South African Hockey (1936-1985)
This page details ice hockey activities in South Africa between 1936 and 1985:
Results
- 1936
On June 16, 1936 it was reported that the Old Edwardians were the first club in South Africa to take up ice hockey. They began practicing at a roller skating rink and played some intra-squad games. On July 13, 1936 the South African Ice Hockey Association was formed. The first ice hockey games were played at the Empire Exhibition Rink in Milner Park, Johannesburg in September, Oxford and Cambridge paying a visit from England.
- 9/19: Oxford University - Cambridge University 4:3
- 9/21: Oxford University - Cambridge University 4:3 (0:0, 1:1, 3:1)
- 9/22: Oxford University - South Africa 7:5 (1:1, 4:0, 2:4)
- 9/23: Oxford University - Cambridge University 3:3 (1:1, 1:1, 1:1)
- 9/24: Cambridge University - South Africa 5:3 (2:2, 1:1, 2:0)
- 9/26: Oxford/Cambridge Combination - South Africa 9:4 (1:1, 4:1, 4:2)
- 9/28: Oxford/Cambridge Combination - South Africa 5:3 (1:1, 2:2, 2:0)
- 9/29: Oxford University - Cambridge University 2:1
- 9/30: Oxford/Cambridge Combination - South Africa 6:4 (2:1, 3:1, 1:2)
- 10/?: Old Edwardians - Johannesburg Lions II - junior/2nd League game
- 10/3: South Africa - The Rest - “last week South Africa took on the Rest with distinct success. Not only was the game worth watching but it was apparent that the local players are fast rounding into shape and will improve with every appearance.”
- 10/10: Town - Country 9:1 (2:0, 4:0, 3:1)
- 10/17: Mohawks - Johannesburg Lions 6:1 - Exhibition Trophy
- 10/22: Johannesburg Lions - Old Edwardians 3:3
- 10/24: Maple Leafs - Johannesburg Lions 7:2 (4:0, 1:1, 2:1) - Exhibition Trophy
- 10/31: Mohawks - Maple Leafs 10:3 - Exhibition Trophy
- 11/6: Johannesburg Lions - Mohawks 7:6 - Exhibition Trophy
- 11/14: Maple Leafs - Mohawks 6:5 - Mansell Cup KO competition first round
- 11/21: Maple Leafs - Johannesburg Lions 3:0 (1:0, 1:0, 1:0) - Exhibition Trophy
- 11/28: Mohawks - Maple Leafs 5:3 (2:2, 1:1, 2:0) - Exhibition Trophy
- 12/5: Johannesburg Lions/Maple Leafs Comb. - Mohawks 6:2 (2:1, 2:0, 2:1)
- 12/12: Vice-Residents - Residents 5:2 (1:0, 1:1, 3:1)
- 12/26: Johannesburg Lions - Maple Leafs - Mansell Cup final
Exhibition Trophy standings
- Mohawks 3-1-0-6 27:14
- Maple Leafs 2-2-0-4 16:17
- Lions 1-3-0-2 10:22
2nd League standings as of 11/16
- Lions 2-0-1 9:5 5
- Old Edwardians 1-0-1 5:4 3
- Mohawks 1-1-0 7:3 2
- Proteca 0-3-0 4:13 0
Old Johannians and Rand University had not played any games yet.
- 1937
- 1/2: Rest - Maple Leafs 4:3
- 1/9: Maple Leafs - Rest 6:4
- 1/16: Maple Leafs - Rest 6:4
The Empire Exhibition Rink closed in January 1937, but a new facility, the Union Ice Rink in Wembley, Johannesburg, opened in June. Wiener EV paid a visit to South Africa to play a series of games to inaugurate the rink. See 1937 Wiener EV Tour of South Africa for more details.
The “Austria Cup” was presented to the South African Ice Hockey Association by members of the Austrian ice hockey team, and was to be competed for by local ice hockey teams. The cup, sculptured by Dr Fleishman of Austria, bears on its base figures representing Gobel (who was to have captained the touring team), Demmer, Nowak, and Kirchberger. On one side of the cup is the Austrian coat-of-arms and on the other, the South African coat-of-arms.” - Rand Daily Mail, 1937-07-20
- 8/12: Town - Country 8:6 - Country team was reinforced by members of the local junior teams. J. Desileths of Town and Bob Britton for Country made some fine solo runs. Mr. Eric Gates officiated.
