1907 English Club Championship
The 1907 English Club Championship was awarded to the Oxford Canadians. It was the first title in the club's history.[1]
On March 16, 1907, Oxford defeated Princes Ice Hockey Club 3-2 to earn the Club Championship.[2]
Contemporary accounts
A match report from Canada: An Illustrated Weekly Journal for all Interested in the Dominion is as follows: "Oxford Canadians Gain the Challenge Cup. The finest ice hockey match of the London season took place at the Prince's Club, Knightsbridge, on Saturday evening last, when the Oxford Canadians defeated the home team by three goals to two. The result came at some disappointment to the Prince's team, who had previously during the season beaten the Canadians in three matches.
Some very even play took place in the first half, and both the goals were several times in danger. The Prince's forwards were once or twice within an ace of scoring, but the danger was averted by the superb defence of Bellamy and Macdonnell. The University men were the first to score from a scramble in front of goal, and soon after Prince's equalized, the scores at half-time standing one all.
Play had only been resumed for a minute or two when Duden, the Prince's best forward, came to grief, and damaged his head. He resumed after having it bandaged, but was never in the same form as before. The Canadians after this had considerably the best of the play, and two more goals were quickly added, the latter of those being the result of a fine run up by Macdonnell. The Prince's, however, played pluckily, and shortly before time scored their second goal. Immediately after they almost equalised, but found the defence of the Canadians a little too good. In the Canadian forward line, Reade's play was conspicuous, and he was responsible for two of the goals.
At the conclusion of the game, the Prince's Challenge Cup was presented to G.S. Stairs, the Captain of the Canadians, who will hold it until it is regained from them by any team in the British Isles.
The teams were:-Oxford Canadians.-Forwards, G.S. Stairs (captain), H.M. Bond, R.C. Reade; backs, J.M. Macdonnell, R.V. Bellamy; goal, S.M. Herbert. Princes.-Forwards, H.H. Duden, C.J. Napier; half-back, B.M. Patton (captain); backs, R.E. Banbury, C.H. Hannaford; goal, C.E.G. Vernon."