Montreal Arena
Encyclopedia
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. It was the primary site of amateur and professional ice hockey
in Montreal until 1918.
, after the St. Nicholas Rink
in New York City
, and the Dey's Skating Rink in Ottawa
, which both opened in 1896.
The ice rink ends were not squared-off, but rounded-off. The ends were somewhat semi-circular, possibly the first design of its kind. A puck could be shot along the outside rim, slide along the corners, pass behind the goal and come out the other side. This type of shot is common in hockey today, and is called "rimmed around." The rounded-corners design spread to other arenas. In 1902, after Ottawa
's Dey Rink was demolished due to a storm, it was rebuilt with rounded ends to match the Montreal Arena. The first artificial ice-making plant in Montreal was installed in the Arena in 1915.
The owners of the Montreal Arena, the Canadian Arena Company, later built the Arena Gardens
in Toronto, and operated the Toronto NHL franchise in 1917-18. Principals of the Arena Company, such as William Northey
, would later be involved in the building of the Montreal Forum
and the founding of the Montreal Maroons
.
to disband and the Canadiens to move back to Jubilee Arena
.
. It holds a collection of replica Stanley Cup
banners to honour the early ice hockey teams which won the Stanley Cup. Stanley Cup banners were not hung in the early days of ice hockey.
, Shamrock
and Victoria
hockey clubs. The Wanderers
would start play there in 1904. Later, it served as the home rink for the Montreal Canadiens
of the National Hockey Association
and National Hockey League
from 1911 until 1918.
In 1907, it was the site of one of hockey's first player brawls. On January 12, 1907, the game between the heated rivals Ottawa Hockey Club and the Montreal Wanderers
degenerated into a free for all. Ottawa players Baldy Spittal, Alf Smith
and Harry Smith
each knocked out a Montreal player cold and received game misconducts. Cecil Blatchford, Ernest Johnson and Hod Stuart
all required hospital treatment. Despite the injuries, the Wanderers managed to win the game 4–2. The ECAHA convened a week later to consider discipline for the Ottawa players and when no agreement was found, league president McRobie resigned. When Ottawa returned for a January 26 against the Montreal Victorias
, Spittal and the Smiths were arrested for assault, each eventually paying $20 fines.
The building was also used for exhibition space. Horse shows, car shows, motor-boat displays, concerts, and bazaars were held.
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
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...
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. It was the primary site of amateur and professional 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...
in Montreal until 1918.
Description
Opened on December 31, 1898, it held 10,000 people, 4300 seated. It held a refreshment buffet and smoking rooms, with rugs available for rental to sit on. It is likely the third arena designed expressly for ice hockeyIce 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...
, after the St. Nicholas Rink
St. Nicholas Rink
The St. Nicholas Rink, also called the St. Nicholas Arena, was an indoor ice rink, and later a boxing arena in New York, New York, from 1896 until 1962. The rink was the second ice rink utilizing mechanically frozen ice for its surface in North America, , enabling a longer season for skating sports...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and the Dey's Skating Rink in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, which both opened in 1896.
The ice rink ends were not squared-off, but rounded-off. The ends were somewhat semi-circular, possibly the first design of its kind. A puck could be shot along the outside rim, slide along the corners, pass behind the goal and come out the other side. This type of shot is common in hockey today, and is called "rimmed around." The rounded-corners design spread to other arenas. In 1902, after Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
's Dey Rink was demolished due to a storm, it was rebuilt with rounded ends to match the Montreal Arena. The first artificial ice-making plant in Montreal was installed in the Arena in 1915.
The owners of the Montreal Arena, the Canadian Arena Company, later built the Arena Gardens
Mutual Street Arena
Mutual Street Arena, initially called Arena Gardens or just the Arena, was an ice hockey arena and sports and entertainment venue in Toronto, Ontario...
in Toronto, and operated the Toronto NHL franchise in 1917-18. Principals of the Arena Company, such as William Northey
William Northey
William M. Northey , was a builder in the National Hockey League.Born in Leeds, Quebec, Northey became secretary at the Montreal Hockey Club in 1893. He would help lead the team to two Stanley Cups. In 1909, he helped convince ice hockey executives to change two rules still in place today...
