Stanley Cup Match.
Monday Night’s Game a Curtain Raiser to the Others:
The series for the Stanley Cup championship which will open on Monday evening in the Arena rink between the Shamrock and Victorias of Winnipeg will be without doubt the greatest contests which have taken place since the introduction of the national winter game. When it is considered that the visitors are coming hundreds of miles to try and capture a trophy that carries with it the title of the hockey championship of the world, an idea may be obtained of the importance of the games the result of which will be watched with the keenest interest in every city and town in Canada, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. No matches in the athletic world have ever engaged such general attention. At Winnipeg the Victorias were given a send off on their trip eastwards that was fit for a King. Every leading city in Canada within a day’s travel of Montreal will have its representation at the rink side, while the citizens of Montreal of every class and sex, the hot enthusiasts, and the phlegmatic occasional spectators who only witness such events on rare occasions, all will be there to see the great contest.
Some people, and they represent a goodly number of pretty level headed sports, say that the Shamrocks will lose the cup this time. When asked for an explanation in support of such a peculiar opinion and one at variance of all past experience when it is considered that the men that the prophets of evil select for defeat have won every game they have played this year, they shrug their shoulders and say, time will tell. Perhaps it may be that these young men are in possession of some information not vouchsafed to the Shamrock management who are quite satisfied about the capabilities of their boys. Be that as it may the Shamrocks goal, point, cover point, Captain Trihey and his three lieutenants, never faced a foe that will be more worthy of their steel and hickory than the one which is now speeding eastwards with big physique and stout hearts. Yes - the Shamrocks have need for caution on Monday night, and Wednesday night too. They must play as a one man machine. There must be no monkeying on the part of any man on the defence end in order to gratify a desire to take a run and a little frolic down the ice leaving his citadel at the mercy of a lively and astute forward man of the opposing side. There must be none of the greedy man style manifested by the forwards when an opening occurs, because such a policy or style of play can only have one result and that is disaster for the side of the man who adopts it.
WINNIPEG TEAM WON
The First Match in the Series for the Stanley Cup is Theirs by a Majority of One Game.
The Winnipeg team won.
They deserved their victory, but if it had come the Shamrock way, the Shamrocks would have deserved it equally.
It was the greatest hockey match that has ever been played in Montreal. The greatest, because both teams under the circumstances were evenly matched; because both teams put forth their best efforts, and because both teams played fair, honest, unobjectionable hockey.
The merits of the play on both sides were almost equal. The odd game might have gone to either team. Both suffered from the disadvantage of the condition in which the change of weather and the additional heat produced by the great crowd had put the ice. That the pace was as fast as the players made it, was little short of marvelous. In the second half they simply plowed through it, and though the Winnipeggers were heavier, and probably went deeper, their very make-up enabled them to stand the fatigue better than the lighter Shamrocks.
If the Shamrocks made any serious mistake, it probably was in being too careful at the beginning. From their after play, it was proven that the Winnipeg team was not by any means at its best then, and instead of taking advantage of this the Shamrocks kept on the defensive and allowed the puck for a great length of time to remain near the Shamrock goal, where the Winnipeggers managed to keep it, without scoring, however. On the whole, the beginning of the match was slow, and though the Shamrocks occasionally tried one of their lightning rushes there were times when things appeared decidedly dull. The western men, no doubt feeling their way, appeared to be unable to shoot, at least not in the way in which the Shamrocks are accustomed to do it, with a rush and without stopping, as it were, to pick up the puck. That impression was dispelled shortly afterwards, however. They picked up their confidence gradually, and did not leave the slightest doubt existing about the superiority of their present team over that of last year. The work of both teams after they were well started was magnificent, and the encouragement of the crowd helped to keep them up to it. It was almost impossible to distinguish, as far as volume and heartiness went, between the cheers that were given for the Shamrocks and the visitors, and when the final gong sounded, and the few men who accompanied the Winnipeg team from home rushed on the ice and put Bain on their shoulders, hundreds of the male spectators joined them, and carried him in procession to the dressing room. The scene towards the end of the match was naturally the most exciting.
The score stood four to three in favour of the Winnipeg team, and there was just a bare chance, that it might be tied, before the bell rang for the finish. The Shamrocks made desperate efforts to score the necessary goal. Rush followed rush, and onslaught came upon the heels of onslaught but when just two minutes before the end Tansey was ruled off for making Bain turn the prettiest somersault, that any trick skater could show, a sort of general feeling seemed to suddenly pervade the crowd that it was all up with the home team.
