Pre-1895 American ice hockey

This page features information on ice hockey and ice polo in the United States prior to 1895:

Early Hockey at St. Paul's School

Described as a “quintessential, private, elite boarding school,” St. Paul’s School was established in Concord, New Hampshire, in 1855. There is a long history of skating and hockey activities at the school.

Alumnus, teacher, and hockey coach Malcolm Kenneth Gordon [1868-1964] wrote that combinations of shinny and hockey were played at the school as far back as the 1860s. Regarded as the “Father of hockey” at St. Paul’s, Gordon coached the sport there from 1888 to 1917, developing numerous players, including the famous Hobey Baker. Gordon was head of the history department at St. Paul's and in also coached football and cricket. He fought in World War I and later went into the real estate business, which he remained in until 1927, when he founded the Malcolm K. Gordon School in Garrison, New York. Gordon served as headmaster until 1952, when he was succeeded by his son, David, but remained as a history teacher until 1963. Gordon was posthumously inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame as a member of its first class in 1973.

A student publication, Horae Scholasticae, described a lively scene on the ice during the Thanksgiving of 1860. “Here, near the shore, is a group of teachers looking on and talking and joking with the boys around them. There, a little further out is seen a party of boys in pursuit of a hockey ball. One boy swings his hockey and away goes the ball skimming over the ice. The party dashes off in pursuit. The head boy catches up with the ball, and takes aim at it, but misses it and sends himself sprawling over the ice with the force of the blow. The next boy is more fortunate and sends the ball back again and the same scene is again enacted.”

The International Journal of the History of Sport discussed the game, saying that “Certainly this is some kind of shinny - a mass of players just hitting the ball around or trying to keep it from the others - similar to what the English also called bandy. Like the boys of the English Fens, St. Paul’s students simply moved an old field game onto the winter ice.” This description could apply to all the early hockey activities throughout the United States, up to the 1870s.

Hockey on the ice was played on a more formal basis at St. Paul’s starting in the mid-1870s. The sport on the ice was basically the winter version of field hockey, which was gaining popularity at the time. The St. Paul’s School official website states that “the first ice hockey games in the U.S. [were played] on the SPS Lower Pond” during the 1870s.

On November 6, 1875, the school students published a set of rules, which were specifically written for field hockey, but were presumably adopted for use on the ice as well.

In January and December 1876, the Rural Record (a daily publication), noted that hockey on the ice enjoyed “great popularity” at the school. In November 1877, it was written that hockey “has again been resumed on the playgrounds, and we are sure it will meet with its usual popularity when the skating is fine.” A Treasurer’s Report from 1879 included an inventory of skates and “hockeys” (sticks) that were sold at the School Store.

Ice hockey entered its “Golden Age” at St. Paul’s during the 1880s. A teacher named James P. Conover was a key figure in the development of the sport. He taught and mentored numerous players, including Malcolm Gordon. In 1881, it was said that ice hockey “claims the attention of the whole school.”

The first set of rules specifically for hockey played on the ice in the United States were published in Horae Scholasticae in 1883. A preface to the rules in the journal noted that the President of the students Athletic Association (which had been founded in 1875, initially to promote track and field) “was at a loss to understand the terms employed in the rules of the Montreal club”. The so-called “Montreal Rules” had been published in The Montreal Gazette in 1877, and were used in Canada at the time.

The first game using these rules was played on the Lower Pond on November 17, 1883.

Hockey Rules 1883

• I. The game shall be played by eleven men on a side. There shall be one empire, whose decision shall be final in all cases.
• II. At the beginning of the game, and after a goal has been obtained, the block shall be put in play by being knocked off from the centre of the field. At this knock-off all players must be on their own side.
• III. The goal-posts shall be placed ten feet apart, and when the block passes over a straight line drawn between these posts, a goal shall be scored, except from a knock-off or knock-out, no matter by whom the block is knocked.
• IV. A safety shall be made when a player puts the block behind the line of his own goal, but not between the goal-posts. The side making a safety shall knock out the block from their own goal line.
• V. When the block goes out of bounds the player who first picks it up shall put it in play by throwing it in parallel to the goal line. If the block be touched before it strikes the ice it shall be thrown in again.
• VI. At both knock-off and knock-out a player of the opposite side shall not be within ten yards of the block, which shall be knocked at least that distance.
• VII. The hockey must not be raised above the hips except at knock-off or knock-out.
• VIII. The umpire shall disqualify any player whom he has already warned twice of breaking Rule VII, or for unfairly interfering with any of his opponents.
• IX. The block shall not be put forward except by the foot or hockey.
• X. A goal shall count one point; every three safeties shall count one point. A match shall not be decided by less than one point.

A Hockey Association was created at the school in 1885 and the rules from 1883 were slightly revised. The following was written in the Horae Scholasticae: “On November 3 a meeting was held of all those interested in hockey, the purpose of which was to form a Hockey Association. The meeting resulted in the Election of H.H. Hunnewell as president, and G.T. Warren as secretary, with an Executive Committee consisting of the officers and six others. Its object is to revise the present rules, to make out the schedule, as was done to such advantage last year, to appoint committees to make out their various Elevens, and also to do everything by which the association can materially help along and assist the game of Hockey in the School.”

Some team rosters for the 1885-86 season were also published in the magazine:

• VI Form. Rushers-Warren, Post I, Nelson I, Hunnewell, Denny, Painter, R. Stevens, Half-Backs -McClintock, French, J. Hutchinson, Back-Bayard (Captain)
• V Form. Rushers-Bishop I, Brewster I, Boyd, Breckenridge, Cameron, Coats, Potts, Roby. Half-Backs- Conover I, Norme (Captain). Back-W. Floyd-Jones.
• IV Form. Rushers-Mariner, Dean, Hammond, Rich, Barron, Gordon. Half-Backs-Greene I (Captain) , Whitney, A.S, S.Baldwin, E. Floyd-Jones. Back-Neff.

Hockey Rules 1885

• I. The game shall be played by eleven on a side. There shall be one umpire, whose decision shall be final in all cases.
• II. At the beginning of a game, and after a goal has been obtained, the block shall be put n play by being knocked off from the centre of the field. At this knock-off all players must be their own side.
• III. The goal posts shall be placed ten feet apart, and when the block passes over a straight line drawn between these posts a goal shall be scored, except from a knock-off or a knock-out, no matter by whom the block is knocked.
• IV. A safety shall be scored when a player puts the block behind the line of his own goal, but if he knocks it between his own goal posts it shall be scored as a goal for the opposite side. The side making a safety shall knock out the block from their own goal line.
• V. When the block goes out of bounds, the player who first picks it up shall have the privilege of allowing any one on his own side to put it in play by throwing it in parallel to the goal line. If the block be touched before it strikes the ice, it shall be thrown in again.
• VI. At both Knock-off and Knock-out a player of the opposite side shall not be within ten yards of the block, which shall be knocked at least that distance.
• VII. The hockey must not be raised above the hips except by the Knock-off or Knock-out.
• VIII. The umpire shall disqualify any player whom he has already warned twice for breaking Rule VII, or for unfairly interfering with any of his opponents, and, moreover, the umpire shall be obeyed.
• IX. The block, while in play, shall not be touched by the hand.
• X. A goal shall count three points; every safety shall count one point.
• XI. If any one of the opposite side shall be considered by the umpire lagging, he shall be warned, and be disqualified for the third offense.
• XII. The umpires shall be appointed by the captains of the contesting Elevens.

The Mohicans - 1889 St. Paul School champions. B-F, L-R: Richard Bayley Post, Charles Willing Hare, William Brown Dinsmore, ?, Arthur Ledlie Wheeler, William Wyman Hoagland, Malcolm Kenneth Gordon, George Isham Scott, ?, John Almy Tompkins, Clarence Illingworth, Isaiah Clifford Hanscom.

Matches were usually played between forms (classes) until 1888, when the inter-class “club” model was adopted. The Delphian, Mohican and Rugby clubs were among the first to appear. The Mohicans won the school ice hockey championship in 1889, winning five out of six games. The Rugby and Delphian team finished tied for second, each having won one game, tied three, and lost two. It was noted to be the first year that the whole schedule was played out. After this, there was very little hockey played at St. Paul’s for the next six years, owing to a string of mild winters.

