Federal Amateur Hockey League
Encyclopedia
The Federal Amateur Hockey League was a Canadian
men's senior-level ice hockey
league that played six seasons from 1904 to 1909. The league was formed initially to provide a league for teams not accepted by the rival Canadian Amateur Hockey League
(CAHL). One team, the Montreal Le National, was the first francophone ice hockey team to play against anglophone clubs. The league's membership varied year by year, and suspended play once in mid-season. The league was a professional league for its last two years and was known as the Federal Hockey League. The league dissolved with the formation of the National Hockey Association
(NHA).
The first executive officers were:
The first franchises were granted to the Wanderers, the Capitals, Cornwall and the Le National. Three of the four teams had been rejected for membership by the Canadian Amateur Hockey League
(CAHL), while the fourth —the Montreal Wanderers
— was composed of disillusioned players from two Montreal-based CAHL teams. Montreal Le National, a francophone athletic organization, which also operated a lacrosse club, had operated an intermediate team in the CAHL. Only the Cornwall team would still be a member of the league by the end of the 1906–07 season.
The league adopted the constitution of the CAHL, except that new teams could join on a majority vote, unlike the unanimity required by the CAHL; and that any players who played in another league would be permanently suspended from play in the FAHL. Games in Montreal would be played on week-nights, at the Montagnard and Victoria rinks to not conflict with the Saturday games of the CAHL.
The Stanley Cup
-champion Ottawa HC
, aka Ottawa Silver Seven jumped from the CAHL to the FAHL for the 1904–05 season, while the Montreal Nationals went in the opposite direction and joined the CAHL.
The 1906–07 season ended early following the death of Owen McCourt of Cornwall, after an on-ice brawl in a game March 6, 1907 between Cornwall and the Ottawa Victorias. This led to criminal charges of manslaughter
against Charles Masson of the Victorias, however he was acquitted as witnesses stated at the trial that other Ottawa hockey players had hit Mr. McCourt in the head prior to Mr. Masson's blow.
In 1907-08 the Federal League returned with only three teams, all professional. Brockville, unable to field a competitive team hired the Renfrew Creamery Kings
club to play as the Brockville entry. This was unacceptable to the Ottawa Victorias, which refused to play the Renfrew players, causing the league to suspend operations.
The final season of 1908-09 saw Renfrew become a member of the league on its own. Ottawa's entry, called the Senators
, was organized by former players of the Ottawa Hockey Club, such as Alf Smith
, Bouse Hutton
, Arthur Moore
and Rat Westwick
who no longer played for the first team.
The league dissolved in 1909, with Renfrew joining the National Hockey Association
. The Senators declined to continue when offered a place in the NHA.
† Stanley Cup winner
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
men's senior-level 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...
league that played six seasons from 1904 to 1909. The league was formed initially to provide a league for teams not accepted by the rival Canadian Amateur Hockey League
Canadian Amateur Hockey League
The Canadian Amateur Hockey League was an early men's amateur hockey league founded in 1898, replacing the organization that was formerly the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada before the 1898–99 season. The league existed for seven seasons, folding in 1905 and was itself replaced by the Eastern...
(CAHL). One team, the Montreal Le National, was the first francophone ice hockey team to play against anglophone clubs. The league's membership varied year by year, and suspended play once in mid-season. The league was a professional league for its last two years and was known as the Federal Hockey League. The league dissolved with the formation of 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).
History
The league was formed December 5, 1903, at a meeting held at the Savoy hotel in Montreal.The first executive officers were:
- President: William ForanWilliam ForanWilliam Michael Foran was an ice hockey executive, Stanley Cup trustee and government official. For over 50 years, he was secretary of the Board of Civil Service Examiners and its follow-up organization, the Civil Service Commission of the Government of Canada.-Government career:Mr...
, Ottawa Capitals - Vice-president: W. Fitzgibbon, Cornwall
- Second vice-president: A. Meunier, Nationals
- Secretary-treasurer: J. Strachan, Wanderers.