The referee gave the utmost satisfaction, and did about as much actual work as any of the team. He had to move his legs very fast to follow the game, and keep his eyes wide open, to watch the movements of the players. For a wonder, he blew his whistle almost sharp on time, and for another wonder the two teams were there to respond to it. The visitors came in through the South entrance, and the Shamrocks broke through the Eastern breach of the bulwarks of the rink. Many of the Winnipeg men wore bits of Shamrock ribbon on their breasts.
SHAMROCKS EVENED UP THE SCORE
BRILLIANT AND DASHING PLAY DEFEATED THE ALMOST INVINCIBLE WINNIPEGS.
The Shamrocks won!
That was the first thought, the first exclamation after the gong announced the finish of last night’s match, and swift as lightning, thought and speech combined, in the expression: “This means another match.â€
Strange as it may seem the last idea was the predominant one as the rink emptied itself. For the people who sympathized with the Shamrocks were glad because another match gave the splendid team they favoured another chance. The people who sympathized with the wonderful men that composed the Winnipeg team, while regretting last night’s defeat, were glad because they are certain that their team will win out in the end, and the people who favoured neither team, and came to see the finest hockey, that was ever played in the universe, were glad because they would be enabled to see another such struggle as has never been seen before, and as may never be seen again after this series is finished.
“Another match! Another match!†was the cry, and the ladies lost no time in telling their escorts, how not to neglect the purchase of tickets early in the morning, and the poor escorts racked their brains, to find means of leaving their business long enough to obtain these tickets, for there is bound to be such a rush today, as will even surpass that for the Irving performances at the Academy.
The Shamrocks won, and they won on their merits. No one, be he friend or foe of the winning team denied that. They played the best hockey, and though the Winnipeg men put up a game, such as has never been played by a losing team, they lost because they played not as well particularly in the second half. Their team play was inferior to that of their opponents, and their opponents were faster, but the Winnipeggers’ endurance seemed greater, and if the match could have been prolonged they might have changed the score. The Shamrocks used up every bit of energy, every atom of intelligence, every honourable policy at their command. They gauged the time at their disposal to a nicety and won. That is the secret of their victory. They moved, and turned and twisted at the word of command, so seldom heard by the spectators.
They skated five, sometimes six at a time, to the attack, and when one of the fast Winnipeg men made one of those rushes which surpassed everything that is known, they, like a flash, were at the other end of the rink again and presented a solid front to the enemy. In the second half they were equally strong in attack or defence, and their passing was faultless.
In the first half the Winnipeg work was remarkable. They were recklessly brave and brilliantly wise. In the second half they were brilliantly cautious, if such a term can be applied to the very fastest hockey that was ever played by any team that has opposed the holders of the Stanley Cup.
Last Monday night there was a splendid match. The finest witnessed in every respect, in Montreal. No one thought it could have been surpassed. Last night, with a hard, glassy sheet of ice, it was better. As good, but no better, can be seen in the future. Men cannot skate faster, play fairer or shoot straighter than these two wonderful teams did last night. The eye was hardly quick enough to follow their evolutions. The white sparks which the skates struck from the frozen surface, glittering and glowing in the electric light, almost dazzled the sight; the mixture of red and white bodies gyrating and twisting and flashing past one another in endless, restless, riotous tangle, confused; and the poor, little, persecuted puck chased hither and thither, now here, now there, now high, now low, sought rest a dozen times in the lap of some fair lady spectator. The tireless, quick-eyed, nimble-footed, fullwinded referee, in the dark jersey, unconsciously seemed to bring order out of seeming chaos, and had to jump and run to evade the apparently revengeful rubber, which seemingly blamed him for the unmerciful buffeting it received, singled him out many times as its particular prey. As to noise, there was so much of it, that half the time there seemed to be none. The ear became accustomed to the continuous howls; men and women shouted without knowing it, and only when Barney Dunphy, the Shamrock trainer, let out one of his prolonged roars, now resembling that of a wounded desert lion - when his men got the worst of it - and again like that of a cage full of captive tigers spying their dinner - when his boys won - did the crowd realize how hoarse they would be on the morrow. And such a good natured, such a fair, such a just crowd; showering such impartial approval, such honest tributes upon both teams alike. Yet it could not have been otherwise, for there was really nothing in the match to criticize and everything to commend. There were no fouls worth mentioning. Those that occurred were two cases of tripping which the referee saw, and for which he promptly ruled off two Winnipeg men, and a few other cases, perhaps on the part of other players, which he did not see.