The next reference to ice hockey appeared in the March 8, 1895, edition of Horae Scholasticae, which mentioned that several “well contested games” had recently taken place between the Isthmian, Old One Hundred, and Delphian clubs. Different rules were used for these games, which were played seven-aside with a ball, thus bearing a closer resemblance to ice polo than the ice hockey that had previously been played at St. Paul’s.

On April 9, 1896, a St. Paul’s “School” team faced an “all-star” squad at the St. Nicholas Rink in New York City. The game was played using the Montreal Rules, with Malcolm Gordon serving as referee. From this point onward, these rules were utilized at St. Paul’s.

The St. Paul’s School was very important in the early days of American ice hockey. It was the first place where the sport was regularly played on an organized basis, with clearly defined teams and rules.

1879-1883 references

1879 - Boston, Massachusetts

On February 15, 1879, Jamaica Plain beat the Harvard Freshmen 2-0 in an 11-aside game of ice hockey.

“A very interesting game of hockey was played on the ice at Jamaica Pond, Saturday afternoon, between an eleven composed principally of Harvard Freshmen and an eleven from Jamaica Plain. The players were on skates and the game was played under football rules. The Jamaica Plain team won the two goals in succession, and with them the match. The defeated team was not a representative eleven of the Harvard Freshmen, but it is probable a permanent eleven will be formed, and that the game of hockey will hereafter be a feature of Winter sports.”

1880 - New York

"There is a promise of a great deal of sport on the ice this Winter at the Polo Grounds, the Manhattan Association having arranged to cover four acres of their grounds with water, and to have a grand skating resort for the up-town fashionables… On Tuesday and Friday afternoons the rink will be given up to the exclusive use of the members of the Westchester Polo Club, who have formed a society which is to be known as the Westchester Polo Club Skating Club."

1881 - Cambridge, Massachusetts

"There is a large sheet of fairly good ice on Holmes Field, near the society building. This ice is at present used only by the youthful citizens of Cambridge, who are breaking off the young birch trees that have been set out there, in order to make hockey sticks. There is plenty of room on this ice for a game of hockey, and it would be well if a game could be started there every afternoon while skating lasts… If there is not sufficient interest in hockey to start a game on Holmes, perhaps we might be favored with the spectacle of a game of lacrosse on the ice."

1883 - Williamstown, Massachusetts

"Shinney" was played on the ice by students of Williams College in December 1883. "The ice on Christmas Lake and the reservoir was sufficient strength, before the thaw, to bear skaters, and many of the students lately indulged in the exhilarating game of 'shinney on ice.'"

Le Mars, Iowa (1884-1889)

The winters of the early 1880s were harsh in Iowa, providing favorable conditions for activities on the ice. An English-born carpenter, John T. Adams, along with his family, arrived in the small town of Le Mars (referred to as LeMars in contemporary references) from Bayfield, Ontario, in 1882. He built a wooden-framed structure around the local ice and roller skating rinks, sheltering them from the elements. The ice rink immediately became popular after its opening in 1883, hosting speed skating competitions and masquerade balls on skates.

On January 12, 1884, there was an ice hockey game played at the rink between Le Mars and a team from the neighboring town of Seney. The public paid 10 cents to attend, while the players paid 15 cents to play in the game, in order to maintain their amateur statuses. The team from Seney won the match.

After the first match, Adams & Son removed the petition that separated the roller and ice rinks, thus giving a surface of 80x140 ft for ice skating. Le Mars and Seney met again on January 26, with the game ending in a 2-2 tie. F. Penhallegon and E. Dalton acted as umpires, and W. Freeman served as referee.

On February 2, the North and South side boys played to a draw at Adams’ rink. Seney and Le Mars met for the third time on February 14, with the former side winning 5-0. The match was described as being honestly contested, with many accidental blows given and received. Having lost two games and tied the other, Le Mars conceded the championship to Seney, following a banquet at the nearby Albion House.

Hockey returned to Le Mars the following winter. On January 10, 1885, teams representing Town and Country faced one another at the Adams’ rink. The following players were in the lineup for Town: Banks (Capt.), Thursby, Pardoe, Dalton, Paget, Van-Sommer, Jones, and Spring. The Country won the match, which lasted for about two hours and was watched with great interest by the good-sized crowd, by a single goal.

A week later, the English boys met the LeMars Public School boys and defeated them 7-0. The lineups were as follows: English boys: Jervis (Capt.), Banks, Pardoe, Thursby, Kirch, Langley, B. Farquhar, Van-Sommer. Public School: Dalton (Capt.), Spring, Jones, Adams, Freeman, Croft, Lane, Mitchell. On January 21, Town and Country defeated the English boys 13-1.

On March 6, the American boys beat the English boys in a closely-contested game. The two sides stood even when time was called, but the Americans accepted the English boys’ offer to play overtime. The match ended with the American boys scoring the winning goal.

The West and East Main Street clubs played at Adams’ rink on March 19, with the former side winning after a warm contest.

Hockey was played for a third year in Le Mars in 1886. In late January, the English boys defeated the American boys 5-1. On March 8, "the two hockey clubs played an exciting game at the ice rink". The Chas. Richard team won 7-4.

In 1889 it was reported that the LeMars hockey team had decided to issue challenges for a match game between Pipestone and Sibley.

1884-85

Connecticut

Students of Yale University frequented Lake Whitney, situated in Hamden, Connecticut, close to Yale’s campus in New Haven, to skate and play ice hockey on January 21, 1885. It is interesting to note that the Harvard Hockey Club, which had been founded the previous November, was mentioned in the article.

“Lake Whitney presented a very lively appearance yesterday afternoon, and the ice, both above and below the first bridge, was well covered with skaters… On the upper pond three lively games of hockey were being carried on at the same time, and in a manner which would lead us to judge that, even if we have no organized hockey club like our rival Harvard, we could make a very good showing in this direction. Some of the class crews took their exercise in this way yesterday, and their presence, together with the others who are prominent in athletics, made the playing sharp and hard.”

Massachusetts

In November 1884, there were talks of forming a hockey club at Harvard University. After several notes in the Harvard Daily Crimson and a meeting of skaters, the Harvard Hockey Club was established on the 25th.

Below are excerpts from the publication, discussing the creation of the club:

“A Hockey Club. EDITOR OF DAILY CRIMSON: - I feel somewhat diffident about suggesting the formation of a new club, but I have thought of one which offers to the students a pleasant and inexpensive exercise. I mean a hockey club.

Hockey, or hawkey, as it was originally spelt, is an old English game. It is played in this country to a limited extent, but not so much as it deserves. When played on ice, the only place where all its possibilities can be brought out, it is fully the peer of football or lacrosse. It requires as much quickness of eye and hand and I may say foot, as either of the games mentioned, but at the same time a learner can enjoy it as well as an old hand. Coming, as it does, in the winter, it will conflict with none of our other sports. Indeed, it might be made a valuable auxiliary to them as a form of winter training. Many a man does not go to the gymnasium, because he finds it dull work to pull at the chest weights, and many another, who does go, would gladly participate in some out door sport which would give him enough exercise to keep him warm and be sufficiently exciting to give him an interest. Hockey is just what such a man wants.

But we can go any day to Fresh Pond when there is ice, and have all the hockey we want. What's the good of a hockey club?" Well, there are many ways in which it could be useful, not only to its immediate members, but also to the college at large. It could give daily information of the state of the ice. It could make rules to settle the constantly arising disputes. It would enable us, in a measure, to get rid of the ever-present "mucker" who does so much to render the game unpopular. It could arrange a place of deposite where skaters could leave such superfluous articles as they should choose to lay aside for a moment. I have in mind other uses to which it could be put, but these are enough to show its possibilities.

The number of students whom I have seen playing bids me hope that my scheme will find approval. If enough favor it, steps will be taken to put it in operation.

