The 1917-18 season - Everything we know

[tarheelhockey]

i have ottawa at -22 goal differential during that 1-6 span (17 GF, 39 GA). nighbor and gerard did not play (both sick) in the 10-4 loss to the habs, and nighbor played only as a sub in the 8-2 loss to toronto, so it seems misleading to say they finally got nighbor and got over their injury woes, but went into a tailspin.

this was the time of the great influenza pandemic, so i wonder if they had flu. one paper mentioned nighbor getting an inoculation.

One likely culprit is that their substitutes were being significantly outplayed. It's impossible to know for sure, but the circumstantial evidence is there:

- The team struggled to maintain a high level of play from period-to-period, often collapsing mid-game.
- Cy Denneny's tendency to take penalties meant that Ottawa's reserves would have seen more ice time than the norm, and at unexpected intervals.
- As noted, at least three players were simply released for poor play.
- The following season, Ottawa's situation improved dramatically when they acquired Harry Cameron. This gave them a bona fide star at every starting position, and it pushed Eddie Gerard up front to wing. That meant George Boucher and Punch Broadbent were coming off the bench as substitutes, a huge improvement over the previous year.

 

[tarheelhockey]

I'm not sure of the veracity of this information, which is sourced from a memorial page for Ken Randall. If accurate it's a funny anecdote from the early penny-pinching days of professional hockey.

Ken was in the starting line-up as a defenceman, paired with Harry Cameron on Jan 5, 1918 at Toronto versus the Montreal Wanderers. The games significant because the Wanderers rink had burned down 3 days earlier forcing the team to withdraw from the NHL. The Wanderers decided not to come to Toronto to play this scheduled game and so Toronto lined up for the opening face-off, took the puck down the ice and scored on the empty net. The players then left the ice, winning 1-0 by default. It is believed that the Arenas didn't want to lose the gate receipts and took a legal precaution by playing the game. I believe it is the only time in NHL history that such a "game" has been played.

 

[VanIslander]

HEADLINE NEWS

Fred "Cyclone" Taylor scored 32 goals in 18 games in the 1917-18 season and in the fall after their team won the 1917 Stanley Cup championship, all-time greats Gordon Roberts and Bernie Morris continued their top-level play the next winter by scoring 20 goals in 18 games that very same 1917-18 season as Cyclone.

You cannot talk about the 1917-18 season of top-level hockey without mention of Cyclone Taylor, Gordie Roberts and Bernie Morris. Hugh Lehman and Heck Fowler probably shouldn't be panned either. HHOFer Dunderdale led his team in scoring in his third most productive season of his career. [MOD]

All this during "the birth year of the NHL". (It was not yet an era to turn one's back on the rest of the hockey world.)

 

[tarheelhockey]

All this during "the birth year of the NHL". (It was not yet an era to turn one's back on the rest of the hockey world.)

Most definitely not. I hope that wasn't the impression given. The idea behind the thread is to be a repository for research and info on the hockey world during each season. That would always include leagues outside the NHL, but especially in the pre-consolidation era.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

A random tidbit from the ATD Dishing the Dirt Thread:

For a mere two years (1916-17 and 1917-18), the PCHA had an award for "Champion, All-Around Player," that is sometimes erroneously referred to as "PCHA MVP" today. Frank Foyston won it in 1916-17 and Cyclone Taylor won it in 1917-18: http://blogs.seattletimes.com/take2...ttles-forgotten-pro-superstar-frank-foylston/

For some reason, the dictatorial Frank Patrick got rid of the award the following season.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Source

* Goals-scored is indicted in parentheses.

* Lineups were reported inconsistently during this period, with some game summaries listing left-right-center and others simply listing center-wing-wing. Similarly, some summaries list defense-defense while others list point-cover, and there is never an indication of which side a defenseman played. What you see below is as close to accurate as I could get -- in some games the wing positions are officially verified, while in others they are based on the assumption that the wingers didn't make any changes from their normal assignments. The defense sides are simply an arbitrary guess.