Some of the Winnipeg supporters rubbed Gingras’ stick for luck. The same honours that were tendered to Bain on Monday were tendered to Trihey last evening, and when they carried him in a long procession off the ice, the curtain fell on a match that was a credit to the Shamrock team, a credit to the Winnipeg team, and, above all, a credit to Montreal.
“I never saw such work†said President “Jack†Armytage, “It was magnificent.â€
“The generalship exhibited by Harry Trihey was wonderful†said ex-president Code.
“You won fairly and squarely and deserved your victory†was Captain Bain’s opinion.
When players began to arrive at the rink and saw the splendid sheet of ice, there were sighs of relief and every man expressed pleasure at the sight. The ice was just right and it was possible to carry the puck along without any over exertion, such as was required on Monday night’s heavy slushy ice. This fast ice proved this. That the Shamrocks were just superior to their opponents under such conditions as existed last night. Their stick work was better and they were faster man for man. Jack Brannen proved his ability to catch Bain and more than once he foiled the big Winnipeg forward as he was about to shoot.
Both Campbell and Gingras played a strong, effective game, but they had not the same opportunities as on Monday night, and there were not the same wide openings for them to go through. Both Scanlan and Farrell played a far superior game, and Scanlan’s work was particularly good. He carried the puck out time after time, and went down the ice in great style, and had he been fortunate in his shooting there ought to have been some goals to his credit. Farrell did well, and when it is understood that he was suffering from a peculiar indisposition, the excellence of his work will be better appreciated. Jack Brannen’s speed was a great factor in the game, and his work was a vast improvement over his previous form. Harry Trihey showed cool generalship, and his work was in every way worthy of the leader of such a splendid team. The defence played a splendid game, and were hardly to be blamed for the scoring done against them. Wall’s lifts and rushes and Tansey’s stops and rushes were features. In the second half Tansey made more than one beautiful rush, and on one occasion almost tallied a score. McKenna’s work was just right. The work of the whole team could not be improved on, and they gave the greatest exhibition of unselfish team play ever seen before.
And the Victorias.
Well, they were in the position that the Shamrocks were in a few days previous. The pace was a killing one, and it looked as if the Victorias found it a bit harder than the Shamrocks, but they made a great struggle and in the last few minutes were battling in splendid style. The Winnipeg men were fortunate in the goals that they did score, but they were, at the same time unfortunate in some instances where a goal seemed likely, but was lost through failure to seize the opportunity presented. Their defence was good, and Johnstone played a particularly good game. Flett seemed to have fallen off a bit, but “Whitey†Merritt exhibited his usual skill.
The toss fell to the Shamrocks, and Capt. Trihey chose to defend the south goal. At 8.30 referee Hugh Baird blew his whistle and the great contest commenced. The Victorias assumed the aggressive in the initial stages. There was a rush. Bain fell at a critical moment and the attack was repulsed. Then Trihey took the puck to the Winnipeg end, but lost to Johnstone, who lifted back neatly. Frank Tansey was ready for it and the puck was sent out. Bain returned with the rubber, but Trihey crossed his path and got away with it. He fell and Johnstone sent it back. There was a smart exchange of lifts until Scanlan nailed the rubber and carried it to the Winnipeg poles by a magnificent run. A quick pass to Trihey and a shot followed. The puck was too high, however, and went off the ice, necessitating a face at the Vic poles. It was back again and a Shamrock offside caused another face. Bain kicked the puck out of dangerous position and carried it clear, but lost to Wall. Campbell secured the lift and had a shot after a good run. Tansey caught it and quickly cleared. A beautiful rush by Brannen, Trihey and Farrell brought the crowd up, but an offside saved what looked like a score. Bain had another chance, but Tansey spoiled it and Campbell being offside caused a face near the Shamrock poles. Gingras looked dangerous for a second; but was heavily checked by Scanlan, for which the latter received a warning. Farrell now had the puck and sailed down in good style, only to be tripped in front of the Vic poles. The Shamrock man was in a splendid position and this saved a likely score. Trihey had a chance, too, but Roxburgh landed on him in time and received a warning for tripping. Both teams were now doing excellent work. Both goals had been assailed in turn and it was difficult to choose between either. Bain saved his goal and got clear with a splendid run, but Wall took him off his feet with a good body check. Back came the Winnipeg captain, but this time Jack Brannen swept down on him and checked in time; Roxburgh made a flying dash at the Shamrock defence and landed in the net, while the puck flew down to the other end. Now Winnipeg faced the game and had the Shamrocks back in their own territory. Johnstone tried a rush, but Wall stopped him. There was a fierce scrimmage at the Shamrock poles. A timely check by Brannen sent the puck off the ice. Campbell sent in a fine shot, which was stopped, and then Bain received a warning for tripping Trihey. Gingras made a gallant attempt, but Farrell and Trihey caught him. Bain managed to get the puck and shot, but as Wall sent him in the air it was a bit wide. There was a flash of gray and green and Brannen shot out of the bunch at meteor like speed, a pass to Scanlan, a quick dodge, a well judged pass to Trihey, a smart shot and the Shamrocks had first blood. Time, 20 minutes.