E. V. A. '86.”

“Call for a Hockey Club. The gentleman who made the first move towards forming a hockey club has written to the CRIMSON a second time saying that he has received so much encouragement that he thinks the time for forming such a club in college has come. Therefore, all those skaters among the students who are interested in the game of Hockey are requested to meet this evening in Stoughton 20 for the purpose of forming a Harvard Hockey Club. It is hoped that a good number of men will attend and give the movement the boom which it deserves.”

An advertisement for the game

“Harvard Hockey Club. The meeting of skaters held in 20 Stoughton on Tuesday evening was attended by about twenty-five men, who showed considerable interest in the plan. It was decided to be advisable to form a Harvard Hockey Club. The following officers were elected: President, E, V. Abbot, '86; vice-president, G. Hopkins, '88; secretary and treasurer, G. E. Howes, '86. No other business of importance was transacted and the meeting adjourned. By this meeting another club is added to the long list of clubs already existing in the college. The coming winter will, no doubt, give the young club an opportunity to display its usefulness and advantages to the students.”

“We should like to call the attention of the skaters in the college to the notice of the Hockey Club... The club gives promise of having so many members that it will probably limit the number of players in the practice games on Fresh Pond to those who belong to it, and therefore all skaters who wish to play will find it for their advantage to join the club. Old players, especially, are invited, for, if there is any skating, the hockey club will try to form a team to play some of the out-of-town teams, such as the one at Jamaica Pond. In that case, of course, the more experienced the men the greater will be the club's success. The invitation, however, is extended to all, and the club hopes to have a good attendance at its meeting.”

On December 25, 1884, there was a hockey game played at Fall River between the Fall Rivers and the High School club, the latter team winning 3-1. Fall Rivers: T. Sullivan (captain and goal), H. Allen (cover goal), A. Wilcox (rush), C. Rich (second rush), W. McLane (drive), T. Canney (half back). High School: F. Wood (captain and rush), W. Wood (second rush), C.A. Moore (drive), A.T. Borden (half back), R.H. Beattie (cover goal), E.S. Wright (goal).

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

“Polo on Ice. A very interesting and extremely exciting game of polo was played yesterday [Jan. 4] between clubs captained by Harry Taylor and Charles Higgs, on the ice near the old foundry, below Dana street. The game lasted about two hours and many of the players received severe bruises on the hands and legs. Higgs’ club made the first goal and Taylor’s club the second, third and fourth goals, and the latter club was therefore victorious. About fifty people witnessed the game. August Wolfe was the referee.”

1885-86

Burlington, Vermont

The first ever international ice hockey tournament was played in Burlington, Vermont, in 1886. As the Montreal Winter Carnival was not held this winter due to a smallpox outbreak, Burlington organized a similar event. Three Canadian teams - the Montreal Crystals, Montreal Hockey Club, and the Ottawa Hockey Club - accepted invitations to participate in the hockey tournament, although Ottawa later withdrew due to scheduling issues.

A local team composed of employees from the Van Ness House, a hotel in Burlington, was hastily formed to compete. The local players sported very little hockey experience, having only taken part in several practices prior to the tournament.

The Carnival was held from February 22-26, having been postponed a week due to mild weather. The hockey games were played on the ice rink in the Central Vermont slip on February 26, with windy conditions prevailing. The first game between Montreal HC and the Montreal Crystals was played in two halves of 20 minutes apiece. After regulation ended with both teams scoreless, R. Smith scored in overtime to give the Hockey Club the win.

In the second matchup, which was the inaugural international ice hockey game, Montreal HC defeated Van Ness House 3-0, on goals from Hodgson, Smith, and Crispo, respectively, thus clinching the gold medal. This game featured two 15-minute halves. In the match for silver, played in two halves of 10 minutes each, the Montreal Crystals beat Van Ness House 1-0, with J. McGoldrick scoring the lone goal.

• Van Ness House roster: L. C. Johnson, C. H. Whitcomb, M. A. Kilvert, W. H. Waters, E. S. Griffing, H. Crane, W. Laduke (captain)
• Montreal Hockey Club roster: T. L. Paton, G. Lowe, D. McIntyre, F. Barlow, F. Crispo, W. Hodgson, R. Smith, F. Larmonth (captain)
• Montreal Crystals roster: A. Cameron, J. Findlay, E. McCaffrey, J. McGoldrick, W. Hutchison, J. Virtue, R. Laing (captain)

Connecticut

On January 13, 1886, Yale University students played an ice hockey match on the lower part of Lake Whitney. Picked teams representing the classes of ‘86 and ‘87 faced each other.

“The play during the first half was forced by ‘87, and was very exciting, neither side scoring during the first fifty minutes of the game. After a rest of fifteen minutes play was resumed, and in fifteen minutes a goal was scored for ‘87 by Ivison. Another goal was scored in ten minutes by Ivison, and soon after time was called with the score two goals to nothing in favor of ‘87. The teams were as follows: ‘86: E. Phelps (captain), Richardson, Knapp, Bremner, A. Colgate, S. Colgate, Cooley, E. Lambert, D. Lambert, Appleton, Vernon, Shipman. ‘87: Young (captain), Rogers, Howe, Ludingston, Leverett, O. Jennings, Anderson, Corwin, Burke, C. Morse, Gardiner, Ivison, F. Woodward.”

More activities took place three days later. “Saturday last [Jan. 16] was a great day at Whitney Lake. It was estimated by good judges that more than 2,000 persons were skating together in the afternoon on the lake below the bridget and that more than 4,000 persons visited the lake during the day…

Hockey was one of the great features of the day. Sides were chosen as in football or base ball and great crowds of combatants strove with each other to drive the wooden block, which took the place of the ball, to one shore or the other. There were two of these sets of hockey players up and down the lake.”

Minnesota

A photo from the 1886 St. Paul Winter Carnival. There were two ice polo players sitting in the front.

Frank Barron formulated rules and founded the St. Paul Polo Club in 1883. The following individuals were members of the team during its inaugural season: Gus Zenzens, Con Zenzens, Frank Barron, Charles Robertson, W.J. Murnane, Paul Kleist, and Charles Trot. Within a year, clubs in St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Stillwater had organized a Northwestern League.

In November 1885 the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that “all the polo clubs in the city are preparing to compete for the championship on ice skated at the new rink adjoining the Ryan”.

On February 15, 1886, as part of the St. Paul Winter Carnival, an ice polo match “for the championship of the Northwest and the silver cup of the carnival” was played between the Carnival Skating Club (Capt. Louis Barrett, 1st rusher; A.W. Trenholm, 2nd rusher; W. Morang, goal; Samuel Painter, cover goal; A. Eckersely, cover point; T.S. Coggewell, center) and the Ryan Rink Club (Capt. Ed Murphy, 1st rusher; Frank Odell, 2nd rusher; George Merriman, goal; Frank Marshall, cover point; Wm. Odell, cover goal; Herman Merriman, center).

The teams played a “best of five match”, with each individual game concluding after a goal was scored. Trenholm scored for Carnival, giving them a 1-0 lead in the match, with Captain Murphy leveling the series for Ryan in the second game. Trenholm and Murphy both scored again for their respective clubs, and the series was level at 2-2 heading into the decisive fifth game. Captain Barrett scored the winning goal for Carnival, who thus earned the cup and were declared champions. Captain Murphy of the Ryan Club then challenged the Carnival Club to play a return match on the following Thursday, which was accepted.

In the return game, the Ryan Club defeated the Carnival Club, scoring three of the first four goals to clinch the victory. The clubs hoped to play a best-of-five series against one another if the ice held out.

1886-87

Connecticut

On January 27, 1887, there was a game played between two junior clubs on Lake Whitney. Some Yale sophomores played an exciting game of hockey on the lake on March 16.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

According to a publication entitled Milwaukee History, "The history of organized ice hockey in Milwaukee began in January 1887 when the Schlitz Park Polo club gave an exhibition game on the Schlitz Park Skating Rink and announced that it was 'prepared to play games with other clubs and is open for challenges.'"

Minnesota

An ice polo tournament was played in conjunction with the St. Paul Winter Carnival on January 22, 1887. Three teams competed - the Royal Route Toboggan Club, Junior Dancing and Carnival Club, and the Carnival Skating Club. The Junior Carnival Club won the tournament and were awarded gold medals.