Game 1 – Dec 19, 1917 (@ Ottawa)
Malone (5) – Lalonde (1) – Pitre (1)
Hall - Corbeau
Vezina
(Couture, Berlinguette, Laviolette)

Game 2 – Dec 21, 1917 (@ Wanderers)
Malone (3) – Lalonde (3) – Pitre (2)
Hall – Corbeau (1)
Vezina
(Couture (2), Berlinguette, Laviolette)

Game 3 – Dec 26, 1917 (@ Toronto)
Malone (1) – Lalonde (1) – Pitre
Hall – Corbeau (3)
Vezina
(Couture, Berlinguette)

Game 4 – Dec 29, 1917 (vs Toronto)
Malone (2) – Lalonde (4) – Pitre (1)
Hall – Corbeau (1)
Vezina
(Couture, Berlinguette (1))

Game 5 – Jan 2, 1918 (vs Wanderers)
Forfeited by Wanderers

Game 6 – Jan 5, 1918 (vs Ottawa)
Malone (2) – Lalonde (3) – Pitre (1)
Hall – Corbeau
Vezina
(Couture, Berlinguette, Laviolette)

Game 7 – Jan 9, 1918 (@ Toronto)
Malone(2) – Lalonde (3) – Pitre (1)
Hall – Corbeau
Vezina
(Couture, Berlinguette, Laviolette)

Game 8 – Jan 12, 1918 (vs Ottawa)
Malone (5) – Lalonde (2) – Pitre (2)
Hall – Corbeau
Vezina
(Bell, Couture, Berlinguette, Laviolette)

Game 9 – Jan 19, 1918 (vs Toronto)
Malone (1) – Lalonde (1) – Pitre (3)
Hall – Corbeau
Vezina
(Bell, Couture, Berlinguette, Laviolette)

Game 10 – Jan 21, 1918 (@ Ottawa)
Couture – Malone (1) – Pitre
Hall (3) – Corbeau
Vezina
(Berlinguette, Laviolette (1))

Game 11 – Jan 23, 1918 (vs Ottawa)
Couture – Malone (2) – Pitre
Hall – Corbeau (1)
Vezina
(Laviolette, Berlinguette, Bell)

Game 12 – Jan 28, 1918 (@ Toronto)
Malone (1) – Lalonde – Pitre
Hall – Corbeau
Vezina
(Couture, Laviolette, Berlinguette)

Game 13 – Jan 30, 1918 (@ Ottawa)
Couture – Malone (4) – Pitre
Hall (1) – Corbeau
Vezina
(Couture (?), Berlinguette)

Game 14 – Feb 2, 1918 (vs Toronto)
McDonald (1) – Malone (4) – Pitre (3)
Hall (2) – Corbeau (1)
Vezina
(Laviolette, Couture, Bell)

Game 15 – Feb 6, 1918 (@ Ottawa)
McDonald (1) – Malone (1) – Pitre
Hall – Corbeau (1)
Vezina
(Laviolette, Couture, Berlinguette)

Game 16 – Feb 9, 1918 (vs Toronto)
McDonald (2) – Malone – Pitre (1)
Hall – Corbeau
Vezina
(Couture, Laviolette, Berlinguette)

Game 17 – Feb 16, 1918 (vs Ottawa)
Malone (4) – Lalonde (2) – Pitre
Hall (1) – Corbeau
Vezina
(McDonald (3), Laviolette, Berlinguette, Couture)

Game 18 – Feb 18, 1918 (@ Toronto)
Malone (3) – Lalonde (2) – Pitre (2)
Hall (1) – Corbeau
Vezina
(McDonald, Laviolette (1), Berlinguette)

Game 19 – Feb 20, 1918 (vs Toronto)
Malone (3) – Lalonde (1) – Pitre
Hall – Corbeau
Vezina
(McDonald (1), Laviolette, Berlinguette, Couture)

Game 20 – Feb 25, 1918 (@ Ottawa)
Couture – Malone – Pitre
Hall – Corbeau
Vezina
(Laviolette, Berlinguette, Bell)

Game 21 – Feb 27, 1918 (vs Ottawa, in QC)
Lalonde (1) – Malone – Pitre
Hall – Corbeau
Vezina
(McDonald, Couture, Laviolette)

Game 22 – March 2, 1918 (@ Toronto)
McDonald (1) – Lalonde (1) – Laviolette
Hall – Corbeau
Vezina
(Berlinguette (1), Couture)

Curious as to the source newspaper(s) for the above and for other teams. Have access to the old Montreal Herald, on microfilm and am researching other data. Elmer Ferguson - in charge of NHL stats worked at the Montreal Herald from the start of the NHL until the paper folded in the second half of the fifties.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Curious as to the source newspaper(s) for the above and for other teams. Have access to the old Montréal herald, on microfilm and am researching other data. Elmer Ferguson - in charge of NHL stats worked at the Montréal Herald from the start of the NHL until the paper folded in the second half of the fifties.

