club 3:0 (2:0, 1:0) @ New York Ice Palace - first ice hockey game of season

New York roster: Macrae (Goal), Russell (Point), Lynch (CP), Wenham, Fenwick, Fry, Knowison (FW). Baltimore roster: Jenkins (Goal), Mitchell (Point), C. Corning (CP), Parmley, Chace, Bisnaw, A. Corning (FW). Goals: Lynch (2), Fenwick. Official: William Pope.

• March 10: Montreal AAA - Montreal Shamrocks 1:1 - game resumed on the 11th @ New York Ice Palace
• March 11: Montreal Shamrocks - Montreal AAA 2:1 @ New York Ice Palace
• March 11: Ice Palace Polo Club - Passaic Polo Club 4:1 @ New York Ice Palace
• March 18: Ice Palace Polo Club - Montclair Polo Club (NJ) 1:1 @ New York Ice Palace
• March 25: Ice Palace Polo Club - Clifton Polo Club (NJ) 2:1 @ New York Ice Palace
• March 28: New York St. Nicholas - Cornell University 8:0 (2:0, 6:0) @ St. Nicholas Rink

New York roster: Erskine Hewitt (Goal), R.D. Wrenn (Point), C.P. Anderson (Capt.) (CP), E.A. Crowninshield, M.G. Chace, W.A. Larned, Thomas Barron (FW). Cornell roster: R.C. Meysenburg (Goal), H.H. Hilborn (Point), A. Meiklejohn (CP), C.R. Wyckhoff, J.C. Neelgar, H.H. Lyle (Capt.), R. Stevens. Goals: Chace (2), Barron (2), Larned (3), Crowninshield. Official: Charles M. Pope.

• April 1: New York St. Nicholas - Yale University 5:1 @ St. Nicholas Rink

New York roster: H.W. Slocum (Goal), R.D. Wrenn (Point), Anderson (Capt.) (CP), E.A. Crowninshield, R.L. Stevens, W.A. Larned, T. Barron (FW). Yale roster: W. Barnett (Goal), W. Corbin (Point), C.S. Morris (CP), A. Barnes, M.G. Chace (Capt.), J. Hall, H. Rider (FW).

• April 1: Ice Palace Polo Club - St. Bartholomew Polo Club 4:1 @ New York Ice Palace
• April 2: New York Hockey Club - Montclair Athletic Club (NJ) 7:0 @ New York Ice Palace
• April 4: New York Hockey Club - New York St. Nicholas 4:2 @ St. Nicholas Rink - New York Hockey Championship
• April 7: New York Hockey Club II - Ice Palace Skating Club 2:0
• April 9: St. Paul Alumni (NH) - St. Paul School (NH) 3:1 @ St. Nicholas Rink
• April 14: Montclair Polo Club - Ice Palace Polo Club 2:1 @ New York Ice Palace
• April 15: Ice Palace Polo Club - New Rochelle Polo Club @ New York Ice Palace
• April 18: Yale University - New York St. Nicholas 4:1 @ St. Nicholas Rink
• April 25: New York St. Nicholas - Yale University 2:0 @ St. Nicholas Rink

The University of Buffalo organized a hockey team for the first time this winter. It was spearheaded by Irving R. Johnson of the Department of Medicine. The team was as follows: Johnson, Medical, ’98, (Captain); Hall, Medical, ’98; Diller, Medical, ’99; Peck, Dental, ’98; Cursons, Dental, ’99: Camper, Medical, ‘ 97; Young, Dental, ’98; Howell, Dental, ’98; Parker, Medical, ’97. Manager: Dr. James B. Croffs.

Four other clubs were formed in Buffalo in December 1895, the Olympic Park, Crystal, and Johnson Park rink squads, and the Iroquois AA. Another team, the Buffalo Ice Chute Hockey Club, was formed in January 1896.

Toronto and Quebec clubs negotiated with Buffalo teams for games to be played in the latter town this winter.

• 1/6: Crystal Rink - Olympic Park Rink 1:0 - one 30 minute half played
• 1/9: Crystal Rink No. 1 - Crystal Rink No. 2 5:1
• 1/11: Crystal Rink - Buffalo Picked Team
• 1/11: Olympic Park Rink - Buffalo Bankers 3:0
• 1/15: Niagara Falls (ON) HC - Crystal Rink 4:1 @ Buffalo
• 1/18: Olympic Park Rink II - Storm Kings 6:1
• 2/26: Olympic Park Rink - University of Buffalo 6:4
• 3/4: Caledonians - University of Buffalo 4:1
• 3/11: University of Buffalo - Caledonians 7:6
• 3/18: Caledonians - University of Buffalo

North Dakota

On December 22, 1895, it was reported that the East Side Hockey Club wanted a game with the club from Grand Forks. The Bathgate Hockey Club from the small town of the same name (population of 641 in 1900) travelled to Gretna, Manitoba, to face the local Hockey Club on February 26, 1896. Gretna defeated Bathgate 8-1. Gretna visited Bathgate on March 4, and the home team exacted revenge with a 6-2 victory.