• Carnival Skating Club - Royal Route Club 3:1
• Junior Carnival Club - Royal Route Club 3:2
• Junior Carnival Club beat Carnival Skating Club

Team rosters - Royal Route: Smith (captain), Sherwood, Moore, Coipitts, Gay, Sheridan. Junior Carnival: Murphy (captain), Barron, Odell, Dieter, Pardey, Hickey. Carnival Skating: Barrett (captain), Cogswell, Trenholm, Painter, Goode, Morang.

New York

On February 25, 1887, it was written that “Athletes of Poughkeepsie and Newburg are playing polo on the ice for the championship of the Hudson.”

1887-88

Connecticut

The following passage appeared in the Yale Daily News in December 1887, “The plan of flooding Holmes Field to make a skating pond for the men in college is being agitated again this year, and will probably be carried out successfully. The idea was suggested so late last year that the plan was thought to be impracticable, for that year at least. But this Winter the idea has got an early start, and, as was said, will probably be carried out. If it is, ice polo clubs, or ‘hockey’ clubs, as they are called here, will be organized, and we shall have one sport to break the monotony of winter work.”

Minnesota

The Minneapolis Lelands beat the St. Pauls 2-0 in the opening game of the season on December 8, 1887. Minneapolis captain Dick Moore scored both goals. It was an exhibition game and was not part of the championship. A week later, the St. Paul St. Georges defeated the Lelands 3 games to none.

On December 22, the first game for the Championship of the Northwest was played, with the St. Pauls defeating the Leylands 3-0. The St. Georges were also among the three clubs entered in the championship, and it was planned for an 18-game schedule to be played. The following week, the St. Pauls bested the Leylands again, winning three straight games against them.

The St. Pauls (also known as the Columbias) beat the St. Georges 3 games to none at the Jackson Street rink on January 2, 1888.

On January 9, the St. Pauls defeated the Minneapolis Lelands 3 games to 1. A week later, it was the Lelands who beat the St. Pauls by the same 3-1 margin. By this time, St. Paul St. George had disbanded, leaving only the Lelands and the St. Pauls to compete for the championship. On January 23, the Lelands won all three games against the St. Pauls.

There was a fairly lengthy article on ice polo published in the January 25, 1888, edition of the St. Paul Daily Globe:

“Up here in St. Paul polo is played by enthusiasts on skates. The Carnival Association is encouraging the game and a Northwestern league has been organized and prizes won. It is a very active and exciting game, six players on a side, and the nearest thing to it, off skates, is lacrosse or shinny. The championship medals last years were carried off by the Junior Carnivals Club of which Ed Murphy was Captain and that veteran polo player Frank Barron, rusher. Ed Dieter played center, W.H. Odell in goal, M. Pinger as covergoal, and W.H. Dickey as coverpoint. The defeated clubs were the Omahas (Royal Route) and Carnival Skating Club. The two local clubs this year are the St. Georges and St. Pauls. In the league this year are the LeLands of Minneapolis, of which D. Moore is Captain, and a local team from Stillwater. The fastest skater in the country are Ed Murphy, who has played for several club, a winner of several prizes, and Captain of the St. Georges; Lou Barron, Jim Smith, and McClellan, the last named a member of the LeLands. Lou Barron is Captain of the St. Pauls. The local clubs stand this year as follows: St. Georges: Frank Baron- first rush, Ed Murphy- second rush, Jim Smith- coverpoint, Chip Sherwood- goal, Gus Zenzens- covergoal, and Lou Barron- center. St. Pauls: Lou Barron- first rush, J. Stark- center, W.H. Odell- goal, S. Painter- covergoal, F. Marshall- coverpoint, and W.H. Dickey- second rush. Minneapolis LeLands: John McClellan- first rush, R.G. Moore- second rush, J.W. Urquhard- goal, Francis Marsh- center, Walter Haffelfinger- covergoal, and A.S. Heffelfinger- coverpoint.”

On January 30, the St. Pauls beat the Lelands, winning the first, second, and fourth games. This marked their sixth win in eight games played for the Championship of the Northwest against the Lelands. The St. Pauls were recognized as Minnesota State ice polo champions for 1888.

New Jersey

The January 26, 1888, edition of the Jersey Journal.

The Bergen Ice Polo Club issued a challenge to other teams to play for a championship in the Jersey Journal on January 21, 1888. They received a response four days later, which was published in the January 26 issue of the Journal.

1888-89

Chicago, Illinois

A game of polo on the ice was played between the Lincoln Park Skating Club and the Oaklands team at Lincoln Park on January 31. The Oakland team won 5-2. Rosters: Oaklands - Williams, Muir, Jones, Rogers (captain), Bruce, Jamieson, Piaws, White, Wright, Anderson, McDonald. Lincoln Park: Holberton, Booth, Lucas (captain), Burchell, Drake, Malcome, Martin, Small, Hill, Duncan, Smythe.

“A well contested game of shinny took place on the ice yesterday morning [Feb. 20] between the North Chicago Shinny Club and the Hyde Park Shinny Club. The ice was in capital condition, and the game fast from start to finish. For the first half of the game the Hyde Park men appeared to have it all their own way, though they did not succeed in scoring until just before half time, when Simpson managed to hit a goal for them. The second half of the time the North Chicago men had the best of it, two goals being obtained, one by Laird and the other by Moon. A return match will be played on Washington's Birthday at South Park. The players were For Hyde Park-- C. Hamilton (captain), Southgate, Loomis, Wilson, Pratt, Hayward, Smith, Young, Rush, Simpson, and Moore. North Chicago-- Laird (captain), Pearson, Harper, Rowley, Henley, Graves, Williams, Moon, Sergeant, Scale, and McDonald.”

“The return match between the North Chicago Shinny Club and the Hyde Park Shinny Club took place yesterday morning [Feb. 22] on the ice at Washington Park. The former club again proved victorious, winning the match by three goals to one. The ice was in perfect condition, and the snow which was falling was prevented by the high wind from becoming an obstruction. As in the previous game the Hyde Park Club looked to have the best of it until half time, when the position of things was reversed and the North Chicago men scored three successive goals, obtained by Laird, Williams and Graves, while that for Hyde Park was made by Moore.”

The Inter Ocean also advertised these two matches as "Hockey on the ice".

Massachusetts

There was an ice carnival set to be held in Reading on January 20, 1889. 10 teams, including one representing Harvard University, planned to compete in a hockey tournament. It was reported that the Cambridge Hockey Club had accepted the challenge of the Salem club, and the two were set to play a match at the carnival.

The Salem Hockey Club traveled to Stoneham to face the Stoneham Hockey Club on February 22, 1889. The match began at 3:30PM on the southeastern section of the Spot Pond, with about 300 people watching. Charles H. Morse served as referee. The Stoneham club won by the score of 1-0.

Stoneham roster: F. Cepons, M. Mulbern (rushers), George Kinsley (centre), W. Anderson (half-back), F. Hart (centre-point), M. Witcher (goal). Salem roster: C. Collins, R. Brown (rushers), A. Stephenson (centre), L.N. Chase (half-back), L. Brown (centre-point), E. Washington (goal).

Minnesota

On January 15, 1889, it was reported that the Minneapolis and St. Paul Polo teams were set to play the first game of a series for the Twin City Championship. No game results were subsequently reported.

1889-90

Connecticut

The Lake Whitney Hockey Club was established on December 7, 1889.

“Several men met by invitation in 69 N.M. Saturday evening [Dec. 7], for the purpose of forming a Hockey Club. After considerable discussion a constitution was drawn up, rules adopted, and officers elected as follows: President, R.V. Beach, P.G.; secretary, G.M. Street, ‘91; captain, W. Low, ‘92 S. The name ‘Lake Whitney Hockey Club’ was also adopted as most of the playing will be done on that lake, and it will consist mainly of college men with a few outsiders. Matches will be arranged with New Haven and other teams, and assessments made only when necessary. There will be but one annual meeting of the club.”