Primarily the Montreal Gazette, Toronto World, and Ottawa Citizen. From time to time I had to search other papers due to a missing issue in one of the main 3.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Thank You

Primarily the Montreal Gazette, Toronto World, and Ottawa Citizen. From time to time I had to search other papers due to a missing issue in one of the main 3.

Thank you. Once I start posting from the Montreal Herald and other non-internet sources there may be a few opinion shifts.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Looking forward to it! The print versions simply aren't attainable down here.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Nha/nhl

Looking forward to it! The print versions simply aren't attainable down here.

Presently reading about the 1917 NHA to NHL shift. Did not wish to duplicate or overlook data.

 

[Sdrawkcab321]

really enjoy what I've read so far. I love old hockey.

 

[Sanf]

"Heck" Fowler has been mentioned several times in the All-Star thread and his name has come up in here too.I have copied one article about him from this season couple years ago. It is kind of trivial and overboard praising , but just to introduce bit more unfamiliar player from that time. He was really rising star at that time. I guess more could have expected from his career. Missed the next season due to war and rest of his career was more or less just the third guy in PCHA (IMO).

It was written by A.P Garvey when season was only four games young. Garvey was from Vancouver and Fowler played in Seattle so it passes the bias test. First it was copied to Calgary Herald. About month later it was published in Morning Leader and they claimed that it was taken from Toronto Mail and Empire. The original source wasn´t mentioned anymore and the pieces that told when it was written were cut out. Indirect quotes that were cut from that one article could be seen even few years later. Story how the hype spread those days.

The Calgary Daily Herald - Jan 18, 1918

FOWLER CONSIDERED KING OF THE GOALKEEPERS IN HOCKEY

"Ladie--ees and gentl´men, permit me to introduce Mr. Norman Fowler, Saskatoon´s most distinguished citizen, and the world´s greatest living goalkeeper, he eats ém alive, does this youthful exponent of the world´s most thrilling pastime. Long may he reign."

One of these days Lester Patrick, manager of the Seattle Mets, champions of the hockey world, will be heard to advantage in the foregoing address when Pacific Coast hockey fans proclaim the youthful Mr. Fowler, king of goalkeepers in professional hockey. Two years ago this modest youngster was playing for a "bush" team back in the middle west. Today he ranks at the greatest custodian in the history of the game and they´re a lot of good ones blocking goals in hockey both in the east and west.

A year ago when Fowler joined the Spokane club, he was carefully coached by Lester Patrick, told what to do and when to do it. Lester tore loose with one of his great, before-the-battle speeches and Fowler, sitting idly by, took it all in without even cracking a smile. Alltogether Lester used up five minutes of his most valuable time in coaching his goalie, and when it was all over, the youngster, streching himself and yanking on his pads, observed, "I take it that you want me to go out and play my usual game." That after dinner remark made him famous. He stepped out and played sensational game in goal-his usual game he called it- and he´s been doing the same ever since.

Hughie Lehman is one of the wonders of the age in stopping shots, but even this veteran goalkeeper admits that Fowler´s playing has them all beaten. If the youngsters ever gets out and improves on his usual game, the opposing forwards are going to drop from exhaustion trying to snare goals.

Better Than Vezina

Vezina, of the Canadiens, is as cool as a chunk of ice when stopping shots, but Fowler goes him one better. He has been the whole show in two overtime battles and never batted an eye-lash when under the greatest strain. Vezina is going back and? Fowler is just entering on his hockey career and he promises to make the old-timers look foolish before he is many years in the professional game.

