Ladies Ontario Hockey Association
In the early 1920s, working class women sought increased control over the administration and organizational aspects of the sports they played, including ice hockey.[1] On December 16, 1922, a meeting was held to announce the Ladies Ontario Hockey Association was formed.[2]
The organization was structured similarly to the Ontario Women’s Softball Association in which women would run the organization but men would serve in an advisory capacity. During the December 16 meeting, Frank McEwen, president of the Toronto Hockey League, presided over the meeting. Members from ladies clubs in London, Ontario and St. Thomas, Ontario were present. There was a total of 20 teams in attendance.[3] A letter from the Ottawa Alerts ladies club was presented, indicating their interest to join.[4]
History
The women who become the executives of the LOHA in its first year were Mae Maxwell (First Vice President), Winnie Simpson (Second Vice President), Janet Allen (Treasurer), Kathleen Milne and E Harrison were members at large. John DeGruchy was its honorary president while Frank Best was its president. By the 23rd of December, 18 teams joined the LOHA and paid dues of eleven dollars for each team.[5] In its first year, the LOHA associated with the Ontario branch of the Amateur Athletic Union of Canada.[6] In 1923, Janet Allen was the first female to be elected LOHA president.
In autumn of 1923, the LOHA suffered a setback when the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association held a meeting in Port Arthur. The Association voted not to give women official recognition as hockey players.[7]
In 1927, LOHA president Janet Allen, and LOHA treasurer Bobbie Rosenfeld attended the 38th meeting of the Ontario Hockey Association and asked the OHA to help endorse the league. In the process, they announced that if the OHA would help boost its membership, the LOHA would create a provincial championship for its member teams.[8]
By 1934, the impact of the Great Depression was felt as the LOHA only had seven member teams (and only one from the city of Toronto).By late 1936, Bobbie Rosenfeld was not only the LOHA president, but served as the secretary and the treasurer.[9]
Due to the Great Depression, ice time became extremely rare, especially for women. In March 1938, the LOHA semi-final with the Preston Rivulettes and the Northern Marvels of Cobalt had to be rescheduled. The game was scheduled to be played in Preston, but the Ontario Hockey Association (men’s hockey association) forced a change in venue so that a men’s game could be played.[10]
The Ladies Ontario Hockey Association disbanded in 1940 due to declining participation and resources during wartime, leaving Ontario with no organized leagues or provincial championships. Although men's sport also declined at this time, it saw a resurgence in the postwar period.
List of presidents
| Years | President |
| 1922-23 | Frank Best |
| 1923-27 | Janet Allen |
| 1927-34 | E Ruttier |
| 1934-39 | Bobbie Rosenfeld |
| 1939-40 | Roxy Atkins |
Champions
| Ladies Ontario Hockey Association Senior Division Champions, 1923 - 1940 | |
|---|---|
| 1923 | Ottawa Alerts defeated North Toronto |
| 1924 | Ottawa Alerts won title after North Toronto folded. The latter had beaten Preston 5-1 and 1-0 in semifinal. |
| 1925 | University of Toronto defeated Ottawa Alerts 5 goals to 2 (4-1, 1-1). |
| 1926 | The final between the Toronto Pats and Sudbury Wolves was not played. London Silverwoods lost in the quarterfinals, Ottawa Alerts in the semifinals. |
| 1927 | Ottawa Rowing Club defeated Toronto Pats* |
| 1928 | Toronto Aura Lee defeated Forest Ladies 10 goals to 2 (4-2. 6-0) in semifinal and Solloway Mills in final. |
| 1929 | Toronto Pats defeated Solloway Mills 3 goals to 2 (1-0, 2-2) |
| 1930 | Toronto Pats defeated Chalk River Tumblers 4-0 |
| 1931 | Preston Rivulettes defeated Pembroke in final.* London Silverwoods lost in semifinal, Port Dover Sailorettes and University of Toronto in quarterfinals, and Grimsby Peaches in 1/8 final. |
| 1932 | Preston Rivulettes defeated University of Toronto 4-0 |
| 1933 | Preston Rivulettes defeated Toronto Ladies |
| 1934 | Preston Rivulettes defeated Toronto Vagabonds |
| 1935 | Preston Rivulettes defeated Bracebridge |
| 1936 | Preston Rivulettes defeated Gravenhurst Muskokas. Stratford Aces lost in semifinal. |
| 1937 | Preston Rivulettes defeated Markdale |
| 1938 | Preston Rivulettes defeated Cobalt Northern Marvels in semifinal and Ottawa Rangers in final |
| 1939 | Preston Rivulettes defeated Haileybury Northern Marvels 9 goals to 0 in semifinal (5-0, 4-0) and Ottawa Rangers by default in final. |
| 1940 | Preston Rivulettes defeated Toronto Ladies 9 goals to 1 in final (3-0, 6-1) |
*In 1931, the Senior division title was not contested for, instead the Rivulettes were Intermediate Provincial champions.
- Intermediate champions
- 1930: Port Dover Sailorettes beat Toronto Ladies in final
- 1931: see note above
- 1932: Preston Rivulettes defeated Chalk River Tumblers 3-2 in final
References
- ↑ Coast to Coast:Hockey in Canada to the Second World War, p.135, Edited by John Chi-Kit Wong, University of Toronto Press, 2009,
- ↑ Coast to Coast:Hockey in Canada to the Second World War, p.136, Edited by John Chi-Kit Wong, University of Toronto Press, 2009,
- ↑ Immodest and Sensational: 150 Years of Canadian Women in Sport, M. Ann Hall, p.40, James Lorimer & Company Ltd., Toronto, 2008,
- ↑ Coast to Coast:Hockey in Canada to the Second World War, p.136, Edited by John Chi-Kit Wong, University of Toronto Press, 2009,
- ↑ Coast to Coast:Hockey in Canada to the Second World War, p.137, Edited by John Chi-Kit Wong, University of Toronto Press, 2009,
- ↑ Coast to Coast:Hockey in Canada to the Second World War, p.139, Edited by John Chi-Kit Wong, University of Toronto Press, 2009,
- ↑ Coast to Coast:Hockey in Canada to the Second World War, p.139, Edited by John Chi-Kit Wong, University of Toronto Press, 2009,
- ↑ Coast to Coast:Hockey in Canada to the Second World War, p.142, Edited by John Chi-Kit Wong, University of Toronto Press, 2009,
- ↑ Coast to Coast:Hockey in Canada to the Second World War, p.145, Edited by John Chi-Kit Wong, University of Toronto Press, 2009,
- ↑ Coast to Coast:Hockey in Canada to the Second World War, p.143, Edited by John Chi-Kit Wong, University of Toronto Press, 2009,
- ↑ Coast to Coast:Hockey in Canada to the Second World War, p.138, Edited by John Chi-Kit Wong, University of Toronto Press, 2009,