The first franchises were granted to the Wanderers, the Capitals, Cornwall and the Le National. Three of the four teams had been rejected for membership by the Canadian Amateur Hockey League
Canadian Amateur Hockey League
The Canadian Amateur Hockey League was an early men's amateur hockey league founded in 1898, replacing the organization that was formerly the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada before the 1898–99 season. The league existed for seven seasons, folding in 1905 and was itself replaced by the Eastern...
(CAHL), while the fourth —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...
— was composed of disillusioned players from two Montreal-based CAHL teams. Montreal Le National, a francophone athletic organization, which also operated a lacrosse club, had operated an intermediate team in the CAHL. Only the Cornwall team would still be a member of the league by the end of the 1906–07 season.
The league adopted the constitution of the CAHL, except that new teams could join on a majority vote, unlike the unanimity required by the CAHL; and that any players who played in another league would be permanently suspended from play in the FAHL. Games in Montreal would be played on week-nights, at the Montagnard and Victoria rinks to not conflict with the Saturday games of the CAHL.
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...
-champion 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...
, aka Ottawa Silver Seven jumped from the CAHL to the FAHL for the 1904–05 season, while the Montreal Nationals went in the opposite direction and joined the CAHL.
The 1906–07 season ended early following the death of Owen McCourt of Cornwall, after an on-ice brawl in a game March 6, 1907 between Cornwall and the Ottawa Victorias. This led to criminal charges of manslaughter
Manslaughter
Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is said to have first been made by the Ancient Athenian lawmaker Dracon in the 7th century BC.The law generally differentiates...
against Charles Masson of the Victorias, however he was acquitted as witnesses stated at the trial that other Ottawa hockey players had hit Mr. McCourt in the head prior to Mr. Masson's blow.
In 1907-08 the Federal League returned with only three teams, all professional. Brockville, unable to field a competitive team hired the Renfrew Creamery Kings
Renfrew Creamery Kings
The Renfrew Hockey Club, also known as the Creamery Kings and the "Renfrew Millionaires" was a founding franchise in 1909 of the National Hockey Association, the precursor to the National Hockey League...
club to play as the Brockville entry. This was unacceptable to the Ottawa Victorias, which refused to play the Renfrew players, causing the league to suspend operations.
The final season of 1908-09 saw Renfrew become a member of the league on its own. Ottawa's entry, called the Senators
Ottawa Senators (FHL)
The Ottawa Senators were a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Canada which played one season in the Federal Hockey League in 1909 before the formation of the National Hockey Association. The club was formed to help boost the rivalry between the Federal League and the Eastern Canada...
, was organized by former players of the Ottawa Hockey Club, such as Alf Smith
Alf Smith
Alfred Edward Smith was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Ottawa Senators, and Kenora Thistles. He had two brothers who played senior-level hockey Harry Smith and Tommy Smith...
, Bouse Hutton
Bouse Hutton
John Bower "Bouse" Hutton was a Canadian ice hockey goaltender who played for the Ottawa Hockey Club. Hutton also played lacrosse as a goaltender for the Ottawa Capitals, and Canadian football as a fullback for the Ottawa Rough Riders...
, Arthur Moore
Arthur A. C. Moore
Arthur Augustus Cutler Moore was an elite amateur ice hockey defenceman for the Ottawa Hockey Club during the era that it was known as the Silver Seven from 1903 to 1906. The Club won the Stanley Cup in March 1903 and held it through numerous challenges until March 1906.-Personal life:Moore...
and Rat Westwick
Rat Westwick
Harry "Rat" Westwick was a Canadian athlete in ice hockey and lacrosse. Westwick, nicknamed the Rat by a journalist, is most noted for his play with the Ottawa Hockey Club, nicknamed the Silver Seven during his day which won and defended the Stanley Cup from 1903 until 1906...
who no longer played for the first team.
The league dissolved in 1909, with Renfrew joining 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...
. The Senators declined to continue when offered a place in the NHA.