On January 30, 1890, it was reported that the Lake Whitney Hockey Club had had very little opportunity to practice, owing to mild weather conditions, but had formally adopted the playing rules of the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada. The club became the first entity in the United States to adopt these rules, which can be seen below:

AHAC Rules - adopted by the Lake Whitney Hockey Club in January 1890

1. The goals are six feet wide and four feet high.
2. The block or ball may be stopped, but not carried, or knocked on, by any part of the body.
3. No player shall raise his stick above his shoulder.
4. Charging from behind, tripping, collaring, kicking or shinning shall not be allowed.
5. The goal keeper must not during play lie, or kneel, or sit upon the ice.
6. No player shall interfere inside the circle of goal tend.
7. The ball must be knocked through the goal by the stick, and cannot be kicked or thrown through.
8. The stick must be in no place more than three inches wide.

It was also noted that the Harvard Hockey Club was very anxious to arrange a game with the Lake Whitney team, and that some correspondence had passed between the two clubs. However, they ran into considerable difficulty in deciding on the rules, as each club used a different set. The teams hoped to agree on a common set of rules for play.

Massachusetts

There were talks of forming an ice hockey team at Harvard University that would compete in a carnival.

“About twenty students met in 33 Thayer last evening to discuss the formation of a Hockey club to play a game with the Boston Athletic club, in a carnival to be held by the New England Skater's Association at Spy Pond, on Saturday, January 25. Mr. J. Crane, '90, was elected president, and D. S. Dean, '91, and G. L. Batchelder, '92 were elected a general committee. It was decided to form two teams, one to practice with short sticks and the other with long ones, and to determine later which kind of game should be played. Practice will begin as soon as the ice is in fit condition for skating, and all men who are interested are at liberty to try for the team.”

The New England Skating Association planned to hold its first carnival on Spy Pond in Arlington on January 25, ice and weather permitting. "The hockey matches will be made a special feature this year, and a valuable trophy for the winning team, or medals for each of the team will be offered by the association. Four teams will be allowed to enter, to consist of five men each: entrance fee, $2.50. Three games will be played, the last to be between the winners of the first two. Teams desiring to compete should write at once to the secretary."

An article entitled "Season for Hockey and Skating" appeared in the Boston Globe on January 11, 1890. "A meeting of the executive committee of the New England Skating Association was held last evening at which it was voted to take immediate steps to join the Amateur Athletic Union. Vice-President Lord being unable to act as marshal, his resignation was accepted, and Secretary Emerson was elected chief marshal. Among the other members elected to the membership was Col. C.R. Fuller, an old-timer at figure skating. Entries of the Stoneham and Harvard hockey teams have been received, application has been made by Cambridge team, and the fourth will probably be Dorchester. Dorchester and Stoneham were winners last year. Cambridge has won from many teams in past years and Harvard has a new team that will hold its own against the others."

On January 12, it was reported Harvard and the Boston Athletic Association were set to play a game of hockey on the ice in the coming week.

Ballard was appointed referee for the Skating Carnival hockey tournament. The captains of the four teams were set to meet a committee of the association on January 18 for the purpose of arranging the rules for the competition. "The Stoneham team is made up as follows: E. Cephas and F. Hart, rushers; George Kinsley, centre and captain; W. Anderson, half back; M. Witcher, goal. The team was a winner of the Reading carnival, and also from the Salems later in the season [in 1889]. The Cambridge team consists of Gay, coverpoint; Knowlton and Frew, rushers; Wiley, half back; Tirril, goal.

It seems the carnival was not held, as it was not written about any further in the local newspapers.

In February, it was reported that the Harvard Hockey Club had challenged the Yale Hockey Club to a series of games.

1890-91

Connecticut

The Storrs Agricultural School's ice polo team.

The annual meeting of the Lake Whitney Hockey Club was held on December 15, 1890. “A few members of the Lake Whitney Hockey Club met last night, in South Middle, and reorganized under the name of the Yale University Hockey Club. After some new members had been taken in, the election of officers was then held with the following result: President, H. Graves, ‘92; Secretary and Treasurer, Street, ‘91; Captain, W. Law, ‘92 S.’ Governing Board, consisting of officers, and Hyde, ‘91 and Eaton, ‘93. A committee, consisting of Eaton and Street, was then appointed to visit Harvard with a view to arranging a game. The meeting then adjourned.”

Another article about the club was published in the Yale Daily News in January 1891. “The Hockey Club which was organized last year is now in good running order and we would call the attention of the members of the University to the organization. Its purpose is to develop interest in this sport which has been allowed to fall into disuse at Yale, and during the winter, in all probability, class games will be arranged between the Academic and Sheff. departments. The officers of the club desire especially that men shall come out every afternoon to Lake Whitney and try for the team, as men will be admitted to the club whenever they show themselves sufficiently good players.”

On January 10, Sheff. beat a team from the Academic department 1-0. It was reported that a rough game of hockey was played by a group of Yale students on Lake Whitney on January 16. C.K. Bancroft was struck by a stick in the face, breaking his glasses, and it was initially feared he'd lost sight in one eye. Russell and Eaton were also injured by blows to the face.

The Storrs Agricultural School (future University of Connecticut) had an ice polo team in 1891.

Maine

“POLO ON THE ICE. At some of the down river towns where they have good skating there is talk of having a polo league, and in one or two places teams have already been organized. It is proposed to have a schedule of games for the championship of Eastern Maine, and to play whenever there is sufficiently good skating. At a meeting held in the Y.M.C.A. hall at Rockland, Tuesday evening, a polo team representing the association was formed, which claims ability to do up any team playing ice polo in Eastern Maine. The team is made up as follows: Captain and first rusher, Philip Howard; second rusher, Frank Winslow; half back, Charles McLoon; cover point, Albert McLoon; goal, William Spear; substitutes: Ellis Nast, William Glover and Walter Spear. Gymnasium instructor, J.A.R. Scott, was chosen manager. The team will play its initial game with some of the surrounding towns at a near date. In the palmy days of polo Rockland was noted far and wide for its team, and the present aggregation will doubtless keep up the reputation. Much interest is taken in the matter. Now that rink polo seems to be a thing of the past in this State, although it is still played in a few other states, the out of doors game will receive the attention of the players, who will doubtless receive some good exercise and amusement if the sport is not carried to extremes. Several cities and towns have old polo players who will doubtless be utilized with good effect on the teams which are to be formed for winter work. If there is no skating, then the proposed league will doubtless not amount to much, but if there is, then there may be some interesting games. Good rinks would doubtless be made more profitable by having polo games at them once in a while.”

Massachusetts

The December 20, 1890 edition of the Cambridge Chronicle reported that the second meeting of the New England Skating Association was going to be held (provided there was ice) on the Spy Pond in Arlington, Massachusetts, on January 17, 1891. Among the festivities, an “exhibition of ice polo or hockey” between teams from Harvard University and the Boston Athletic Association was planned.

The carnival wound up taking place on January 24. “A series of polo games held the attention of the throng of spectators. The Brown and Nichols School beat the Somervilles 2 to 1; Cambridge High and Latin School did the same to the Cambridge manuals, and the Cambridge defeated Brown and Nichols by a like score. In the senior contest, the B.A.A. team failed to materialize, and Harvards were pitted against the Stonehams, resulting in a defeat for the latter by a score of 3-0.”

There was a more detailed report of the Harvard-Stoneham game in the Harvard Daily Crimson: “In the Ice Carnival on spy Pond Saturday afternoon the Harvard Polo Team easily carried off the honors. The team was made up as follows: Dean captain, Mason goal tender, Chase '92, Barron '91, Hovey. The B. A. A. team failing to turn up, the match between the Stoneham team and Harvard was the final one. The individual play of all the Harvard men was brilliant, Dean and Mason especially distinguishing themselves. Stoneham had played together before and was considered the stronger team, but they were beaten by the decisive score of 3:0. The goals were made by Dean, Chase and Hovey. The condition of the ice was poor. Six men went up to play, but as the teams were made up of only five men, lots were drawn and Corbett dropped out.”

Game results

• December 25: Winchester - Arlington 5:0

NESA Ice Carnival - Junior tournament

• January 24: Brown and Nichols School - Somerville High School 2:1 - semifinal
• January 24: Cambridge High and Latin - Cambridge Manual School 4:0 - semifinal
• January 24: Cambridge High and Latin - Brown and Nichols School 3:2 - final

NESA Ice Carnival - Senior

• January 24: Harvards - Stonehams 3:0

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

"At the National Park rink on New Years’ day there will be a match game of polo on the ice between the East Ends club and the National teams, in which considerable interest centers among South side skaters."

