The 228th Battalion, CEF was a unit in the Canadian Expeditionary Force

Canadian Expeditionary Force

The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...

 during the First World War. Based in North Bay, Ontario

North Bay, Ontario

North Bay is a city in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is the seat of Nipissing District, and takes its name from its position on the shore of Lake Nipissing.-History:...

, the unit began recruiting in early 1916 in Nipissing and Sudbury. After sailing to England in December 1916, the battalion became the 6th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops. The 228th (Northern Fusiliers) Battalion, CEF had one Officer Commanding: Lieut-Col. A. Earchman.

The battalion established an 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...

 team

Toronto 228th Battalion (NHA)

The Toronto 228th Battalion was an ice hockey team, composed entirely of troops in the 228th Battalion, CEF of the Canadian Army, in the National Hockey Association for the 1916–17 season....

, which played in the 1916–17

1916-17 NHA season

The 1916–17 NHA season was the eighth and final season of the National Hockey Association. Six teams were to play two half-seasons of ten games each, but this was disrupted and only four teams finished the season...

 NHA

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...

 season. The squad, playing in their khaki military uniforms, proved very popular, and was third in league standings with a 6-4 record when they dropped out of the league upon being ordered overseas. A scandal arose when hockey stars Eddie Oatman

Eddie Oatman

Edward Cole "Eddie" Oatman was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He was among the elite goal scorers of his era. Among his 32 years playing professional ice hockey, Eddie was named an all-star for ten consecutive seasons by the Pacific Coast Hockey Association...

 and Gordon Meeking

Gordon Meeking

Gordon Sydney Meeking was a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Ottawa Senators , Toronto 228th Battalion, Victoria Aristocrats and Regina Capitals.-Playing career:...

were discharged, both subsequently claiming they had been paid bonuses and promised commissions to play hockey for the 228th.