- 1937-38
- 10/9: Maple Leafs - The Rest 10:3
- 11/11: Old Edwardians - Johannesburg Lions
- 12/15: Johannesburg Lions - Old Edwardians - deciding match of three game series, Lions won the first game 4-3, Old Edwardians won the second, also 4-3
- 4/14: Old Edwardians - University
- 1938-39
Exhibitions/Other games
- 11/3: Old Edwardians - Old Parktonians 4:0
- 1/9: South African Born - Canadian Born
- 1/12: Old Edwardians - Old Parktonians 6:3 (1:2, 2:1, 3:0)
- 1/31: Old Parktonians - Johannesburg Lions II 4:2 - Junior Cup final
- 5/4: Rest - Old Edwardians 6:4
- 5/4: Mohawks - Johannesburg Lions 5:4
Transvaal Ice Hockey League
- 9/22: Johannesburg Lions - Old Edwardians 6:2 (3:0, 1:0, 2:2)
- 9/29: Mohawks - Rand University 7:3 (3:0, 2:0, 2:3)
- 10/6: Mohawks - Johannesburg Lions 4:2 (1:1, 2:0, 1:1)
- 10/13: Old Edwardians - Rand University 6:2 (1:0, 2:1, 3:1)
- 10/20: Mohawks - Old Edwardians 6:2 (1:1, 4:0, 1:1)
- 10/27: Johannesburg Lions - Rand University 3:1 (1:1, 1:0, 1:0)
- 11/10: Johannesburg Lions - Mohawks 2:2 (2:0, 0:2, 0:0)
- 11/17: Mohawks - Old Edwardians 5:4 (1:1, 3:1, 1:2)
- 11/24: Old Edwardians - Rand University 6:1 (0:0, 2:0, 4:1)
- 12/1: Johannesburg Lions - Rand University 1:1 (0:0, 0:1, 1:0)
- 12/8: Mohawks - Johannesburg Lions 6:1 (2:1, 1:0, 3:0) - Knockout Cup semifinal
- 12/15: Mohawks - Old Edwardians 3:2 (1:2, 1:0, 1:0) - Knockout Cup final
- 12/22: Johannesburg Lions - Old Edwardians 3:3 (2:2, 0:0, 1:1)
- 1/3: Mohawks - Johannesburg Lions 5:2 - Challenge Cup
- 1/26: Rand University - Old Parktonians 3:0 (0:0, 0:0, 3:0) - last first half league games, Rand would have been relegated to the 2nd League if they lost
Mohawks won the first half and the Challenge Cup.
- 2/2: Mohawks - Old Edwardians 6:4 (2:1, 2:1, 2:2) - start of second half league games
- 2/9: Old Edwardians - Johannesburg Lions 9:6 (2:1, 5:0, 2:5)
- 2/16: Mohawks - Johannesburg Lions 3:3 (2:0, 1:2, 0:1)
- 2/23: Old Edwardians - Old Parktonians 11:1
- 3/2: Old Parktonians - Rand University 4:2
- 3/9: Johannesburg Lions - Old Edwardians 4:2
- 3/16: Johannesburg Lions - Mohawks 3:2 (2:0, 1:1, 0:1)
- 3/23: Mohawks - Old Edwardians 5:3 (2:1, 2:0, 1:2)
The league was reorganized and an exhibition schedule was then carried out. The players were pooled among the new teams, and it was said the Mohawks would provide 13 players and two substitutes, Lions 16 players, Old Edwardians 8 players, including four substitutes, Old Parktonians three players, including two substitutes, and Rand University and Tigers, three players each and two substitutes each.
