1917–18 Montreal Wanderers season
Encyclopedia
The 1917–18 Montreal Wanderers season was the 15th and final season of play of the Montreal Wanderers
ice hockey
club. Along with the Canadiens, Ottawa and Quebec, the club voted to suspend the National Hockey Association
(NHA) and form the National Hockey League
(NHL) to freeze out the Toronto NHA franchise owner. On the ice club still had difficulties fielding a competitive club, and when the Montreal Arena
burned down, owner Sam Lichtenhein
elected to suspend the club.
. The Wanderers played on opening night December 19, 1917, against Toronto, winning 10–9. It would be Wanderers' only win in the NHL. Adding to the Wanderers' woes were the poor attendance at the game of an estimated 700, despite allowing free admission to military personnel and family. The Wanderer then lost the next three games and owner Lichtenhein threatened to withdraw from the league unless he could get some players. Although they could have acquired Joe Malone in the draft they turned to the PCHA and signed goaltender Hap Holmes. They also obtained permission to sign such players as Frank Foyston
, Jack Walker and others if they could do so. The Wanderers loaned Holmes to the Seattle Metropolitans
of the PCHA but he eventually found his way back to the NHL when Seattle loaned him to Toronto
.
A league meeting was planned to deal with the situation, however on January 2, 1918, events overtook the league when the Montreal Arena
burned down, leaving the Canadiens and Wanderers homeless. The Canadiens moved into the 3,250-seat Jubilee Rink. The Hamilton arena offered to provide a home for the Wanderers, but owner Lichtenhein disbanded the team on January 4, after the other clubs decided against giving him any players. The remaining three teams would complete the season. Lichtenhein retained his partnership in the NHA/NHL, voting with the Canadiens and Senators in future meetings as needed.
This ended the story of a club that won the Stanley Cup
outright four times, and a Cup challenge in another season. It was also the end of a terrific rivalry with Ottawa HC
, especially the period between 1904 and 1911, when the two teams dominated Stanley Cup play. Montreal fans would have only one team until the coming of the Montreal Maroons
in 1924, formed by former Wanderers owner James Strachan.
† Montreal Arena burned down and Wanderers withdraw. Two Wanderers games count
as wins for Canadiens and Toronto.
Montreal Wanderers
The Montreal Wanderers were a Canadian amateur, and later becoming a professional men's ice hockey team. The team played in the Federal Amateur Hockey League , the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association , the National Hockey Association and briefly the National Hockey League . The Wanderers are...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
club. Along with the Canadiens, Ottawa and Quebec, the club voted to suspend the National Hockey Association
National Hockey Association
The National Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey organization with teams in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. It is the direct predecessor organization to today's National Hockey League...
(NHA) and form the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL) to freeze out the Toronto NHA franchise owner. On the ice club still had difficulties fielding a competitive club, and when the Montreal Arena
Montreal Arena
The Montreal Arena, also known as Westmount Arena, was an indoor arena located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on the corner of St. Catherine Street and Wood Avenue. It was likely one of the first arenas designed expressly for hockey, opening in 1898...
burned down, owner Sam Lichtenhein
Sam Lichtenhein
Samuel "Sam" Edward Lichtenhein was a businessman and sports executive. He was the owner and president of the Montreal Wanderers ice hockey team of the National Hockey Association , later National Hockey League and the owner of the Montreal Royals baseball team.-Personal life:Lichtenhein was born...
elected to suspend the club.
Regular season
It was the first season of the new National Hockey LeagueNational Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. The Wanderers played on opening night December 19, 1917, against Toronto, winning 10–9. It would be Wanderers' only win in the NHL. Adding to the Wanderers' woes were the poor attendance at the game of an estimated 700, despite allowing free admission to military personnel and family. The Wanderer then lost the next three games and owner Lichtenhein threatened to withdraw from the league unless he could get some players. Although they could have acquired Joe Malone in the draft they turned to the PCHA and signed goaltender Hap Holmes. They also obtained permission to sign such players as Frank Foyston
Frank Foyston
Frank Corbett "The Flash" Foyston was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward.Born in Minesing, Ontario, Foyston played for the Toronto Blueshirts of the NHA, the Seattle Metropolitans in the PCHA, the Victoria Cougars in the WCHL/WHL and Detroit Cougars in the NHL.He won the Stanley Cup with...
, Jack Walker and others if they could do so. The Wanderers loaned Holmes to the Seattle Metropolitans
Seattle Metropolitans
The Seattle Metropolitans were a professional ice hockey team based in Seattle, Washington which played in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association from 1915 to 1924. They won the Stanley Cup in 1917, becoming the first American team to do so...
of the PCHA but he eventually found his way back to the NHL when Seattle loaned him to Toronto
Toronto Arenas
The Toronto Arenas, Toronto Blueshirts or Torontos was a professional men's ice hockey team that played in the first two seasons of the National Hockey League . It was operated by the owner of the Arena Gardens, the Toronto Arena Company...
.
A league meeting was planned to deal with the situation, however on January 2, 1918, events overtook the league when the Montreal Arena
Montreal Arena
The Montreal Arena, also known as Westmount Arena, was an indoor arena located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on the corner of St. Catherine Street and Wood Avenue. It was likely one of the first arenas designed expressly for hockey, opening in 1898...
burned down, leaving the Canadiens and Wanderers homeless. The Canadiens moved into the 3,250-seat Jubilee Rink. The Hamilton arena offered to provide a home for the Wanderers, but owner Lichtenhein disbanded the team on January 4, after the other clubs decided against giving him any players. The remaining three teams would complete the season. Lichtenhein retained his partnership in the NHA/NHL, voting with the Canadiens and Senators in future meetings as needed.
This ended the story of a club that won the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
outright four times, and a Cup challenge in another season. It was also the end of a terrific rivalry with Ottawa HC
Ottawa Senators (original)
The Ottawa Senators were an amateur, and later, professional, ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Canada which existed from 1883 to 1954. The club was the first hockey club in Ontario, a founding member of the National Hockey League and played in the NHL from 1917 until 1934...
, especially the period between 1904 and 1911, when the two teams dominated Stanley Cup play. Montreal fans would have only one team until the coming of the Montreal Maroons
Montreal Maroons
The Montreal Maroons was a professional men's ice hockey team in the National Hockey League . They played in the NHL from 1924 to 1938, winning the Stanley Cup in 1926 and 1935...
in 1924, formed by former Wanderers owner James Strachan.
Game log
| Month | Day | Visitor | Score | Home | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. | 19 | Toronto | 9 | Wanderers | 10 |
| 21 | Canadiens | 11 | Wanderers | 2 | |
| 26 | Ottawa | 6 | Wanderers | 3 | |
| 29 | Wanderers | 2 | Ottawa | 9 | |
| Jan. | 2† | Wanderers | - | Canadiens | - |
| 5† | Wanderers | - | Toronto | - |
† Montreal Arena burned down and Wanderers withdraw. Two Wanderers games count
as wins for Canadiens and Toronto.