, would later be involved in the building of the Montreal Forum
Montreal Forum
The Montreal Forum was an indoor arena located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Called "the most storied building in hockey history" by Sporting News, it was home of the National Hockey League's Montreal Maroons from 1924 to 1938 and the Montreal Canadiens from 1926 to 1996...
and the founding 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...
.
Fire
A fire started in the ice-making plant causing the arena to burn down on January 2, 1918, which led the Montreal WanderersMontreal 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...
to disband and the Canadiens to move back to Jubilee Arena
Jubilee Arena
The Jubilee Arena also known as Jubilee Rink was an indoor arena located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It was located at the corner of St. Catherine Street East and Moreau Street...
.
Today
The Arena site is today the site of the Plaza Alexis-Nihon. A new Westmount Arena was built in 1957 to serve the residents of Westmount, QuebecQuebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. It holds a collection of replica 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...
banners to honour the early ice hockey teams which won the Stanley Cup. Stanley Cup banners were not hung in the early days of ice hockey.
Usage
At first, it hosted the Montreal senior men's amateur hockey teams of the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada, including the MontrealMontreal Hockey Club
The Montreal Hockey Club of Montreal, Quebec, Canada was a senior-level men's amateur ice hockey club, organized in 1884. They were affiliated with Montreal Amateur Athletic Association and used the MAAA 'winged wheel' logo. The team is notable for winning the first Stanley Cup in 1893, and in a...
, Shamrock
Montreal Shamrocks
The Montreal Shamrocks were an amateur, later professional, men's ice hockey club in existence from 1886, merging with the Montreal Crystals club in 1896. They won the Stanley Cup ice hockey championship in 1899 and 1900...
and Victoria
Montreal Victorias
The Victoria Hockey Club of Montreal, Quebec, Canada was an early men's amateur ice hockey club. Its date of origin is ascribed to either 1874, 1877 or 1881, making it either the first or second organized ice hockey club after McGill University. The club played at its own rink, the Victoria Skating...
hockey clubs. The 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...
would start play there in 1904. Later, it served as the home rink for the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
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...
and 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...
from 1911 until 1918.
In 1907, it was the site of one of hockey's first player brawls. On January 12, 1907, the game between the heated rivals Ottawa Hockey Club and 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...
degenerated into a free for all. Ottawa players Baldy Spittal, 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...
and Harry Smith
Harry Smith (ice hockey)
Harold Henry "Harry" Smith was a professional Canadian ice hockey player who played 98 games in various professional and amateur leagues, including the National Hockey Association and Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association...
each knocked out a Montreal player cold and received game misconducts. Cecil Blatchford, Ernest Johnson and Hod Stuart
Hod Stuart
William Hodgson "Hod" Stuart was a Canadian professional ice hockey cover-point who played nine seasons for several teams in different leagues. He also played briefly for the Ottawa Rough Riders football team...
all required hospital treatment. Despite the injuries, the Wanderers managed to win the game 4–2. The ECAHA convened a week later to consider discipline for the Ottawa players and when no agreement was found, league president McRobie resigned. When Ottawa returned for a January 26 against the Montreal Victorias
Montreal Victorias
The Victoria Hockey Club of Montreal, Quebec, Canada was an early men's amateur ice hockey club. Its date of origin is ascribed to either 1874, 1877 or 1881, making it either the first or second organized ice hockey club after McGill University. The club played at its own rink, the Victoria Skating...
, Spittal and the Smiths were arrested for assault, each eventually paying $20 fines.
The building was also used for exhibition space. Horse shows, car shows, motor-boat displays, concerts, and bazaars were held.
See also
- William NortheyWilliam NortheyWilliam M. Northey , was a builder in the National Hockey League.Born in Leeds, Quebec, Northey became secretary at the Montreal Hockey Club in 1893. He would help lead the team to two Stanley Cups. In 1909, he helped convince ice hockey executives to change two rules still in place today...