Pennsylvania

The Schenley Park Casino, Pittsburgh’s first multi-purpose arena, opened on May 29, 1895. The main attraction at the Casino was the elliptical-shaped, 225 x 70-foot (21 m) ice surface. The rink hosted public skating sessions on weekdays. Saturdays were reserved for private parties and trainings of the Pittsburgh hockey club that became the Pittsburgh Keystones, a group of local men from the Western University and Carnegie Tech.

The sport played at the rink initially was ice polo. On December 24, there was a game between Western University and the Casino team.

On December 30, 1895, the Pittsburgh Press wrote about a “great international hockey and polo tournament” held at the Casino. It was reported that a team comprised of ten players from Queen's University (from Kingston, Ontario) faced a group of local players from Western University (now the University of Pittsburgh) and Pittsburgh Catholic College of the Holy Ghost (today Duquesne University) and a half-hour of exhibition of ice hockey was played before the polo match. Approximately 2,500 to 3,000 fans attended the event. Queen's University thoroughly outplayed the Pittsburghers, who had never played ice hockey before. Queen’s played several more games in Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Ice hockey soon became the preferred style of play in Pittsburgh.

The Chicago Spaldings visited Pittsburgh in February 1896, playing four games against the local teams, winning them all fairly easily.

1895-96 Game Results

• December 24: Western University of Pennsylvania - Schenley Park Casino 3:1 - ice polo game
• December 30: Queen’s University - Schenley Park Casino 8:0
• January 1: Queen’s University - Western University of Pennsylvania 12:0
• January 3: Queen’s University - Holy Ghost College 9:0
• January 8: Schenley Park Casino - Pittsburgh Amateur Athletic Association 3:2 - ice polo game
• January 10: Queen’s University - Schenley Park Casino 9:2
• January 17: Western University of Pennsylvania - Schenley Park Casino 1:1 - ice polo game
• January 22: Schenley Park Casino - Pittsburgh Athletic Club 4:0
• January 24: Schenley Park Casino - Geneva College 3:1
• February 4: Pittsburgh High School - East Liberty Academy 4:1
• February 7: Schenley Park Casino - Duquesne Country & Athletic Club 2:0
• February 11: Chicago Spaldings - Pittsburgh Athletic Club 9:1
• February 12: Chicago Spaldings - Western University of Pennsylvania 3:0
• February 12: Chicago Spaldings - Duquesne Country & Athletic Club 5:1
• February 13: Chicago Spaldings - Schenley Park Casino 3:1
• February 25: East Liberty Academy - Shadyside Academy 4:0
• February 28: Pittsburgh Athletic Club - Western University of Pennsylvania 1:0
• March 4: Western University of Pennsylvania - Schenley Park Casino 2:1
• March 6: Pittsburgh Athletic Club - Duquesne Country & Athletic Club 3:1
• March 10: East Liberty Academy - Shadyside Academy 3:0
• March 12: Schenley Park Casino - Pittsburgh Central High School 1:0
• March 17: Pittsburgh Athletic Club - Schenley Park Casino 1:1
• March 20: Duquesne Country & Athletic Club - Western University of Pennsylvania 1:0
• March 26: Pittsburgh All-Stars - Western University of Pennsylvania 1:0
• April 17: Schenley Park Casino - Pittsburgh All-Stars 2:1

There was a tournament played involving teams of the various classes at Swarthmore College. Swarthmore is a town in east Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia.

• January 8: Class of ‘96 - Class of ‘99 5:1
• January 11: Class of ‘96 - Class of ‘97 1:0

The Class of ‘96 won the tournament with a perfect 3-0 record.

Washington, DC

The Ice Palace at Convention Hall opened in Washington, DC, in January 1896. The rink's surface, which measured 155’ x 205’, was then the largest sheet of artificial ice in the world. On January 9, Queen’s University from Canada and the Baltimore Athletic Club played an ice hockey game at the rink.

There plans to establish a Washington Hockey League, with the Washington Hockey Club, Columbia Athletic Club, North Washington, and High School slated as potential participants. Only two games wound up being played between local teams.

The Washington and Berkley clubs, two teams from Northwest DC, played a match at the Ice Palace on February 1. The owner of the rink, Manager Towers, had mailed the secretary of the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada, requesting they send him a copy of the rules the organization used. The rules were then published in the Washington Post.

On February 20, the Baltimore Athletic Club visited Washington and defeated the local Hockey Club. Two teams from Montreal visited Washington and faced one another on March 7.

1895-96 Game Results

• January 9: Queen’s University - Baltimore Athletic Club 6:0 (or 7:0)
• February 1: Washington Hockey Club - Berkley Club 1:0
• February 19: Baltimore Athletic Club - Washington Hockey Club 9:0 (4:0, 5:0)
• February 22: University of Maryland - Columbia Athletic Club 2:0
• February 29: Washington Hockey Club - Columbia Athletic Club 2:0
• March 7: Montreal Shamrocks - Montreal Hockey Club 3:1

Students at Georgetown University formed a class hockey league, playing games at the Little River. Class of '99 beat the Class of '98 6-3 and the Class of '97 defeated the Class of '98 3-2 in the opening games.