1891-92

Massachusetts

It was reported that Harvard University planned to form an ice polo team this winter.

The Interscholastic Ice Polo League was organized again in 1892. Six teams entered the league: Cambridge High and Latin, Cambridge Manual Training School, English High School, Melrose High School, Somerville High School, and Newton High School.

On January 23, 1892, Cambridge High Latin defeated the Melrose High School. The team was made up as follows: Goodrige, Clarkson, rushers; Lawrence, centre; Moore, half-back; Tobey, goal.

There was an ice polo team in Fitchburg in 1892. “The Y.M.C.A. ice polo team is made up of F.E. Rowe, 1st rush; M.F. O’Connell, 2nd rush; Charles Merriam, center; R.E. Bartlett (capt.), half-back, and C.S. Bishop, goal. The team is ready to meet all comers, but will insist on conforming to the latest polo rules.”

Game results

• January 30: Jamaica Plain - Harvard Picked Team 1:0

Interscholastic Ice Polo League results

• January 16: Melrose High School - Newton High School 4:3
• January 22: Melrose High School - English High School 2:1
• January 23: Cambridge High and Latin - Melrose High School 2:0
• January 28: Melrose High School - Somerville High School 2:0
• January 30: Cambridge High and Latin - Cambridge Manual Training School 1:1

Standings as of 2/1

1. Cambridge High and Latin 4-0-1
2. Cambridge Manual 3-0-1
3. Melrose High 3-2
4. Somerville High 1-3
5. Newton High 1-3
6. English High 0-4

Michigan

It was reported that there would be a game of hockey at the Detroit Skating & Curling Club on February 10. The Detroit Skating & Curling Club beat the Light Infantry club 3-0 on February 17.

The next day, the Detroit Skating & Curling Club hosted the Chatham Hockey Club from Ontario, Canada, and were defeated 5-0. Rosters Detroit - Bell, McEwan, Reidy, Jacobson, Renton, C. Jacobson, Richardson. Chatham - McGowan, Baxter, West, Risdon, Ireland, Cameron, Taylor.

Minnesota

In 1892, the St. Paul Henriettes challenged any team in the state to a series of three games for the amateur championship of Minnesota.

On January 10, 1892, the Stillwater Palace Club beat the Henriettes in a best two-out-of-three goals game. Two weeks later, the Henriettes defeated the Stillwater Palace Club 2-0.

College ice polo

Rutgers University played a "picked team of Princeton men" on Weston's Mill Pond in February 1892, winning 4-2. Rutgers president James Neilson was on hand to watch the game. Rutgers roster: Rusher: Elting. Half-back: Field. Half-back: R. Conover. Drive: Miller. Cover-point: J. Hogan. Goal: Wycoff. A return game was planned, but it did not come off due to thaw.

1892-93

Massachusetts

“The ice on the ponds in the vicinity of Boston was in better shape yesterday [Dec. 26] for skating than has been known for several years and the holiday makers took advantage of the opportunity. During the afternoon two elevens from ‘Tech’ and E.H.S. [English High School] played a spirited game of hockey on Jamaica Pond, which the ‘Techs’ won 5 to 0.”

Five schools competed in the Interscholastic Ice Polo League in 1893. They were Somerville High School, Cambridge Manual Training School, Cambridge High and Latin, Medford High School, and Melrose High School. The league kicked off on December 27, with Cambridge High and Latin beating Melrose High School 4-3. The second game of the season was played on January 7. Cambridge Manual Training School beat the Melrose High School 2-1 on goals by Brine and Freeman. On January 29, the Cambridge High and Latin School defeated the Medford High School 3-0, scoring two goals in the first half and one in the second. With this win, Cambridge clinched the championship, having been victorious in four games.

The Cambridge Athletic Association planned to form an ice polo team and enter in the New England Skating Association carnival.

Game results

• December 15: Cambridge Manual Training School - Cambridge High and Latin 1:0
• December 26: Tech - English High School 5:0
• December 31: Melrose High School - Chelsea High School 10:0
• January 18: Cambridge High and Latin - Somerville High School 10:1

Interscholastic Ice Polo League results

• December 27: Cambridge High and Latin - Melrose High School 4:3
• December 31: Cambridge Manual Training School - Melrose High School 2:1 OT
• January 4: Melrose High School - Somerville High School 5:2
• January 15: Cambridge High and Latin - Somerville High School 2:1
• January 21: Cambridge High and Latin - Cambridge Manual Training School 1:0
• January 29: Cambridge High and Latin - Medford High School 3:0

Michigan

“The Detroit Hockey Club played a match last night [Feb. 4, 1893] with a team from the Light Infantry, and beat the soldiers by a score of 6 to 2. The club is now ready to receive challenges, which may be addressed to W.N. McNaughton, 250 John R. street.”

Frank Billel of Delray organized a hockey game on the River Rouge, between the Detroit Light Infantry and the Detroit Hockey Club, for February 19. The Detroit Hockey Club was also set to face "pony team" on the River Rouge on February 25.

Minnesota

The Duluth Ice Polo club.

By 1893, ice polo was also being played in Duluth, with the active clubs being the Duluth Polo Club and the Zenith City Club. Among the active teams in St. Paul were the St. Pauls, St. Georges, Centrals, Summits, Henriettes, Fort Snelling, Mascots, and Gophers. A four-team league was created by the Army Companies at Fort Snelling. Youth teams such as the St. Paul High School, Spauldings, Summit Juniors, and Interurbans were also actively playing ice polo. Minneapolis had a several teams in the adult class, including the Polo Club and the Acorns. Owatonna, Stillwater, and Superior, Wisconsin, were other locales with teams.

On January 6, 1893, the Duluth Polo Club faced the Zenith City Club. The teams stopped playing after half an hour, due to darkness, with the Zenith City Club up 1-0. The two clubs met again on January 14, with the Duluth Polo Club winning 2-0. On January 27, Captain Taylor's team beat Captain Hanker's team 2-1 at the Glen Avon Curling Club.

The Henriettes defeated the Minnesotas 3-0 at the Henrietta skating rink on January 8. Rosters: Henriettes: Miller (goal), Pfeiffer (cover goal), Newson (center), Schintsberg (first rush), Sheehan (second rush), Yurber (cover). Minnesotas: Keifer (goal), Murnane (cover goal), J. Murphy (center), Hatch (first rush), Ed Murphy (second rush), Egan (cover).

On February 12, the Henriettes beat the Summits, scoring three goals out of the first four games. Five days later, the St. Paul Henriettes won the state championship by defeating the Duluth Polo Club 2-1 at the indoor Glen Avon Curling Club in Duluth. The Henriettes also beat the St. Pauls in a game for $100.

Duluth roster: J.P. Burg (right rush), F.E. Thompson (left rush), P. Paine (right backer), D.R. McLennan (left backer), F.B. Taylor (point cover), William Carey (goal cover), A. Morrison (goal). Henriettes roster: W. Scherfenberg (right rush), T.M. Newson Jr. (left rush), Ed Sheehan (right backer), F.E. Pfeiffer (left backer), J. Murnane (point cover), T.H. Henke (goal), W. Kieffer (goal cover).

On February 21, the Duluth Polo Club defeated Superior 1-0 on the latter club's ice. Duluth hoped to face the Superior and Henriettes clubs again, but the games did not materialize.

The Summits beat a scrub team (also said to be the Henriettes - there was some controversy over this) after “one hour and a half of hard work” at the Crystal rink on March 5. Rosters: Summits: W.A. Gerber (1st rush), C.J. Slans (2nd rush), J.H. Henke (center), W.F. Miller (half-back), E.J. Muggley (cover goal), O.A. Raddatz (goal). Scrub Team: W. Scherfenberg (1st rush), T.M. Newson (2nd rush), P. Hertell (center), E. Sheehan (half-back), W. Lesh (cover goal), F. Pfeiffer (goal).