- 3/30: Blues - Blacks 5:5 (1:2, 2:2, 2:1)
- 4/6: Reds - Whites 9:3 (3:1, 4:1, 2:1)
- 4/13: Reds - Blacks 9:5 (3:3, 4:1, 2:1)
- 4/20: Blues - Reds 10:7 (1:1, 5:2, 4:4)
- 1939-40
Exhibitions
- 12/21: Johannesburg - East Rand 6:4 (4:2, 1:0, 1:2)
- 12/27: Rand University - Johannesburg Lions 5:3 (4:1, 0:1, 1:2) - Challenge Game
- 3/23: Canadian Born - South African Ice Hockey Association
- 4/20: Johannesburg Lions - Rand University 2:2 (1:0, 1:0, 0:2)
- 5/5: Reef - Johannesburg 5:2 (0:1, 1:1, 4:0)
- 5/25: Reef - Johannesburg 4:0 - last game of season
Olympia Trophy
- 1/4: Canadian Born - South African Ice Hockey Association 5:3 (1:1, 2:1, 2:1)
- 1/11: Canadian Born - South African Ice Hockey Association 5:0 (2:0, 1:0, 2:0)
Transvaal Ice Hockey League
- 10/10: Johannesburg Lions - Mohawks 4:3
- 10/19: Old Edwardians - Rand University 5:4
- 10/26: Rand University - Mohawks 9:7
- 11/2: Johannesburg Lions - Old Parktonians 3:1
- 11/9: Old Edwardians - Mohawks 5:3
- 11/16: Mohawks - Old Parktonians 8:6 (3:3, 4:2, 1:1)
- 11/23: Johannesburg Lions - Old Edwardians 8:2 (1:1, 3:1, 4:0)
- 11/30: Rand University - Old Parktonians 8:4 (4:1, 2:2, 2:1)
- 12/7: Old Parktonians - Old Edwardians 10:2
- 12/14: Rand University - Johannesburg Lions 5:4 (0:1, 1:1, 4:2)
- 12/21: Johannesburg Lions B - Wembley Tigers 2:0 - 2nd League game, Lions were undefeated
- 1/17: Rand University - Johannesburg Lions 3:2 OT (2:0, 0:0, 0:2, 1:0) - first half final
- 1/24: Old Edwardians - Mohawks 5:4 (2:0, 1:3, 2:1) - start of second half
- 2/1: Johannesburg Lions - Old Parktonians 6:2 (0:1, 2:0, 3:1)
- 2/8: Maple Leafs - Old Edwardians 5:3
- 2/15: Rand University - Mohawks 8:2 (1:1, 5:0, 2:1)
- 2/22: Johannesburg Lions - Maple Leafs 4:1 (0:0, 2:0, 2:1)
- 2/29: Maple Leafs - Old Parktonians 3:2
- 3/7: Rand University - Wembley Tigers 11:3 (2:2, 5:1, 4:0) - Wembley took the place of Old Edwardians and were strengthened by their best players
- 3/14: Mohawks - Maple Leafs 5:4 (3:1, 2:0, 0:3)
- 3/19: Rand University - Johannesburg Lions 4:3 (1:0, 2:1, 1:2)
- 3/28: Old Parktonians - Wembley Tigers 4:2 (2:0, 1:1, 1:1)
- 4/6: Mohawks - Johannesburg Lions
- 4/13: Rand University - Old Parktonians
- 4/18: Mohawks - Wembley Tigers 7:3 (3:3, 2:0, 2:0) - Knockout Competition
- 4/25: Johannesburg Lions - Mohawks 2:1 (1:0, 0:0, 1:1) - "
- Mohawks - Maple Leafs 5:3 - Exhibition Trophy
- 5/18: Johannesburg Lions - Rand University - Dorfman Knockout Cup final
- 1940-41
Exhibitions
- 12/7: City - Army 10:4 (5:3, 2:1, 3:0)
- 12/21: City - Reef 4:4
- 12/27: City - Reef 5:2
- 1/18: City - Reef 6:1 - Robinson Deep War Fund
- 2/22: Canada - South Africa 4:1 - Red Star Aid Foundation
- 4/1: South Africa - Canada 4:0 (1:0, 1:0, 2:0) - "
- 4/23: South Africa - Canada 3:3 (0:0, 3:1, 0:2) - Netherlands War Fund
- 4/29: Seniors - Juniors 3:2
- 5/6: Johannesburg Lions - The Rest 4:1 (4:0, 0:0, 0:1)
- 5/28: Canada - South Africa 6:2 (1:1, 3:1, 2:0) - Greek War Fund
South African War League (Transvaal)
- 11/9: Johannesburg Lions - Rand University 3:3
- 11/12: Maple Leafs - Mohawks 6:4
- 11/16: Maple Leafs - Rand University 3:2