On the instant the whole arena was one moving mass of humanity and the cheer that followed Trihey’s shot was a wonderful volume of sound.
There was a determined rush, and Winnipeg forced matters in the opening of the second game. McKenna stopped a corker from Campbell. Farrell and Trihey got away with the puck, but were brought up by Johnstone. The puck was sent off the ice at the Shamrock poles. Tansey stopped a hot one from the face and Scanlan carried the puck out by a beautiful run. He passed to Trihey, who shot, striking Flett. Bain shot out, but only got as far as Wall, but Roxburgh secured the puck on the return. However, the latter’s shot was caught by Brannen, who slid in front of the poles in time and stopped what seemed a likely score. Tansey caught a beautiful one from Campbell and there was a scrimmage in the poles. Wall took it out and went down, but was tripped when he got to Johnstone. The play now slackened for a time, the forwards taking a breathing spell. Bain had a shot, which McKenna stopped and lifted out. The puck landed in centre, where Johnstone was awaiting it. He lifted quickly and the puck bounded by the defence men and nestled in the net, evening the score in 8 minutes.
The ease of this performance was astonishing, but it caught the fancy of the crowd, and they cheered as justily as when the home team notched up their goal.
The Winnipeg boys let loose their enthusiasm, and had a gay time generally.
The start of the third game found the Shamrocks on the attack. Farrell went down and passed over to Scanlan, whose shot was stopped by Merritt. Roxburgh brought the rubber out of dangerous ground and sailed down to McKenna, who stopped a nice one. Tansey cleared out to centre. Here Johnstone caught it lifted on the jump and the puck bounded on to Wall and slid into the net, putting Winnipeg one to the good in one minute.
This looked ominous, but the Shamrocks pulled themselves together and forced the play until the end of the half. Scanlan sent in one splendid shot, which Merritt stopped. A rush by Wall ended in Roxburgh tripping him and a warning was issued to the Winnipeg man. Half time was reached with matters in this stage.
The second half started hammer and tongs, and the speed was terrific. Campbell got away, but Farrell caught him and brought the puck down. There was a fierce onslaught on the Winnipeg poles, and some magnificent defence work warded off the Shamrock attack. There was an off-side, which caused a face near the Victoria goals. Gingras tried to get out, but Scanlan swiped at the puck and sent it off the ice. After the face Roxburgh sent it off and another face followed. There was a lightning dash to the Shamrock end, but McKenna was on the alert and kept the puck out. Bain tried to hook one through, but Brannen landed on him and the puck was knocked off the ice. Scanlan took charge of the puck and went down. Gingras tripped him, and was immediately sent off. The play continued. Brannen went in behind and sent the puck out. Farrell had a try, which failed, but he managed to get it again and slid it to Brannen, who was in an excellent position and sent it in, making the score two all.
This performance was greeted with a wild outburst, and the Shamrock following let themselves out in great style.
It proved to be the turning point of the game, and from this out it looked Shamrock’s way.