Teams
| Season | Teams | Champion |
|---|---|---|
| 1904 1904 FAHL season The inaugural 1904 Federal Amateur Hockey League season lasted from January 6 until February 24. Teams played a six game schedule.-Regular season:... |
Cornwall Cornwall, Ontario Cornwall is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada and the seat of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario. Cornwall is Ontario's easternmost city, located on the St... , Montreal Le National, 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... , Ottawa Capitals Ottawa Capitals The Ottawa Capitals were an early amateur senior men's ice hockey club playing in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada from the 1890s until 1920. The club would challenge for the Stanley Cup in 1897, but abandon its challenge after one game, after it lost 15–2. It would later precipitate the breakup of the... |
Montreal Wanderers (best record), Ottawa HC(winner of playoff) |
| 1904-05 | Brockville Brockville, Ontario Brockville is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada, in the Thousand Islands region. Though it serves as the seat of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, Brockville is politically independent and is grouped with Leeds and Grenville for census purposes only.Known as the "City of the 1000... , Cornwall, Montreal Montagnards Montreal Montagnards The Montreal Montagnards were an early amateur ice hockey team in Canada, organized in the early 1900s. The club is notable as one of the first teams made up of francophone players, the sport having been dominated until that time by players of English or Scottish descent.-History:The Montagnards... , Montreal Wanderers, 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... † |
Ottawa HC(best record) |
| 1905-06 | Brockville, Cornwall, Montreal Montagnards, Ottawa Victorias, Smiths Falls Smiths Falls, Ontario Smiths Falls is a town in Eastern Ontario, Canada. It is in the census division for Lanark County, but is considered a separated town and does not participate in county government... |
Smiths Falls(best record) |
| 1906-07 | Cornwall, Montreal Montagnards, Morrisburg, Ottawa Victorias | Ottawa Victorias (awarded championship after Montagnards and Cornwall resigned from league) |
| 1907-08 | Brockville Invincibles, Cornwall, Ottawa Victorias | No champion |
| 1909 1909 FHL season The 1909 Federal Hockey League season was the sixth and final season of the league. The league had four teams participate this season, Cornwall, returning and three new entries, Ottawa Senators, Renfrew Creamery Kings and Smith's Falls. Smith's Falls had previously played in the league... |
Cornwall, Ottawa Senators Ottawa Senators (FHL) The Ottawa Senators were a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Canada which played one season in the Federal Hockey League in 1909 before the formation of the National Hockey Association. The club was formed to help boost the rivalry between the Federal League and the Eastern Canada... , Renfrew Creamery Kings Renfrew Creamery Kings The Renfrew Hockey Club, also known as the Creamery Kings and the "Renfrew Millionaires" was a founding franchise in 1909 of the National Hockey Association, the precursor to the National Hockey League... , Smiths Falls |
Renfrew |
† Stanley Cup winner
- After the 1904 season, Montreal Le National joined the CAHL.
- After the 1904-05 season, Montreal WanderersMontreal WanderersThe 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...
and Ottawa HCOttawa 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...
joined the ECAHAEastern Canada Amateur Hockey AssociationThe Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association was a men's amateur, later professional ice hockey league in Canada that played four seasons. It was founded on December 11, 1905 with six clubs: four from the Canadian Amateur Hockey League and two from the Federal Amateur Hockey League, to bring...
.
See also
- Canadian Amateur Hockey LeagueCanadian Amateur Hockey LeagueThe Canadian Amateur Hockey League was an early men's amateur hockey league founded in 1898, replacing the organization that was formerly the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada before the 1898–99 season. The league existed for seven seasons, folding in 1905 and was itself replaced by the Eastern...
- Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey AssociationEastern Canada Amateur Hockey AssociationThe Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association was a men's amateur, later professional ice hockey league in Canada that played four seasons. It was founded on December 11, 1905 with six clubs: four from the Canadian Amateur Hockey League and two from the Federal Amateur Hockey League, to bring...
- List of Stanley Cup champions
- List of pre-NHL seasons
- List of ice hockey leagues