Pacific Coast fans in every town on the circuit are handing the youngster boquets for his remarkable playing in the nets, and it´s a cinch that he´ll be crowned king of them all before the season is half way over. "Heck" as his hockey career under the sobriquet of "Hick". He was new to city life and young and unsophisticated when he came to coast a year ago, and his antics caused much merriment at first, but he has become world wise in the past twelve months and is now using up a lot of the spotlight, outgrown the name od "Hick," and is now Mr. Norman Fowler, boss goalkeeper of the universe.

We used to rave over Hughie Lehman, and that veteran is still good for many seasons and will always be a star, "Happy" Holmes was one of the game´s wonders, Vezina was invincible, while Paddy Moran, the Quebec veteran, was for fifteen years a puzzle to opposing forwards, but Fowler is now all the rage. His work stamps him as a marvel, and if opposing teams had to work hard to score goals against Seattle last season, they´re going to face more difficult task this season. He may not stop them all, but few will get by if he gets good support from his teammates.

 

[Canadiens1958]

1917-18 Season - Elmer Ferguson & the Montreal Herald

Looking at the old Montreal Herald and the various Elmer Ferguson(E.W.) contributions,on microfilm at the BanQ in Montreal. More interested in the emergence of the NHL out of the NHA but have the time to view the 1917-18 season.

Elmer Ferguson was the dean of Montreal sports writers in 1917 as well as the NHL statistician his columns/articles appeared in the Montreal Herald until 1958 when the paper folded and he went to work for the Montreal Star. The Montreal Star carried his articles and columns into the early 1970s.. Though I have only had the chance to read about the December 1917 games Elmer Ferguson's knowledge of ice hockey, the NHA/NHL, his contacts at all levels distinguish his work from the normal sports reporting of the day.

MONTREAL HERALD
December 20,1917. First two games, Elmer Ferguson reports on the Canadiens vs Ottawa game and effectively offers his insights about the new season. Wire story about the Wanderers / Toronto game.

Ottawa is viewed as weakened by app 40% by the absence of Frank Nighbor and Eddie Gerard playing back on defence.

Canadiens are viewed as app. 40% stronger by the addition of Joe Malone and Joe Hall.

Wanderers are viewed as being 1 or 2 additions short. A strong forward and some reserve talent would make them a dangerous team.

Toronto is viewed as a team needing more balance on attack and a netminder of class(the last comment proved to be very prophetic.)

December 21, 1917. Ferguson raises an issue that was critical to ice hockey during WWI, military exemptions. Without going into great detail, it was possible to get military service exemptions for varioua reasons - medical, family, etc but the exempted party could not play hockey. Odie Cleghorn was an example. Exempted but prohibited from playing hockey until March 1918. On the other hand military returnees - Lou Marsh, Steve Vair, Tom Melville that had come back early and had exemptions could referee in the NHL and earn money doing so.

December 22 - 26 various stories, speculation about player signings - Nighbor, Hap Holmes with Toronto, Frank Foyston and Ed Oatman with the Wanderers.

December 27. Note about Clint Benedict being warned about going down on his knees against the Wanderers and Elmer Ferguson at his best describing the Canadiens at Toronto game. Toronto won 7-5 after losing 5-3 going into the third period. Elmer Ferguson offers insight and a description of the tactics used by both teams. Rarely seen in the reporting of the era.

"First two periods Toronto started rushes abreast at a slow pace, gaining speed and coming into the Canadiens defence at top speed thus being forced to shoot at random. Canadiens started rushes at a bewildering speed, slowed at the Toronto defense, then worked their way around to an advantageous position to shoot. Toronto adopted the same tactic in the last period drawing Corbeau and Hall to beat Vezina in clever fashion."

Insight into various strategies involving the rush and between period adjustments.

December 28,1917. The long trip home. Account of the Canadiens train being delayed 15 hours coming back from Toronto. Two freight trains collide near Brockville, then the Canadiens locomotive goes of the tracks neat Cornwall.

December 29, Marcel Belliveau, Canadiens leading prospect forced to retire after serious injuries suffered in WWI.



December 31, 1917. Speed factor in Canadiens 9-2 win in Montreal against Toronto.. Weather -25 farenheit. Important factor in the days to come.