- 11/19: Johannesburg Lions - Mohawks 4:2
- 11/23: Rand University - Mohawks 3:1
- 11/26: Maple Leafs - Johannesburg Lions 2:1 (0:0, 1:0, 1:1)
- 11/30: Mohawks - Johannesburg Lions 7:4
- 12/3: Rand University - Maple Leafs 5:2
- 12/10: Maple Leafs - Johannesburg Lions 4:3 (2:1, 1:0, 1:2)
- 12/14: Mohawks - Maple Leafs 4:1
- 12/16: Johannesburg Lions - Rand University 5:4 - last first half game
- 1/4: Mohawks - Rand University 2:2 - start of second half
- 1/7: Rand University - Johannesburg Lions 6:3
- 1/11: Maple Leafs - Mohawks 3:3
- 1/14: Johannesburg Lions - Mohawks 10:1
- 1/18: Maple Leafs - Rand University
- 1/21: Mohawks - Rand University 6:1
- 1/25: Maple Leafs - Johannesburg Lions 3:1
- 1/28: Maple Leafs - Mohawks 3:2
- 2/1: Johannesburg Lions - Rand University 5:4
- 2/4: Rand University - Maple Leafs 3:2
- 2/8: Johannesburg Lions - Mohawks 3:2 (0:0, 3:1, 0:1)
- 2/10: Mohawks - Rand University 3:2
- 2/15: Johannesburg Lions - Maple Leafs 7:2 (2:1, 2:1, 3:0)
- 3/1: Maple Leafs - Rand University 3:3 (1:1, 2:1, 0:1)
Standings
- Maple Leafs 6-4-2-14 34:38
- Johannesburg Lions 6-5-1-13 41:28
- Rand University 4-5-3-11 36:40
- Mohawks 4-6-2-10 37:42
- 1941-42
Exhibitions
- 12/11: Canada - South Africa 3:3
- 12/26: Reef - City 3:2
- 1/22: City - Reef 6:2 (0:1, 1:1, 5:0)
- 1/29: Johannesburg - Reef - not played as the Reef players were “held back by the mines”
- 1/29: Johannesburg Lions - The Rest 8:3 - played instead of Johannesburg/Reef
- 2/5: Johannesburg Lions “Cubs” - Johannesburg Representative Team
- 2/19: Canada - South Africa 3:2 (0:0, 1:0, 2:2)
- 4/4: South Africa - Canada 3:2
South African War League
- 11/20: Johannesburg Lions - Maple Leafs 3:1
- 11/27: Johannesburg Lions - Olympians 2:2
- 12/4: Olympians - Maple Leafs 6:3
- 1/8: Olympians - Johannesburg Lions 3:2 (0:1, 0:0, 3:1)
- 1/15: Maple Leafs - Johannesburg Lions 7:4
- 3/5: Johannesburg Lions - Olympians 3:2 (1:2, 0:0, 2:0)
- 1942-43
Exhibitions
- 1/21: Johannesburg - Army 5:1 (1:0, 2:1, 2:0)
- 4/17: Johannesburg - Reef
- 1944-45
After a dormant 1943-44, hockey returned to Johannesburg for 1944-45.
Exhibitions
- 12/7: Johannesburg - Reef 3:2
- 12/21: Johannesburg - Reef 7:4
- 1/18: Olympians - Johannesburg Lions 6:4
- 2/15: Johannesburg Lions - Olympians 4:3 (0:1, 2:1, 2:1)
- 3/4: South Africa Lions - Canadian Tigers 7:3
- 3/6: Canadian Tigers - South Africa Lions 5:4
- 3/27: Johannesburg - Reef 7:6 (4:1, 2:2, 1:3)
- 1945-46
Exhibitions
- 3/28: Hurricanes - Spitfires 4:2 - “People of Britain Fund” match
- 4/23: Hurricanes - Spitfires 5:5
- 5/7: The Rest - Mohawks 4:3
- 5/14: Johannesburg Lions - Tigers IHC 5:3
- 5/21: Mohawks - Rand University
Mensell Cup
- 12/5: Johannesburg Lions - Mohawks 3:3 (1:1, 1:1, 1:1)
- 12/11: Mohawks - Johannesburg Lions 1:0
- 12/18: Johannesburg Lions - Mohawks 4:3 OT (2:1, 1:1, 1:0, 0:1)
It was decided on January 7 that the cup would go to the Lions. After the third game, played on December 18, 1945, the referee had announced that there would be a fourth game for the trophy. The South African Ice Hockey Association decided to ignore this decision.