Winnipeg appeared to be suffering from the speed of the game and although they were struggling hard, it took a few minutes in this game before they got down to real business. Scanlan carried the rubber into Victoria territory, but was tripped by Johnstone, which probably saved a score. The Shamrocks kept hammering away and the Victorias were forced to play on the defensive, Bain broke away, but Brannen caught him. Gingras was now on again and this brightened up the Vics play a bit. There was another dash by Bain, but Tansey caught him. Farrell got away and sent the puck over to Scanlan, who got down in smart style. Now the game was fast and exciting. Bain tripped Trihey and was sent off for two minutes. A rush by Roxburgh looked likely as he got by Wall, but Tansey caught him. Roxburgh made a spirited attempt, and sailed by Wall, only to fall a victim to Tansey. Bain was on again and made matters interesting for awhile. He made one dangerous charge, but Tansey secured the puck and batted it to one side. Here Scanlan secured it and broke clear of Gingras. He flew down the ice, went by Johnstone. A nice pass to Trihey followed, and a beautiful shot landed the deciding goal in the net.
Oh such a cheer.
Every one who had the least sympathy for the Shamrocks arose, and the cheer that came from those enthusiastic throats was a joyful one. There yet remained fourteen minutes to play, and the fourteen minutes included some grand hockey. The Winnipeg men worked gallantly to score, but the Shamrock defence was on its mettle and Wall, Tansey and McKenna did remarkable work. Scanlan, Brannen, Trihey and Farrell kept hammering away at the Winnipeg poles in turn. But the Victorias were out for glory, too, and kept the Shamrock attacks off in great style. Once Roxburgh got away and made a splendid run to the Shamrock end. His shot was high and the puck went off the ice. There was a discussion as to where the puck should be faced, at the side or in front. It was finally forced in front, but the Shamrocks worked it away and Tansey made a spectacular rush that brought a cheer. Shamrocks took things easy sending out one or two men at a time and the gong crashed out with the puck in the centre of the ice.
And here the second chapter of the contest closed. Even the Gods are good and gentle.
THE SHAMROCKS RETAIN THE CUP
Winnipegs Satisfied That Their Opponents Won It Fairly and Squarely.
The Shamrocks retain the Stanley Cup.
The Winnipeg team, after the hardest battle since its first senior team was gotten together, lost it by one goal; a thing not unprecedented in the history of its hockey victories and defeats, for it seems fatality with the Winnipeggers to lose or win with one goal.
They deserved a better fate. They came for the second time to try and bring the cup home; they played the game in a manner which compelled the best team in this part of Canada to put forth all its strength to defeat them, and they played it in a manner that challenged the admiration of everyone who saw them.
But the Shamrocks were better, and the Shamrocks won the third and deciding game.
They, too, played the hardest game that they have ever played in their life, and they, too, deserve unbounded credit for the wonderful way in which they played it.
For that matter, both teams played throughout the series of three games as no other two senior teams have ever played before. In the first place, every one of the 3 matches was clean as clean could be, and in the next place they were the fastest exhibitions of hockey that any one, no matter where, has seen. Monday’s match, considering the heavy ice, was faster than people have been accustomed to. Tuesday’s match was faster than most people would ever have thought of; but the last eleven minutes’ play of last night’s contest beat them all. In fact, to those who watched that last eleven minutes’ play, the remainder of the match was well lost. Not because that period was more particularly brilliant than the remainder of the match, but because it was the crucial time in which the destiny of the cup was to be decided, when each team had four goals to its credit. There was a wait just previous to that, on account of a broken skate, and it was evident to everyone that the team which scored the first goal, after the play had started again, would virtually win the series. When play did start, the excitement became so intense that men even forgot to shout, but swore under their breath, while the players used their very last efforts, and there is little use denying that both teams were pretty well used up, for the pace had been fast and furious throughout the evening, to score that goal.
The fight had become in reality a desperate one. The pace was the pace that kills. Worn out as they were, and yet moving like lightning and acting with an intelligence, stimulated to a superlative sense of acuteness, by the terrible excitement under which they were labouring, there was little to choose between either team, or either’s manner of play. One minute passed, another minute passed, and a third, and nothing was accomplished on either side, beyond preventing opponents from scoring, but so many were the narrow escapes on either side, so quick and severe were the attacks made by both, so close the checking, so accurate and deliberate the team work, that the strain became almost too great to bear. Ten minutes of agony to the adherents of both teams passed in this manner, and then while Bain collided with a Shamrock man and fell prone on the ice, hurt in the head, the puck flew through the Winnipeg goal. The goal was not allowed, because the referee maintained that it took place after Bain had been hurt. It took Bain quite awhile to recover, and incidentally gave the crowd an opportunity to get back its breath, which for the last two or three minutes had been coming in short gasps.