 

[tarheelhockey]

"First two periods Toronto started rushes abreast at a slow pace, gaining speed and coming into the Canadiens defence at top speed thus being forced to shoot at random. Canadiens started rushes at a bewildering speed, slowed at the Toronto defense, then worked their way around to an advantageous position to shoot. Toronto adopted the same tactic in the last period drawing Corbeau and Hall to beat Vezina in clever fashion."

Insight into various strategies involving the rush and between period adjustments.

Great find! That really is a rare glimpse into the tactics of the day.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Sub Topics

Great find! That really is a rare glimpse into the tactics of the day.

See a number of sub topics arising. The insight into tactics is one major aspect. The impact of WWI is another. The NHA to NHL is a story unto itself. Doubt that this thread is the right venue.

 

[Sanf]

December 21, 1917. Ferguson raises an issue that was critical to ice hockey during WWI, military exemptions. Without going into great detail, it was possible to get military service exemptions for varioua reasons - medical, family, etc but the exempted party could not play hockey. Odie Cleghorn was an example. Exempted but prohibited from playing hockey until March 1918. On the other hand military returnees - Lou Marsh, Steve Vair, Tom Melville that had come back early and had exemptions could referee in the NHL and earn money doing so.

This interests me because I´m far from expert in these military mathers in Canada. I have this one in my notepads. It´s from PCHA.

The Seattle star., January 28, 1918

DICK IRVIN, the star center of the Portland hockey team of last season, may return to the Rosebuds. Pete Muldoon, manager of the Portland seven, has opened negotiations with the Canadian exemption authorities in an effort to secure permission for Irvin to cross the international line.

When Frank Foyston the Seattle captain, was allowed to report to the Metropolitans, a precedene was established, according to Muldoon. Foyston was in class A-2, as is Irvin. With Foyston in Seattle holding himself in readiness for a call from the Canadien authorities, and playing hockey in the meantime, Irvin should be allowed the same privilege, according to Muldoon.

Irvin has been allowed a six months´exemption by the Canadian board, but up to date has not been given permission to leave Canada.

It´s while ago when I went these through but I don´t remember finding any follow up to this story. Now like Cleghorn, Irvin never played on that season (edit. oops he did play on that season. Not in Portland, but Winnipeg). There were others who got permission to play and some who didn´t get. How this was decided? edit. Did this have something to do with their civil job?

 

[Canadiens1958]

Exemptions

This interests me because I´m far from expert in these military mathers in Canada. I have this one in my notepads. It´s from PCHA.

The Seattle star., January 28, 1918


It´s while ago when I went these through but I don´t remember finding any follow up to this story. Now like Cleghorn, Irvin never played on that season (edit. oops he did play on that season. Not in Portland, but Winnipeg). There were others who got permission to play and some who didn´t get. How this was decided? edit. Did this have something to do with their civil job?

Military procédures tend to be vague at the best of times.

That said, there seems to be a number of considérations. Crossing international borders was one. Also there were exemptions for returning servicemen and exemptions for those that did not qualify to serve. Having flat feet tended to disqualify someone from military service but they could qualify to play hockey since flat feet did not prevent someone from playing hockey.

The Odie Cleghorn issue was somewhat puzzling since it seems that either due to injury or a combination of physical factors he could not serve. Yet he could not play hockey either even though playing hockey could allow him to get into military shape
faster and perhaps serve.

The issue would require more study especially the early years of the war and the period when servicemen started returning.

 

[tarheelhockey]

This interests me because I´m far from expert in these military mathers in Canada. I have this one in my notepads. It´s from PCHA.

The Seattle star., January 28, 1918


It´s while ago when I went these through but I don´t remember finding any follow up to this story. Now like Cleghorn, Irvin never played on that season (edit. oops he did play on that season. Not in Portland, but Winnipeg). There were others who got permission to play and some who didn´t get. How this was decided? edit. Did this have something to do with their civil job?

By Winnipeg I assume you mean the Monarchs? Perhaps because they were an amateur team the exemption wasn't necessary?

 

[Canadiens1958]

Amateur Teams

By Winnipeg I assume you mean the Monarchs? Perhaps because they were an amateur team the exemption wasn't necessary?

