Starr Trophy
The Starr Trophy was donated by the Starr Manufacturing Company based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, to the Halifax City Hockey League in 1897. It was awarded to the champions of the HCL and later served as the Nova Scotia Provincial Championship until 1905, when it became a challenge cup open to teams from around the Maritimes. The Moncton Victorias won the trophy three straight years from 1907-1909, thus earning it permanently.
A new cup, known as the Starr Shield was then put up for competition in 1910. In 1923, it was won permanently by the Charlottetown Abegweits.
Champions
Starr Trophy
- Halifax City League
- 1897: Halifax Wanderers
- 1898: Halifax Crescents
- 1899: Halifax Wanderers
- 1900: Halifax Crescents
- 1901: Halifax Wanderers
- 1902: Halifax Crescents
- 1903: Halifax Crescents
- Nova Scotia Championship
- 1904: Amherst Ramblers
- Maritime Championship
- 1905: Amherst Ramblers
- 1906: New Glasgow Cubs
- 1907: Moncton Victorias
- 1908: Moncton Victorias
- 1909: Moncton Victorias
Starr Shield
- 1911: Charlottetown Victorias
- 1912: Charlottetown Victorias
- 1913: Charlottetown Victorias
- 1917: Glace Bay Miners
- 1922: Charlottetown Abegweits
- 1923: Charlottetown Abegweits
Results
- 1901
The Halifax Wanderers won the trophy, losing one game to the Dartmouth Chebuctos, who were beaten by the Halifax Crescents for second place in their final game.
- 1902
The Halifax Crescents were the winners in 1902, losing a single game to the Wanderers, the latter were beaten by the Chebuctos and also forfeited their last game of the season to them. Dalhousie also competed in the league this year.
- 1903
The Crescents repeated as champions in 1903, and in their last game against the Chebuctos, defeated them 22-1.
- 1904
With the formation of the Nova Scotia Hockey League, the trophy was presented by the officials of the Halifax Hockey League for competition between winning teams of the Nova Scotia and Cape Breton leagues. The Amherst Ramblers earned the trophy by winning the Nova Scotia League, and successfully defended it against the North Sydney Victorias.
- 3/1: Amherst Ramblers - North Sydney Victorias 11:3 @ Amherst
- 3/4: Amherst Ramblers - North Sydney Victorias 3:0 @ Amherst
- 1905
The Starr Trophy became open for competition between teams winning the championship of any league in the Maritime Provinces which was recognized by the M.P.A.A.A. The Charlottetown Abegweits challenged Amherst for the trophy.
- 2/20: Amherst Ramblers - Charlottetown Abegweits 12:4 (9:1, 3:3) @ Amherst
- 2/21: Amherst Ramblers - Charlottetown Abegweits 12:5 @ Amherst
Amherst retained the trophy, and received another challenge from Sackville, champions of the New Brunswick Senior Hockey League.
- Amherst Ramblers - Sackville HC 7:2
- Amherst Ramblers - Sackville HC 5:0
- 1906
The New Glasgow Cubs won the Starr Trophy from the Amherst Ramblers by winning the Nova Scotia Hockey League title. The Moncton Victorias, champions of the New Brunswick League then challenged New Glasgow for the trophy.
- New Glasgow Cubs - Moncton Victorias 4:2 @ New Glasgow
- New Glasgow Cubs - Moncton Victorias 2:1 @ New Glasgow
The Summerside Crystals, champions of the Prince Edward Island League, also challenged New Glasgow for the trophy.
- New Glasgow Cubs - Summerside Crystals 11:2
- New Glasgow Cubs - Summerside Crystals 9:2
- 1907
The Halifax Crescents won the trophy from the New Glasgow Cubs by winning the Nova Scotia League title. The Moncton Victorias repeated as champions of the New Brunswick League, defeating Sackville 8-0 in the deciding game of the series, and challenged Halifax for the cup.
- 3/15: Moncton Victorias - Halifax Crescents 3:1 @ Halifaz
- 3/18: Moncton Victorias - Halifax Crescents 1:0 OT @ Halifax
Moncton Victorias won the cup.
- 1908
- 3/7: Fredericton Capitals - Moncton Victorias 2:1 - deciding game of the New Brunswick League
The Fredericton Capitals won the cup from Moncton, and then received a challenge from the Amherst Ramblers, champions of the Nova Scotia League.
- 3/12: Fredericton Capitals - Amherst Ramblers 6:2
- 3/13: Fredericton Capitals - Amherst Ramblers 8:1
The Fredericton Capitals met the Charlottetown Victorias, champions of the Prince Edward Island Senior Hockey League (who had recently beaten the North Sydney Victorias, champions of the Cape Breton League twice [1-0 in the first game]), for the Starr Trophy. Fredericton was later suspended for professionalism (see below).
- 3/19: Fredericton Capitals - Charlottetown Victorias 7:5 @ Fredericton
- 3/20: Fredericton Capitals - Charlottetown Victorias 10:3 @ Fredericton
"According to a bulletin Oren Froode of Pembroke, who played with Fredericton under the name of Claude Oren is declared a professional. The Capital hockey team is also declared professional. All hockey players who have competed this season against the Capitals are suspended. Affidavits of the Moncton Victorias in connection with their enquiry into the Oren matter were received, by Mr. McIlreith who handed them over to President Lithgow, who ordered the issuance of the bulletin. The Crescens, Ramblers, Victorias of Moncton, Victorias of Charlottetown, the Cape Breton champions and New Brunswick league teams which played against the Capitals are all suspended. This is only a nominal suspension and they will be reinstated in a day or two. The Starr Trophy will be returned to the trustees. Amherst wants to play Moncton for the trophy, the latter being winners of the New Brunswick league (with Fredericton disqualified), and if there is ice, games may be arranged".
-The Charlottetown Guardian, March 28, 1908
Moncton's outing of Oren sparked a massive feud between them and Fredericton, the latter team also accusing the Victorias of being professionals. The New Brunswick Hockey League did not recognize the Moncton Victorias as champions, and therefore they were prohibited from facing the Amherst Ramblers in a series for the Starr Trophy. Its trustees decided to not officially award the trophy in 1908. The Moncton Board of Health also passed orders prohibiting any Starr Trophy matches from being played in Moncton. The Maritime Provinces Amateur Athletic Association later ordered the trophy to be returned to Moncton.
- 1909
In December 1908, the trustees decided to give the Starr Trophy to Moncton, who was ordered to defend the trophy against Amherst to kick off the 1909 season.
- 1/7: Moncton Victorias - Amherst Ramblers 4:2 @ Moncton
- 1/9: Moncton Victorias - Amherst Ramblers 5:1 @ Moncton
Moncton retained the trophy. They also received a challenge from the Charlottetown Victorias and faced them.
- 1/19: Moncton Victorias - Charlottetown Victorias 5:3 @ Moncton
- 1/20: Moncton Victorias - Charlottetown Victorias 7:3 @ Moncton
Moncton again retained the trophy. The Halifax Crescents, champions of the Nova Scotia League, then challenged them. They did not want to travel to Moncton to face the Victorias, and hoped they would play in Halifax. The team also saw an opportunity to get the cup on technicality, as the trophy rules stipulated that the holders must be champions of a league, and the Victorias were not entered in one this winter. Halifax eventually decided to go to Moncton to play for the trophy.
- 2/27: Moncton Victorias - Halifax Crescents 2:2 @ Moncton
- Moncton Victorias - Halifax Crescents 2:1 @ Moncton