Transvaal Ice Hockey League
- 1/15: Johannesburg Lions - Rand University 6:1 - almost 4,000 spectators attended
- 1/22: Mohawks - Rand University 2:1
- 1/29: Johannesburg Lions - Tigers IHC 3:1 - Transvaal League - mist hung over the rink, making it impossible for the crowd of 3,500 to follow the game, and the players struggled to see at times too
- 2/5: Mohawks - Tigers IHC 4:1 (2:0, 1:0, 1:1)
- 2/12: Mohawks - Johannesburg Lions 6:3 (2:1, 0:1, 4:1)
- 2/19: Tigers IHC - Rand University 6:3 (2:2, 2:0, 2:1)
- 2/26: Tigers - Johannesburg Lions - postponed as the ice had melted due to intense heat
- 3/19: Johannesburg Lions - Tigers IHC 4:1 (1:0, 2:1, 1:0)
- 3/26: Mohawks - Tigers IHC 7:7 (2:2, 4:2, 1:3)
- 4/2: Mohawks - Johannesburg Lions 4:3 (1:0, 1:2, 2:0) - Anderson Trophy (also counted in standings)
- 4/4: Tigers IHC - Rand University 7:2
- 4/9: Johannesburg Lions - Rand University 7:1 (1:0, 3:0, 3:1)
- 4/16: Mohawks - Tigers IHC 4:3
- 4/24: Johannesburg Lions - Rand University 10:0
- 4/30: Tigers IHC - Rand University 5:4 (2:1, 2:1, 1:2)
- 5/28: Mohawks - Johannesburg Lions 5:4
Standings
- Mohawks 7-0-1-15 36:24
- Johannesburg Lions 5-3-0-10 40:19
- Tigers IHC 3-4-1-7 31:31
- Rand University 0-8-0-0 14:47
- 1946-47
- 11/20: Johannesburg Lions - Wembley Tigers 10:5
- 12/5: Johannesburg Lions - Mohawks
- 12/10: Johannesburg Lions - Rand University 2:0
- 1/7: Wembley Tigers - Rand University 6:2
- 1/14: Wembley Tigers - Johannesburg Lions 4:3
- 1/21: Mohawk - Rand University 7:2
- 1/28: Wembley Tigers - Mohawks 10:5 - Tigers were atop the league for the Conrad Trophy
- 2/4: Johannesburg Lions - Rand University 4:1
- 2/11: Johannesburg Lions - Mohawks 4:4 (1:1, 1:1, 2:2)
- 2/18: The Rest - Johannesburg Lions 8:5
- 2/25: Johannesburg Lions - Wembley Tigers
- 3/5: Mohawks - Rand University
- 3/11: Tigers - Mohawks
- 3/13: Tigers - Rand University
- 3/18: Johannesburg Lions - Rand University
- 3/25: Johannesburg Lions - Mohawks 5:3 - Charity match for Navy Week
- 4/22: Wembley Tigers (1947 league champions) - Johannesburg Lions (1946 Mensell Trophy champions) 11:3
- 5/6: Southern Suburbs - The Rest - “Special Challenge Match”
- 5/13: Johannesburg Lions - Mohawks 2:1
- 5/20: Wembley Tigers - Rand University - Round Robin Knock-Out
- 5/20: Johannesburg Lions - Mohawks - “
- 1947-48
Exhibitions
- 10/28: Johannesburg Lions - Mohawks 6:3 (0:2, 2:1, 4:0)
- 11/4: Johannesburg Lions - Tigers IHC 6:5
- 2/24: South African Born - Overseas Born 10:5
- 4/13: South African Born - Overseas Born 7:6 (1:1, 3:2, 3:3)
- 5/16: Johannesburg Lions - The Rest 6:1