Company teams with employees were amateur. The issue was not as black and white. Contributing to the war effort employment was a consideration as well.

A parallel issue was how some Young players out of junior did not qualify for military service in Canada but played in the NHA later the 1917-18 NHL.

Also the USA entered WWI well after Canada - April 1, 1917, so this impacted especially from the standpoint of crossing the border.

 

[Sanf]

By Winnipeg I assume you mean the Monarchs? Perhaps because they were an amateur team the exemption wasn't necessary?

In Winnipeg Ypres at senoir level. They renamed the teams because of war. Was Ypres Monarchs before? I have to say that I don´t know.

I haven´t made notes, but I remembered that there were some issues with Jack Walker too. I did google search and found SIHR blog article written by Eric Zweig. It´s mostly about the hunt of Jack Walkers statistical ghost game, but it touches this mather too. Walker was railroader so he might have been "forced" to stay on his job. He apparently played amateur hockey too so maybe Irvins case was similar. Couldn´t leave country and his job, but could play amateur level in there. I guess Foyston didn´t have stratetigally important civil job. Don´t know.

Zweigs article
http://www.sihrhockey.org/__a/blog/index.cfm/2014/7/13/One-Game-Wondered

These might be obvious to someone, but my knowledge from NA hockey relies heavily on what I have read from newspaperarchives. Don´t have easy access to books and not a member of SIHR.

 

[tarheelhockey]

^ I'm not sure of the vagaries of exemption policy at that time, but it would seem unnecessary to restrict enlisted men on the homefront from playing amateur hockey. Stopping them from obtaining exemption to play in the pros was one thing, as in the case of a guy like Nighbor who would have needed to leave his post in order to play for the Sens. But if they wanted to play in their free time while maintaining essential civil employment, well.... why not?

 

[Canadiens1958]

Complex

^ I'm not sure of the vagaries of exemption policy at that time, but it would seem unnecessary to restrict enlisted men on the homefront from playing amateur hockey. Stopping them from obtaining exemption to play in the pros was one thing, as in the case of a guy like Nighbor who would have needed to leave his post in order to play for the Sens. But if they wanted to play in their free time while maintaining essential civil employment, well.... why not?

Issue is rather complex based on the limited research to date. Various issues surface from the possibility of injury while playing hockey, when civil employment overlapped with military - companies with military contracts, etc.

Rather involved with no simple template answers.

 

[Iain Fyffe]

The Odie Cleghorn issue was somewhat puzzling since it seems that either due to injury or a combination of physical factors he could not serve. Yet he could not play hockey either even though playing hockey could allow him to get into military shape faster and perhaps serve.

Cleghorn's exemption was not based on physical factors but on employment. Men who were working in employment that supported the war effort, such as farming or working in a munitions plant, could be exempted from service. His exemption was allowed only on the condition that he actually work and not play professional hockey. (Source: Deceptions & Doublecross.)

I'm not sure where he worked exactly, his draft papers list his profession as a clerk, the 1911 census says he was an oil merchant like his father, and in the 1921 census his profession is salesman.

 

[Iain Fyffe]

Was Ypres Monarchs before? I have to say that I don´t know.

Sort of. Many of the players on the team were previously Monarchs, including Dick Irvin and Stan Marples who had been playing professionally before the war, but it wasn't a 1:1 thing. Normally these pros would have been barred from playing amateur hockey, but the Winnipeg league was a military league at that time, and it was deemed good for morale and all that to allow the best players to play.

 

[Canadiens1958]

1917 Consciption.

Cleghorn's exemption was not based on physical factors but on employment. Men who were working in employment that supported the war effort, such as farming or working in a munitions plant, could be exempted from service. His exemption was allowed only on the condition that he actually work and not play professional hockey. (Source: Deceptions & Doublecross.)

I'm not sure where he worked exactly, his draft papers list his profession as a clerk, the 1911 census says he was an oil merchant like his father, and in the 1921 census his profession is salesman.

Post 1917 Federal Election where conscription was the issue:

http://www.warmuseum.ca/firstworldw...cruitment-and-conscription/conscription-1917/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription_Crisis_of_1917