There was then only one more minute to play, and more than ever it became a certainty that the scoring of the next goal would decide the fate of the cup. The puck was faced fairly near the Winnipeg goal, and in ten seconds Trihey had scored what was the deciding game. Almost immediately after that he broke his skate, and there had to be another wait with only twenty seconds left. When the skate was changed, there were a few turns on the ice, and all was over. No one expected that Winnipeg would manage to score another goal, but such is the feeling for a brave antagonist, that while a sigh of relief went up, when it was finally known that the cup was safe, there was mingled with it a feeling of regret that the Winnipeg team had to leave empty handed, after making such a noble fight. The ovation which the Shamrocks got this time was something never to be forgotten. So enthusiastic was it, that the spectators for nearly a quarter of an hour, remained in their seats to witness it. They were hugged and kissed, and carried away, and thrown in the air, and were no doubt, proud as they must have felt, glad to reach their dressing room after all they had gone through that night. Whatever honour was done them they deserved. By their wonderful play they upheld Montreal’s honour in the hockey world, by their fair and gentlemanly treatment of their opponents, they won the friendship and admiration of all who have witnessed these three record matches. His Excellency the Governor General dropped in during the last ten minutes. He had been induced to drive over from the patriotic entertainment, for a little while, and though His Excellency no doubt has witnessed all sorts and conditions of sport, it was easy to see that those ten minutes impressed him greatly.
“When is the next game?†he asked, and it was noticeable that he was disappointed when he was informed that such games are indeed few and far between.
And the games are over.
Games won by skill, fairly and squarely on the merits won by a great team from another great team. Won after a series of matches that is without parallel in the annals of the sport, and won after a series of matches that have never been equaled for the sportsmanlike spirit in which they were played. Games where the honour of the victors is not greater than that of the vanquished, and where all share alike in the glory that surrounds such great contest.
Think of it, three matches and there is but one goal between the two teams and each match won by one goal. That is a record to look on with pride, and the record that will go down through the course of time and mark an epoch in sport.
How was the victory won?
Let a gentleman from Winnipeg answer that question. “The Shamrocks have the greatest hockey team that ever went on the ice. Their work at every point is perfect and their team play is, without exception, the greatest that has ever been seen. The manner in which their players have been schooled has been a revelation to us, and we go home feeling proud to have been defeated by such opponents.â€
There you are.
Their team is perfect. No point is left unguarded, and no advantage is permitted to remain unused. It may have often appeared to people on the side that the team is letting up, that some player is off colour, that the forwards are blocking the defence, or some other such thing is taking place, where they are mistaken. There is a sudden dash of a forward down, probably he is alone, and all attention is centred on him. There may be a scrimmage in front of the opponent’s goal and you are surprised to find a player where he was least expected and there is a shot from an unexpected quarter. An opponent gets through and finds a clear road to the Shamrock poles, and when he gets up there he finds, not only the three defence men that he knew were there, but the four forwards whom he thought were left yards in the rear.
When an opposing combination works the puck to the Shamrock poles it has not a defence alone to contend with, it has a complete team, and it is this style of game, carried on in a methodical manner, and at all times, that has won for the Shamrocks their championship, and now has been the means of successfully defending their great trophy.
That Victoria team is a splendid one. They have, with one exception, of course, the finest lot of players that ever faced a referee, and nothing but the game the Shamrocks play could ever have defeated them. They are strong, inclined to be rough, perhaps, but in a fair manner, and being big heavy men, are entitled to make use of any advantage they possess in this way. Not that they have done so, except in a legitimate manner. But hockey is a game where strength should have its place and the men who have battled in these matches are not the men to bother about a good fair check.
That defence of the Victorias is a fine one, and only such great stick handlers and such splendid shots as the Shamrocks could work their way to victory through them. Johnstone and Flett are a splendid pair to have in front of a goal, and they stood off the Shamrock attacks as no other team has done.
There were two features in last night’s matches that appealed to the audience. Your true hockey expert on the side likes to pick out some little incident, or great one for that matter, and seizes upon it as a groundwork for his opinions. In last night’s match there were two incidents that to the spectators were the telling points in the game - Arthur Farrell’s run and Harry Trihey’s shot that scored the last goal and won the match. One was equally as important as the other and each were necessary to the victory; both were magnificent and both caused a howl that was remarkable.
HOW THE CUP WAS SAVED.
At 8.27 all was ready and the game commenced.
