Bruce Ridpath
Encyclopedia
David Bruce Ridpath was a Canadian professional ice hockey
player and general manager. He was a member of the 1911 Stanley Cup champion Ottawa Senators before an automobile accident ended his playing career.
Ridpath, born in Lakefield, Ontario, as well as playing ice hockey, also was a member of the Toronto Canoe Club and became known as a canoe racer and stunt paddler, performing in shows throughout the world. Ridpath never married and died in 1925 at the age of 40 at St. Michael's Hospital
in Toronto. He suffered a stroke
on May 18 and never regained consciousness.
) in the Ontario Hockey Association
(OHA). As a senior, he joined the Toronto Marlboros
of the OHA in 1905. He turned professional in 1906 with the Toronto team, playing in eight games, scoring 17 goals in their exhibition schedule. He played three seasons for the Torontos, helping the team to win the 1908 league title and scored a goal in a 6-4 loss to the Montreal Wanderers
in a one-game Stanley Cup
challenge. On 1909-01-30, he scored seven goals in one game as Toronto defeated Brantford 15-10. Later that season, he played for Cobalt
in the Temiskaming League that would form the foundation of the new National Hockey Association
later that year.
Ridpath signed with the Ottawa Senators
in 1909-10, playing in the NHA. He played on a forward line with Gordon Roberts and Marty Walsh
and rover Bruce Stuart
and later with the line of Walsh, Dubbie Kerr
and Jack Darragh
. In 1910–11, his most productive season, he scored 23 goals in 16 games and help Ottawa win the NHA final and the Stanley Cup.
He suffered a fractured skull when he was hit by a car on Yonge Street
in Toronto on 1911-11-02 and missed the entire 1911-12 season. The new Toronto Blueshirts
wanted him to play for them, and Ottawa demanded $500 for his rights, but he never fully recovered from his injuries, which were initially life-threatening, ending his playing career. Benefits were held in Ottawa and Toronto for Ridpath who was a popular player.
Ridpath was appointed the first manager of the Blueshirts and assembled the Toronto Blueshirts
for their first season of play in the NHA. He resigned as manager in October 1913. He was considering playing for the team, but his sight was not good enough to play.
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...
player and general manager. He was a member of the 1911 Stanley Cup champion Ottawa Senators before an automobile accident ended his playing career.
Ridpath, born in Lakefield, Ontario, as well as playing ice hockey, also was a member of the Toronto Canoe Club and became known as a canoe racer and stunt paddler, performing in shows throughout the world. Ridpath never married and died in 1925 at the age of 40 at St. Michael's Hospital
St. Michael's Hospital (Toronto)
St. Michael's Hospital is a teaching hospital and medical centre in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was established by the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1892, with the founding goal of taking care of the sick and poor of Toronto's inner city. The hospital provides tertiary and quaternary services...
in Toronto. He suffered a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
on May 18 and never regained consciousness.
Playing career
Ridpath played junior hockey in 1904 with the Westerns (representing Parkdale, TorontoParkdale, Toronto
Parkdale is a neighbourhood and former village in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, west of downtown. The neighbourhood is bounded on the west by Roncesvalles Avenue, on the north by Queen Street. It is bounded on the east by Dufferin Street from Queen Street south, and on the south by Lake Ontario...
) in the Ontario Hockey Association
Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
(OHA). As a senior, he joined the Toronto Marlboros
Toronto Marlboros
The Toronto Marlborough Athletic Club, commonly known as the Toronto Marlboros, was founded in 1903. It operated a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association and Ontario Hockey League from 1904 to 1989...
of the OHA in 1905. He turned professional in 1906 with the Toronto team, playing in eight games, scoring 17 goals in their exhibition schedule. He played three seasons for the Torontos, helping the team to win the 1908 league title and scored a goal in a 6-4 loss to the Montreal Wanderers
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...
in a one-game 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...
challenge. On 1909-01-30, he scored seven goals in one game as Toronto defeated Brantford 15-10. Later that season, he played for Cobalt
Cobalt, Ontario
Cobalt is a town in the district of Timiskaming, province of Ontario, Canada, with a population of 1,223 In 2001 Cobalt was named "Ontario's Most Historic Town" by a panel of judges on the TV Ontario program Studio 2, and in 2002 the area was designated a National Historic Site.-History:Silver was...
in the Temiskaming League that would form the foundation of the new 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...
later that year.
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...
in 1909-10, playing in the NHA. He played on a forward line with Gordon Roberts and Marty Walsh
Marty Walsh
Martin J. Walsh was a Canadian amateur, later professional, ice hockey forward who played for the Ottawa Senators, winning three Stanley Cups in 1909, 1910 and 1911 and is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame...
and rover Bruce Stuart
Bruce Stuart
Bruce Stuart was a Canadian amateur and professional ice hockey forward who played for the Quebec Bulldogs, Ottawa Senators and Montreal Wanderers from 1899 to 1911...
and later with the line of Walsh, Dubbie Kerr
Dubbie Kerr
Albert Daniel "Dubbie" Kerr was a Canadian professional hockey player. He was a member of the 1909 and 1911 Ottawa Senators Stanley Cup-winning teams. Born in Brockville, Ontario, he started out as a professional with Pittsburgh in 1907 before returning to Canada with the Toronto Pros in 1908. He...
and Jack Darragh
Jack Darragh
John Proctor "Jack" Darragh was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Ottawa Senators in the National Hockey League and its predecessor the National Hockey Association.-Playing career:Darragh played his entire professional career with the Ottawa Senators...
. In 1910–11, his most productive season, he scored 23 goals in 16 games and help Ottawa win the NHA final and the Stanley Cup.
He suffered a fractured skull when he was hit by a car on Yonge Street
Yonge Street
Yonge Street is a major arterial route connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes. It was formerly listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest street in the world at , and the construction of Yonge Street is designated an "Event of...
in Toronto on 1911-11-02 and missed the entire 1911-12 season. The new Toronto Blueshirts
Toronto Blueshirts
The Toronto Hockey Club, known as the Torontos and the Toronto Blue Shirts were a professional National Hockey Association team that played in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
wanted him to play for them, and Ottawa demanded $500 for his rights, but he never fully recovered from his injuries, which were initially life-threatening, ending his playing career. Benefits were held in Ottawa and Toronto for Ridpath who was a popular player.
Ridpath was appointed the first manager of the Blueshirts and assembled the Toronto Blueshirts
Toronto Blueshirts
The Toronto Hockey Club, known as the Torontos and the Toronto Blue Shirts were a professional National Hockey Association team that played in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
for their first season of play in the NHA. He resigned as manager in October 1913. He was considering playing for the team, but his sight was not good enough to play.