College ice polo

There were talks of forming ice polo teams at Brown University in 1893. “It has been proposed to form an ice polo club among the students who frequent the ice ponds and who skilfully [sic] wield the ‘shinny’ sticks. It would be a better scheme in our opinion to form clubs from each class and play out a short schedule for the championship of the college. Skating is one of the most healthful out-door winter sports and a series of polo games on the ice could not help but increase the popularity of the sport.”

On January 4, it was reported that the Freshman class was to be represented by an ice polo club, including the following: W.A. Jones, Malcolm Chase, Carleton Hale, and George W. Matteson. The fifth player had not yet been chosen. There were no reports of any games being played this winter.

Other locales

Hamden, Connecticut

The Yale University Hockey Club was discussed in the Yale Daily News in December 1892. "The club was written about again in December 1892. “Now that the cold weather has come, we would suggest the advisability of reorganizing the Hockey Club, which existed here a few years ago. There are a large number of men who go out regularly to Lake Whitney for skating whenever there is ice fit for skating, and many more would undoubtedly go if there was the additional inducement which would be offered by such a club. One reason why these clubs have not been more successful in the past is the fact that nothing has been done toward organization until the season was too far advanced to accomplish anything; but, if steps were taken immediately toward this end, we feel sure that the result would be in every way satisfactory."

Meriden, Connecticut

“Yesterday [Dec. 26] was a great day for ice polo in this vicinity. A team from Center street, captained by Miller, defeated Ryan’s Franklin street team at Pratt’s pond by a score of 6 to 3. Another game was played by representatives of Center and Park streets in the afternoon. The Center streets won by a score of 10 to 0. The Center street players were Charles Jones, Michael Mulvey, Thomas, John and James Ryan. Park streets. Thomas Luby, Philip Carlin, Hubert Mulvey, James Oliver and Michael O’Brien. An exciting game was played on Pratt’s pond between the Meriden Football club and the Volunteer Hose company. The Meridens won by a score of 8 to 4. The work of the Meridens was excellent, they were clearly outclassing the fire laddies by their passing. Meridens were: Goodeson and Latimer, rushers; Lochshire, half back; Cobb, goal and captain. The Volunteers were: J. Reese and Albert Hart, rushers; J. Norrie, half back; Charles Aichler, goal. F. Reese was referee. Time, one hour.”

"Meriden is still having an ice carnival at Hanover lake... The polo championship is still undecided, as the Germanias and the Blue Ribbons must skate off a tie. The winner will contest with the Meriden football team. The winner will contest with the Meriden football team. The Wheel club defeated the YMCA, 1-0."

Providence, Rhode Island

It was noted that the Providence high schools were organizing an ice polo league. B.M.C. Darfee High School was asked to enter a team.

Centralia, Wisconsin

"“The Pond Hill hockey team beat the West Side six at the Pond Hill rink yesterday afternoon [Jan. 13], 10-1. H. Litke, N. Litke, Poynton, Schiller, Norris and Vanasse played for the Hills. The Hill team will be in action again next Sunday afternoon, weather permitting.”

Poughkeepsie, New York

It was reported that the Poughkeepsie polo team would play the Stanfordville team on the river opposite Poughkeepsie on February 7. The match was to decide the championship of a series of games that had been played over the course of the season.

Rockland, Maine

The Knickerbocker Ice Polo Club was organized in Rockland. Any team in New England was challenged. The Knickerbocker Club was set to face the Capitols of Augusta at Augusta on February 16.

1893-94

Massachusetts

“The ice polo game, scheduled between Brown University and the Cambridge Polo club, on Thursday [Jan. 25], was not played, owing to the non-appearance of the Brown club. A game will be arranged for next week. The Cambridge club played a practice game with the Cambridge High and Latin school, which resulted in a victory for the former. Score, 3 to 0. The Wakefield and Cambridge clubs play this afternoon on Fresh pond. The Cambridge club claims to be the champions of Massachusetts and want to hear from any other team.”

It was noted that the Cambridge High and Latin School had won the interscholastic ice polo championship for the fourth consecutive year. A Suburban Polo League was also setup, with Winchester, Melrose, Medford, and Malden participating.

• 

  The planned playing schedule for the 1894 Interscholastic Ice Polo League.

Game results

• December 30: Highlandville - Needham 3:1
• January 20: Cambridge Polo Club - Wakefield 2:1
• January 25: Cambridge Polo Club - Cambridge High and Latin 3:0

Interscholastic Ice Polo League results

• January 9: Melrose High School - Hopkinson 12:0
• January 18: Cambridge High and Latin - Somerville High School 4:1
• January 20: Hopkinson - Cambridge Manual Training School 1:1 - Hopkinson won as CMTS committed a foul

Minnesota

The Summits and Henriettes together in 1894.

The Duluth Polo Club and Duluth North Stars were set to meet on December 22, 1893. No result was subsequently reported.

On December 31, 1893, the Henriettes and Summits played to a 1-1 tie on the Central Skating rink.

The Superior Badgers defeated the Duluth North Stars 1-0 on January 1, 1894. Rosters: Superior: Lachan (right rush), Lemon (left rush), Newton (right back), Rodgers (left back), Frazer (point cover), Bruno (goal cover), McLaugton (goal), Hudson (extra). Duluth: Calhoun (right rush), Maloney (left rush), Mitchell (right back), Edson (left back), Beaton (point cover), Huse (goal cover), Trumbel (goal).

On January 7, 1894, the St. Paul Henriettes beat the Centrals 2-1. Rosters: Henriettes: W.B. Egan (first rush), E.S. Sheehan (second rush), C.J. Stause (half back), T.E. Pfeiffer (center front), E.J. Mugley (cover goal), William Kieber (goal). Centrals: P.E. Barron (first rush), F.K. Barron (second rush), F.E. Barron (half back), Jack Murphy (center front), E.J. Murphy (cover goal), E.J. Murphy (goal).

Two weeks later, the Summits and the Centrals tied 1-1. Lineups: Summits: O.H. Raddatz (goal), Fr. Miller (cover), Charles Stans (first rush), R.E. Barron (second rush), Ed Schafer (center), C.A. Weber (halfback). Centrals: Billy Odell (goal), Ed J. Murphy (cover), F.K. Barron (first rush), B. Haggenmiller (second rush), Charles Clow (center), Willie Barron, N. Grinblot (half backs).

In January 1894, the Duluth Ice Polo Club exacted revenge on the Henriettes for their 1893 State title, winning a three-game series 2-1 for the state title. Duluth won the first game, played on January 18, 2-1, but St. Paul rebounded with a 3-1 win in the opening game contested on the 20th. Duluth won the final game that night 1-0 to clinch the championship. The games were played at the Glen Avon rink in Duluth.

Duluth roster: J.P. Berg (right rush), F.E. Thompson (left rush), D.R. McLennan (right back), G.E. Vincent (left back), H. Meining (point cover), P. Baine (goal cover), W. Carey (goal). Henriettes roster: W. Scherfenberg (right rush), T.M. Newton (Capt.) (left rush), Eagen (right back), F.E. Pfeiffer (left back), Muggley (point cover), Ed Sheehan (goal cover), W. Kiefer (goal).

Sketches of Ed Murphy and Frank Barron.

On January 27, the Barron family beat the Murphy family 2-1 in a challenge game at the Central skating rink. The lineups were as follows: Barrons: F.K. Barron (Capt.) (half back), R.E. Barron (first rush), W.C. Barron (goal), N. Griubhol (second rush), T. Miller (cover goal), C.B. Clow (center). Murphys: Eddie Murphy (half back), Ed Murphy (first rush), Jim Murphy (goal), B. Haggenmiller (second rush), Thomas Newson (cover goal), Billy O’Dell (center).

The next day, the Centrals edged the Summits 1-0 at the Central rink. On February 4, the Henriettes defeated the Centrals 3-1 in a game that lasted only 30 minutes.