Bain broke away and the puck went over to Gingras and the latter started his run, but Brannen jumped to the side and bore the rubber away. Gingras recovered, but was checked by Scanlan. However, the puck slid up. Wall lifted clear and Johnstone returned. There was a warm attack on the Shamrock poles. The puck was lifted away by Tansey and Gingras was offside on Johnstone’s return. The pass back gave Wall a chance and he lifted to the Victoria goal. Flett saved and batted it aside to save a score from Jack Brannen’s rush. Trihey’s check and Campbell’s run sent the puck into the side, near the peg poles. From the face the puck traveled over to Gingras and he went up and had a try at the Shamrock poles. Tansey stopped and Brannen got away like a flash with Bain’s return. Over it went to Farrell, who got down the ice and passed to Scanlan, who shot. The shot was stopped and Johnstone cross-checked Farrell, when the latter attempted to close in on Merritt. The puck was carried to the other end and Roxy had a shot. Brannen got away with the puck. Back it came with Bain in charge and a pass gave Campbell a chance, which Tansey spoiled. The Shamrock point carried the puck out, and losing it, got back in time to stop a shot from Bain. He could not clear, however, and McKenna was called upon to take care of one from Gingras, which he did. Then Tansey took one out of a nasty looking corner and got the rubber away. Scanlan got a chance and broke through to the Winnipeg end and lammed in a shot that made Whitey Merritt stand up. There was a great rush to the Shamrock stronghold and Tansey saved in great style. There was some hot work here for a few moments, and these moments were anxious ones for Shamrock hearts until Fred Scanlan got the puck and carried it out. Between Scanlan and Farrell the puck was brought into Victoria territory and Scanlan had a shot which Flett took in charge. There was an exchange of lifts between Wall and Johnstone and one puck struck McKenna and bounced off the ice. Bain tried to get in from the face, but Tansey spoiled his shot and Trihey carried the puck and had a wide shot. Campbell carried the rubber back with a splendid run and shot. McKenna stopped and Bain got another in from the rebound. McKenna stopped this, too, and Wall took the puck away from Roxy. He went down the ice. Three men jumped at him, but he bore the puck down by main strength, and it slid over to the side. Trihey had it and a second later shot it into the net, taking the first goal for the Shamrocks.
The second goal came in the way of a surprise to the Shamrocks. There was a rush by Bain and the puck was hovering around the Shamrock poles. Then Gingras had a chance and a neat side shot scored for the Victorias. This was short and sweet, and the puck was in Shamrock territory all the time.
Brannen did the trick at the face and the puck went over to Farrell, who with Trihey’s assistance got right in on the goal. Flett blocked the shot and cleared. Bain attempted to get in on McKenna, but Brannen caught him in time, and then Tansey stopped a dangerous rush by the Victoria forwards. There was a pretty run by Farrell, but an offside pass in front of the Winnipeg poles spoiled their chance. There was some end to end work and much offside play, which was promptly stopped. There was considerable play in Winnipeg half, but there was no really likely looking shot, save one which Flett attended to. There was a clear and the puck landed in Shamrock half. Bain took an offside pass and went in. When he shot Umpire Christmas put up his hand. The players did not appear to notice this, and kept on playing, Bain had his eye with him and succeeded in getting the game stopped. Then the matter was explained and the Winnipeggers were given credit for a goal. This was a damper for the Shamrocks, and the Winnipeg contingent let themselves loose in great style.
Scanlan’s rush was the first feature of the fourth game. An offside in front of the poles saved the Victorias. The puck was sent out, but Trihey and Farrell carried it down. Farrell’s pass to Trihey was just at the right spot, and the shot tallied, making the score two all. It appeared that this was a bit offside, but nobody appeared to bother and so the goal counted, but this just evened matters up.
The fifth game was remarkable for a brilliant dash by Farrell. There was a dash at the Shamrock poles. McKenna stopped a shot and the puck fell beside the post. Farrell took it. He twisted through the defence, dodged Bain, and sent off for the other end. By the time he reached centre he was traveling at a great rate. A swoop on one side and now Johnstone was passed, a glide on the other and Flett was behind, one straight path led to the goal. Farrell took it and before Merritt rightly understood the situation the puck landed just in the centre of the net and the Shamrocks were in the lead. This run of Farrell’s was just the counterpart of his famous dash last winter, which won the Montreal match, and was the prettiest bit of work done in the game to that time. It brought every man to his feet, and the applause that greeted Farrell’s performance was deafening.