College ice hockey

See: 1895–96 United States collegiate men's ice hockey season

College ice polo

The 1896 Boston College ice polo team.

On January 7, 1896, Waltham High School, the winners of the 1895 New England Interscholastic Ice Polo Championship, defeated Brown University 2-0 at Roger Williams Park. The Brown team lined up as follows- Rushers: G.A. Matteson, I.O. Hunt; Center: C. Hale; Half back: W.A. Jones; Goal: B.S. Watson.

The next day, a team picked from other Brown men, known as the Trilbys, faced the varsity team. The picked team led 3-2 after the first half, but the varsity side scored five goals in the second half, after which the picked team refused to play a third period. The picked team was represented by Merriman, Budlong, Robinson, Smith, and Murphy.

Harvard’s first official ice polo team was formed on January 8, 1896. “At a meeting held in the Trophy Room of the Gymnasium yesterday afternoon an Ice Polo Association was formed to organize a polo team to represent Harvard. The following officers were elected: President, F. S. Elliot, L. S.; secretary and manager, J. W. Dunlop '97; treasurer, T. H. Clarkson '99. F. J. Goodridge was elected temporary captain. The following men have signed as candidates for the team.

C. E. Baldwin '99, J. C. Barron '99, G. H. Noyes '97, E. C. Mains '99, G. R. Jenkins, L. S., F. A. Russell '99, Jas. Nowell '99, L. W. Jenney, L. S., I. S. Barstow '98, F. L. Collier '99, E. Wadsworth '98, T. H. Clarkson '99, E. Stevens '99.”

An effort was made by the New England Skating Association to form a triangular ice polo league between Yale, Harvard, and Brown, with the teams vying for a silver cup that was offered by the secretary of the association, Frederick P. Bonney. On January 17, Harvard officially declined to enter the league, in a letter sent to the skating association. However, a series of games were later played between Brown and Harvard for the cup.

There was an ice polo game scheduled for January 13 between Brown and the Cambridge High and Latin School at Roger Williams Park. The latter side failed to appear, so a practice game was played between Brown and substitutes. The game eventually came off two days later, and Brown thumped Cambridge 8-0.

Another game was played on January 15 between Harvard University and Dorchester. It was a rather one-sided affair, with Harvard defeating Dorchester by the score of 9-1.

On January 29, Brown beat Harvard 5-1 at Roger Williams Park in a game that consisted of two 20-minute halves. Brown took a 3-1 halftime lead and added two more goals in the second half as they cruised to victory. The teams lined up as follows: Brown: Matteson, Hale (rushers), Hunt (center), Jones (half-back), Watson (captain; goal). Harvard: Goodrich (captain), Clarkson (rushers), Stevens (center), Clark (half-back), Baldwin (goal).

The Brown ice polo team received word from the management of the New York Ice Palace that the latter were eager to arrange games with them in New York. There were also talks of Brown playing in Baltimore. Brown eventually played in New York on February 21, and defeated the Ice Palace Ice Polo Club 4-2 in a game for the Amateur Championship of the United States, and thus were awarded an elegant silver cup (see the New York section for more details on the game).

Harvard was noted to have defeated Waltham High School 6-0 on February 3. On February 15, Brown beat the Crescents of New Bedford 4-0 on wretched ice at the Ten Mile River.

The second game between Harvard and Brown took place at Spy Pond in Arlington on February 18, and resulted in a 4-2 win for Harvard. Both teams fielded the same lineups as in the first game.

On February 26, Harvard defeated Brown 4-3 at Spy Pond in the deciding game of the series between the two clubs, thus earning the Loving Cup, which the New England Skating Association offered to the winner of the best-of-three series.

According to the Harvard Book of Athletics, “Ice polo was first played by an organized team at Harvard in 1895-96, when the Harvard Ice Polo Association was formed with F. S. Elliot, L. S., as President and J. W. Dunlop, '97, as Secretary. This game was played with a short stick rounded at one end and a hard rubber ball. No rule was violated by a player being off side and there were no limits to the rink. After the Canadian game of ice hockey was tried at Cambridge in 1897 it soon took the place of polo, and in 1898 the name of the Association was changed to the Harvard Ice Hockey Association, the first Harvard hockey team was organized and polo was given up.”

Boston College also had an ice polo team in 1896.

Sources: Brown Daily Herald and Harvard Daily Crimson

References

Early American hockey seasons (pre-1920)
Pre-1895 - 1894–95 - 1895–96 - 1896–97 - 1897–98 - 1898–99 - 1899–1900 - 1900–01 - 1901–02 - 1902–03 - 1903–04 - 1904–05 - 1905–06 - 1906–07 - 1907–08 - 1908–09 - 1909–10 - 1910–11 - 1911–12 - 1912–13 - 1913–14 - 1914–15 - 1915–16 - 1916–17 - 1917–18 - 1918–19 - 1919–20