The Spauldings beat the Interurbans 3-1 at the Victoria rink on February 10. The Spauldings lined up as follows: Beecher (first rush), Sxertle (second rush), Manhart (cover), Meade (cover goal), Pfeiffer (goal), Campbell (half-back), Ogan (center). A day later, the Henriettes trimmed the Summits 2-1 at the Central rink. On February 18, the Henriettes met the Centrals, in a game that resulted in a 3-2 victory for the former side. The Henriettes beat a picked team 1-0 on the 22nd.

The Duluth Polo Club and Superior were set to play on February 22. Duluth won the game, played amidst a fierce wind, by the score of 1-0. Duluth also received an invitation from a club in Lake Linden, Michigan, to play a series of games there.

San Francisco, California

The Mechanics’ Industrial Fair Building (also called the Mechanics’ Pavilion) featured a “real ice skating floor” by 1894. The Natural Ice Skating Rink, as it was called, opened on February 3. On February 17, there was an ice polo game played at the rink between the San Franciscos and the Chicagos. “Ten men in sides of five each, armed with hickory crooks, batted and knocked a soft leather ball about on the iced floor for half an hour and wound up with a score of 2-1. The instructors of the rink formed one team, clothed in red, and a picked team of old Easterners, now sojourning in the nalmy West, formed the second five, clad in white and blue. They were dubbed respectively the San Franciscos and Chicagos.”

The San Franciscos took the lead in the first half, but the Chicagos drew even in the second session, before Captain Box scored the winning goal for the former side. The sides were as follows: Chicagos: Chas. F. Oliver (center), R.W. Curtis (goal), H. McCue (half back), Gus. Gentry (left rush), R. Burns (right rush). San Franciscos: E.F. Box (center), W.E. Rosemond (goal), C.B. Yates (half back), H.L. Gibbs (left rush), W.F. Cary (right rush).

“Popular Ice Polo. The third game of the polo series was played at the ice-skating rink last night [Feb. 24] and resulted in a score of San Franciscos 2, Chicagos 0. The home scores were made by Yates and Cary. The team work of both sides was exceptionally good.”

On March 26, it was reported that “Polo on ice at the Pavilion is growing in popular favor. An exciting novelty it appears to have peculiar fascination for both sexes. For instances, to-day two teams from the Boys’ High School go there and practice. In the afternoon the Olympic Club will be there to practice. On Saturday night there will be a game between a club organized by the Berkeley University boys against a club of Stanford students. They are all organizing tournaments which promise to be very interesting and exciting. Some gentlemen from the University Club have stated that they want to form a polo club among their club members and play a club from the Pacific-Union or the Bohemian Club. And so it goes. The interest is growing every day.”

Stanford, attired in red sweaters, defeated Berkeley 2-0 on the evening of March 31. The former side scored twice in the first half, while the second resulted in no goals for either side. The Stanford team had been selected by the manager of the rink as the five best Stanford skaters among those who had played in the preliminary contest, a victory over the Olympic Club that morning.

Stanford roster: Dart, ‘97, goal; H. Reynolds, ‘96, half back; Davey, ‘96, Vanderveer, ‘96’, and De Wolf, ‘97’, rushers.

Ice polo in California was said to somewhat resemble Canadian hockey, but the ice polo teams only consisted of five players, whereas at the time, hockey was played seven-on-seven in Canada. Of course, a ball and curved sticks were used in ice polo as well.

Series results

• February 17: San Franciscos - Chicagos 2:1
• February 21: Chicagos - San Franciscos 4:0
• February 24: San Franciscos - Chicagos 2:0
• February 28: San Franciscos - Chicagos 0:0
• March 3: Chicagos - San Franciscos 3:2

There was a five-game series between the San Franciscos and the Chicagos. The Chicagos won, 8 goals to 6.

Other game results

• March 7: Canadians - San Franciscos 2:1

Canadians roster: Lloyd (first rush), Dunlap (halfback), Rheil (second rush), Webster (fullback), Duncan (goal). San Franciscos roster: Gouin (first rush), Box (halfback), Yates (second rush), Cary (fullback), Kahn (goal).

• March 8: Canadians - San Franciscos 0:0 - game lasted a half-hour
• March 9: San Franciscos - Canadians 4:0
• March 10: San Franciscos - Kalamazoo 2:1
• March 13: San Franciscos - Chicagos 2:0
• March 22: San Franciscos - Canadians 2:1
• March 23: Chicagos - Canadians 4:1

On April 6, it was reported that Stanford was going to be among the six participants in the local California Ice Polo League. Kennedy, ‘95, captain; Davey, ‘96, vice-captain; and Hicks, ‘96, manager, were chosen to lead the team. Half the proceeds made on ticket sales were to be turned over to the league treasury and divided equally among the six teams. The other five squads were Olympic, Canada, Chicago, San Francisco, and the University of California-Berkeley. Stanford played their first game on April 14, defeating the Olympic Club 4-0. At the conclusion of the league schedule, it was written that the Canadians were “easy victors and carried off the pennant”.

California Ice Polo League results

• April 4: Canadians - Chicagos 1:0 - or 2:0
• April 6: Chicagos - Olympic 6:2
• April 7: Berkeley - Olympic 4:0
• April 11: Chicagos - San Franciscos 5:0 - protested by latter team
• April 13: San Francisco - Olympic 5:1
• April 14: Stanford - Olympic 4:0
• April 18: Berkeley - San Francisco
• April 20: Berkeley - Canada
• April 21: San Franciscos - Stanford 2:1
• April 25: San Francisco - Canada
• April 27: Berkeley - Chicago
• April 28: Stanford - Chicago
• May 2: Olympic - Canada
• May 4: Stanford - Canada
• May 5: Stanford - Berkeley 2:0

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  A sketch of an ice polo game at the Mechanics' Rink.

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  Another sketch.

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  Advertisements for ice polo games scheduled to be played on April 27 and 28, respectively (left-right).

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  The Mechanics' Industrial Fair Building, which housed the rink.

College ice polo

On January 13, 1894, a picked polo team from Brown faced Worcester Tech at Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester. Three 20-minute periods were played, and Brown succeeded in scoring six goals, to their opponents three. About 400 spectators attended the game. The Brown team was composed as follows: Rushers, W.D. Brownell and C.D. Owen; Centre: G.A. Matteson; Half-back: W.A. Jones; Goal: I.B. Merriman.

Four days later, Brown faced a picked polo team from Newport, who called themselves the “Pride of Newport”, on the Ten Mile River and defeated them by the hefty score of 18-1. Two 30-minute halves were played, in each of which the home team scored nine goals. The teams lined up as follows: Brown-Rushers: Brownell, Matteson; Centre: Meiklejohn; Half-back: Chase; Goal: Watson. Newport-Rushers: Whipple, Wilbur; Centre: Gladding; Half-back: Bennett; Goal: Bridgman.

On February 19, Brown visited East Greenwich and defeated the Academy 4-2. The Brown team consisted of Mathewson, Chase, Watson, Owen, and Merriman. Three days later, Brown played two twenty-minute halves against the Cambridge Polo Team, which was comprised mostly of Harvard men and considered the champion amateur team of Massachusetts, at the Ten Mile River, and defeated them 4-0.

Brown faced Cambridge again at Spy Pond on February 24 and scored seven goals over the course of four 20-minute periods. After this game, the Brown Daily Herald wrote that “The establishment of a polo club at Brown has proved a very fortunate move.”

Other locales

Pennsylvania

The Factoryville Polo Club went to Benton to face the local team on January 9, and defeated them 3-1 on Lake Bassett. The next day, Factoryville beat the Keystone Academy club 3-0 in 18 minutes on Lake Nokonus. On January 20, Factoryville blanked Glenburn 3-0 in a game that lasted one hour and six minutes.

Lewiston, Maine

It was reported that the two Lewiston hockey clubs held a match game on Wright's Pond on January 13. Captain Charles Marsh's team beat Mr. E. Drury Prayment's side by two goals.

Madison, Wisconsin

“An ice polo team has been formed at the University of Wisconsin.”

Meriden, Connecticut

“The vigilant ice polo team of this city [Meriden] has challenged the Hartford Skating club’s team to a match game of ice polo and the challenge has been accepted. Efforts will be made to play the game some time this week.”

Wallingford, Connecticut

The Lakesides defeated the Eastsides 4-3 in a polo game on Simpson pond.

References

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