- 5/18: Zebras - Hornets 5:4 - All-Star game
Transvaal Ice Hockey League
- 11/11: Tigers IHC - Mohawks 7:5
- 11/18: Mohawks - Johannesburg Lions 8:4
- 11/25: Tigers IHC - Wolves IHC 5:4
- 12/2: Johannesburg Lions - Wolves IHC 6:4 (3:2, 1:0, 2:2)
- 12/9: Johannesburg Lions - Tigers IHC 5:3 (0:0, 2:2, 3:1)
- 12/16: Mohawks - Wolves IHC 9:5 (3:3, 2:1, 4:1)
- 1/13: Johannesburg Lions - Tigers IHC
- 1/20: Wolves IHC - Mohawks 6:4 (2:1, 3:2, 1:1)
- 1/27: Tigers IHC - Mohawks 3:2
- 2/3: Johannesburg Lions - Wolves IHC 5:5
- 2/10: Mohawks - Johannesburg Lions 6:4
- 2/17: Tigers IHC - Wolves IHC 4:4
- 3/9: Wolves IHC - Mohawk 10:6 (2:0, 4:5, 4:1)
- 3/16: Tigers IHC - Mohawks 7:5 (2:2, 1:1, 4:2)
- 3/23: Johannesburg Lions - Wolves IHC 4:4
- 3/30: Johannesburg Lions - Mohawks 9:4 (4:0, 3:2, 2:2)
- 4/6: Wolves IHC - Tigers IHC 5:5 (1:1, 1:2, 3:2)
- 4/20: Johannesburg Lions - Wolves IHC - final league game
Standings
- Johannesburg Lions 5-1-2-12 51:42
- Tigers IHC 4-2-2-10 46:46
- Wolves IHC 2-3-4-8 46:48
- Mohawks 3-6-0-6 51:58
Dorfman Cup
- 4/27: Wolves IHC - Tigers IHC 7:6 (2:1, 1:2, 4:3)
- 5/4: Johannesburg Lions - Mohawks 11:4
- 5/11: Johannesburg Lions - Wolves IHC 3:2 (2:0, 1:0, 0:2) - final
Round-robin tournament on 5/25:
- Tigers IHC - Mohawks 3:0
- Wolves IHC - Johannesburg Lions 3:1
- Wolves IHC - Tigers IHC 3:1
- 1948-49
Exhibitions
- 10/19: Johannesburg Lions - Mohawks 9:3
- 10/26: Tigers IHC - Johannesburg Lions 10:6
- 4/19: Johannesburg Lions - The Rest 9:8
- 4/19: Mohawks B - Wolves IHC B 3:1
- 4/26: All Stars A - All Stars B 9:5
Transvaal Ice Hockey League
- 11/2: Wolves IHC - Tigers IHC 9:6
- 11/9: Mohawks - Wolves IHC 6:4
- 11/16: Mohawks - Johannesburg Lions 4:3
- 11/23: Johannesburg Lions - Tigers IHC
- 11/30: Mohawks - Tigers IHC 5:2
- 12/7: Johannesburg Lions - Wolves IHC 7:6
- 12/14: Tigers IHC - Wolves IHC 13:5
- 1/4: Johannesburg Lions - Mohawks 5:2 (0:1, 2:0, 3:1)
- 1/11: Tigers IHC - Johannesburg Lions 5:4
- 1/18: Mohawks - Wolves IHC 3:3
- 1/25: Mohawks - Tigers IHC 8:5
- 2/1: Johannesburg Lions - Wolves IHC 5:3
- 2/9: Wolves IHC - Tigers IHC 6:2 (4:0, 1:2, 1:0)
- 2/15: Johannesburg Lions - Mohawks 4:2
- 2/22: Johannesburg Lions - Tigers IHC 6:4
- 3/1: Mohawks - Wolves IHC 9:3
- 3/8: Tigers IHC - Mohawks
- 3/15: Johannesburg Lions - Wolves IHC
- 3/22: Wolves IHC - Johannesburg Lions 2:1
- Johannesburg Lions - Tigers IHC 2:1 OT
- Wolves IHC - Mohawks
Knockout Competition
- 3/29: Tigers IHC - Mohawks 9:7
- 4/5: Wolves IHC - Johannesburg Lions 9:4
- 4/12: Wolves IHC - Tigers IHC 6:5 - final
Sources
- Rand Daily Mail