The half ended without any further scoring though it was affirmed by the Shamrocks that Tansey landed the puck in the net after a brilliant dash, and there were many people who were ready to corroborate this, but it was not official, and so the goal does not go on record. Scanlan looked likely at one time, but a trip stopped his progress when he landed in front. Then he had another and met Johnstone’s body squarely with the result that he was obliged to go off for a few minutes to recuperate. Trihey missed a splendid pass in front just before the call of time.
As Gingras passed the telegraph desk he was called and a handsome bouquet of flowers was handed to him. He smilingly received them and went off the ice with the cheers of the crowd.
The Victorias opened the attack in the early stages of the second half, and Gingras sent in a hot one. Farrell carried the puck out and passed to Trihey. The latter shot wide, and Gingras carried the puck away and a rush for the Shamrock poles followed. An offside spoiled the play and Farrell followed with another. Trihey made a good dash. He was belaboured by Johnstone, for which the latter was warned. There followed a series of lifts, and the game slackened, while the forwards got a little steam. Rushes by both forward lines places both goals in jeopardy in turn. Trihey and Flett came together and both were sent off. Then Scanlan got his chance and sent a beautiful shot in scoring.
This placed the Shamrocks two to the good and matters looked easy for them. But the crowd knew nothing of the anxious moments that were to follow.
The Shamrocks kept hammering away at the Victoria goal. Trihey and Farrell lined two beauties in, but both were taken care of by Merritt. Gingras had a chance and got away to the other end and before anybody realized it he had scored on a neat side shot. This put the Victorias within hailing distance and they brightened up accordingly.
There were fifteen minutes to play and almost anything was possible.
Early in the eighth game Brannen was sent off for a fault which looked more like Gingras as the latter was holding the Shamrock man’s stick. Then Gingras got his chance and dodged in on the Shamrock defence and scored.
Consternation reigned in the Shamrock, and the little band of Winnipeg men together with their Montreal friends frantically cheered and cheered again for their favourites.
Brannen was still off and the ninth game commenced without him. Farrell got in a fine run and he and Johnstone met in the corner, Farrell rolled to his feet and the Winnipeg man followed suit. Both were promptly sent off, each asking the other what he had done. This came with five Shamrock men and six Victorias went on for awhile until Brannen jumped on and evened matters and the other pair were soon on again. Flett’s skate was loose and this caused a delay. Play being resumed Campbell went in and made a nice shot, which was stopped. There was a run by Farrell and the Winnipeg goal was in danger for a moment. Brannen had a chance, but Bain spoiled him and an offside followed. Scanlan carried the rubber in front, but Johnstone bore it away. Now the Shamrock poles were threatened, but McKenna was equal to the occasion and the scene of operations was changed by Wall’s run. Back came the puck and Campbell looked dangerous for a moment, but Farrell checked him in time. The teams were tiring rapidly and some of the men looked as if they were gone. Scanlan had a beautiful chance, but Johnstone took him off his feet and saved that. Trihey a chance, but the puck struck Flett and that was off. Then the puck went to the other end and there was a hot time until Wall carried it out. Winnipeg was hard pressed, and it looked as if they were gone. Farrell had the puck on the side and was flying in at a great rate. Bain on the other side of the ice rolled down, just as Farrell shot and the whistle just sounded before the puck landed in the net. The goal was not allowed and Bain was carried off the ice, claiming a sprained ankle. He returned and the game went on. There was just one minute to play and when this was known the excitement was intense. The face took place about twenty feet to one side of the Winnipeg poles. Brannen snapped the puck back landing it at Trihey’s stick, a quick twist and it was safely caged in the net and the Shamrocks had broken the tie just ten seconds after the sound of the whistle.
Fifty second remained to play and when thirty of them had expired Trihey’s skate broke and the game was stopped. Trihey went in for another one. Then he came out again and the puck was faced near the Shamrock poles. Brannen batted the puck aside and Trihey carried it away. Slowly the seconds passed. Finally the gong rang out and the match was over. Like an avalanche the crowd bore out on the ice cheering like mad. The teams attempting to cheer each other were swept away on the human torrent and were carried off the ice and were swallowed up in the dark entrances. The cheers of the multitude echoed and re-echoed, the tension was relieved and the Stanley Cup was safe.
