Edmonton Eskimos (hockey)
Encyclopedia
The Edmonton Eskimos were a Canadian amateur and later professional men's ice hockey
team that existed from 1905 to 1927. The Eskimos challenged three times for the Stanley Cup
, losing each time; in 1908 versus the Montreal Wanderers
, in 1910 versus the Ottawa Senators
, and Ottawa again in 1923. The Eskimos beat the Regina Capitals to win the 1923 WHL
playoffs. They were also the 1923 regular league champions. The Eskimos came in second in the 1922 and 1926 WCHL playoffs. Team alumni include Eddie Shore
.
An Edmonton Eskimos team also played in the Alberta Senior Hockey League
in the late 1930s. Other teams in the ASHL included the Calgary Stampeders and the Drumheller Miners
; the latter team featured four Bentley brothers, three of whom played in the NHL
and two of whom are enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame
.
and Lester Patrick
for the challenge, and only one player who had played from the regular season played in the challenge against the Montreal Wanderers
. It was to no avail, as the Wanderers won the series.
The Edmonton Hockey Club folded after 1910, and the Eskimos club was formed for the 1910-11 season by Deacon White from the remains of the organization. In 1919-20, the AAHA formed the "Big Four
" senior league, composed of two teams in Edmonton, and two in Calgary. This league folded in 1921, and the Eskimos helped to found the Western Canada Hockey League
.
In 1922-23, Edmonton would win the WCHL championship and played in the Stanley Cup finals against Ottawa. See 1923 Stanley Cup Finals
.
The Thistle Rink was the home of the Edmonton Eskimos until it burned down in 1912.
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 that existed from 1905 to 1927. The Eskimos challenged three times for 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...
, losing each time; in 1908 versus 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 1910 versus the Ottawa Senators
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...
, and Ottawa again in 1923. The Eskimos beat the Regina Capitals to win the 1923 WHL
Western Canada Hockey League
The Western Canada Hockey League , founded in 1921, was a major professional ice hockey league originally based in the prairies of Canada. It was renamed the Western Hockey League in 1925 and disbanded in 1926.-History:...
playoffs. They were also the 1923 regular league champions. The Eskimos came in second in the 1922 and 1926 WCHL playoffs. Team alumni include Eddie Shore
Eddie Shore
Edward William Shore was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman, principally for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League, and the longtime owner of the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League, iconic for his toughness and defensive skill.Shore won the Hart Trophy as the...
.
An Edmonton Eskimos team also played in the Alberta Senior Hockey League
Alberta Senior Hockey League
The Alberta Senior Hockey League or ASHL was a senior level ice hockey league that operated between 1936 and 1941 in Alberta, Canada. In 1941 the league ceased operations due to World War II....
in the late 1930s. Other teams in the ASHL included the Calgary Stampeders and the Drumheller Miners
Drumheller Miners
The Drumheller Miners were a senior ice hockey team based in Drumheller, Alberta, Canada.Two incarnations of the team existed. The first was a member of the Alberta Senior Hockey League in the late 1930s. The Miners playing in the ASHL featured the five Bentley brothers, Doug, Max, Reg, Roy and...
; the latter team featured four Bentley brothers, three of whom played in the NHL
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...
and two of whom are enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
.
History
Founded as the Edmonton Hockey Club in 1905, the club helped found the Alberta Amateur Hockey Association in 1907. In 1908 and 1910, the Edmonton club would challenge for the Stanley Cup. Although the club was technically amateur, the club hired Tommy Phillips, Didier PitreDidier Pitre
Joseph George Didier "Cannonball" Pitre was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward. He was nicked named "Cannonball". One of the first players to join the Montreal Canadiens, Pitre's French-Canadian heritage helped give his line-mates the nickname the Flying Frenchmen, brought upon by his...
and Lester Patrick
Lester Patrick
Curtis Lester "The Silver Fox" Patrick born in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada, was a professional ice hockey player and coach associated with the Victoria Aristocrats/Cougars of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association , and the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League...
for the challenge, and only one player who had played from the regular season played in the challenge against 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...
. It was to no avail, as the Wanderers won the series.
The Edmonton Hockey Club folded after 1910, and the Eskimos club was formed for the 1910-11 season by Deacon White from the remains of the organization. In 1919-20, the AAHA formed the "Big Four
Big-4 League
The Big-4 League was a top level senior ice hockey league that operated in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta for two seasons between 1919 and 1921. Created with the intention of competing for the Allan Cup senior-amateur championship, the league's existence was marred by accusations that its teams...
" senior league, composed of two teams in Edmonton, and two in Calgary. This league folded in 1921, and the Eskimos helped to found the Western Canada Hockey League
Western Canada Hockey League
The Western Canada Hockey League , founded in 1921, was a major professional ice hockey league originally based in the prairies of Canada. It was renamed the Western Hockey League in 1925 and disbanded in 1926.-History:...
.
In 1922-23, Edmonton would win the WCHL championship and played in the Stanley Cup finals against Ottawa. See 1923 Stanley Cup Finals
1923 Stanley Cup Finals
-References:* Podnieks, Andrew; Hockey Hall of Fame . Lord Stanley's Cup. Bolton, Ont.: Fenn Pub. pp 12, 50. ISBN 978-1-55168-261-7-See also:* 1922–23 NHL season* 1922–23 Ottawa Senators season* 1922–23 PCHA season* List of Stanley Cup champions...
.
The Thistle Rink was the home of the Edmonton Eskimos until it burned down in 1912.