Ottawa Capitals
Encyclopedia
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 Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC). The nickname 'Capitals' is often applied to the Ottawa Hockey Club, however the two teams were not affiliated.
and Cornwall, Ontario
. This was similar to the Ottawa City Hockey League
(OCHL) which was organized by the Ottawa Hockey Club. The CAAA also organized the Capital Lacrosse Club. The Capitals also organized a junior team, which played in the OCHL, winning the City championship in 1897.
After winning the CCHA championship in 1897, the club challenged the Montreal Victorias
HC for the Stanley Cup, but abandoned its challenge after only one game of a projected best-of-three, after losing 15-2. The club, despite the loss joined the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) intermediate division and won the 1898 intermediate championship.
In 1898, the club attempted to join the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) senior league, but several clubs of the AHAC (Ottawa HC, Montreal HC, Shamrock HC (Montréal), Victoria HC (Montréal) and Quebec HC) resisted this. The Globe noted that the Capitals were "questionably amateur", referring to the paying of the players. Rather than admit the Capitals, the other five clubs dissolved the AHAC and formed the Canadian Amateur Hockey League
(CAHL).
The Capitals applied to the CAHL in 1899 but were turned down again. Unlike the AHAC, the CAHL required unanimous consent to join the senior ranks and the Ottawas vote was enough to block the club. Instead, the club joined the Senior league of the Ontario Hockey Association
(OHA).
In 1903, the club helped found the Federal Amateur Hockey League
, playing one season in 1904
, finishing last. President Bill Foran
of the Capitals was president of the FAHL. Foran later became a Stanley Cup
trustee. The club took over the ice rink lease of Dey's Skating Rink, forcing the Ottawa Hockey Club to move to the Aberdeen Pavilion
. The club withdrew from the league before the 1905 season.
In 1919, by order of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association
, the Capital HA was forced to join the Ottawa City League to be eligible for Allan Cup
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...
club playing 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...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, 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...
from the 1890s until 1920. The club would challenge 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...
in 1897, but abandon its challenge after one game, after it lost 15–2. It would later precipitate the breakup of the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC). The nickname 'Capitals' is often applied to the Ottawa Hockey Club, however the two teams were not affiliated.
History
The Capital Hockey club, affiliated with the Capital Amateur Athletic Association, (CAAA) was formed in 1896. The Capitals formed the rival Central Canada Hockey Association (CCHA) senior league, entering its club as one of league teams, competing against Brockville, OntarioBrockville, 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...
and Cornwall, Ontario
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...
. This was similar to the Ottawa City Hockey League
Ottawa City Hockey League
The Ottawa City Hockey League was an amateur ice hockey league with junior, intermediate and senior level men's teams in Ottawa, Canada dating from 1890. It is considered the second ice hockey league to form in Canada. The senior league operated until 1945 and the junior league operated until 1957...
(OCHL) which was organized by the Ottawa Hockey Club. The CAAA also organized the Capital Lacrosse Club. The Capitals also organized a junior team, which played in the OCHL, winning the City championship in 1897.
After winning the CCHA championship in 1897, the club challenged 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...
HC for the Stanley Cup, but abandoned its challenge after only one game of a projected best-of-three, after losing 15-2. The club, despite the loss joined the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) intermediate division and won the 1898 intermediate championship.
In 1898, the club attempted to join the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) senior league, but several clubs of the AHAC (Ottawa HC, Montreal HC, Shamrock HC (Montréal), Victoria HC (Montréal) and Quebec HC) resisted this. The Globe noted that the Capitals were "questionably amateur", referring to the paying of the players. Rather than admit the Capitals, the other five clubs dissolved the AHAC and formed 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).
The Capitals applied to the CAHL in 1899 but were turned down again. Unlike the AHAC, the CAHL required unanimous consent to join the senior ranks and the Ottawas vote was enough to block the club. Instead, the club joined the Senior league of 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).
In 1903, the club helped found the Federal Amateur Hockey League
Federal Amateur Hockey League
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 . One team, the Montreal Le National, was the first...
, playing one season in 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:...
, finishing last. President Bill Foran
William Foran
William 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...
of the Capitals was president of the FAHL. Foran later became a 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...
trustee. The club took over the ice rink lease of Dey's Skating Rink, forcing the Ottawa Hockey Club to move to the Aberdeen Pavilion
Aberdeen Pavilion
The Aberdeen Pavilion is an exhibition hall in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Overlooking the Rideau Canal, it is located in Lansdowne Park, Ottawa's historic fairgrounds...
. The club withdrew from the league before the 1905 season.
In 1919, by order of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association
Canadian Amateur Hockey Association
The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association was the national governing body of amateur ice hockey play in Canada from 1914 until 1994 when it merged with the Canadian Hockey Association or Hockey Canada....
, the Capital HA was forced to join the Ottawa City League to be eligible for Allan Cup
Allan Cup
The Allan Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the national senior amateur men’s ice hockey champions of Canada. It has been competed for since 1909. The current champion is the Clarenville Caribous hockey club of Newfoundland and Labrador.-History:...
play.
See also
- 1898 AHAC season1898 AHAC seasonThe 1898 Amateur Hockey Association of Canada season lasted from January 8 until March 5. Each team played 8 games, and Montreal Victorias were again first with a 8–0 record, to retain the Stanley Cup. This was their fourth-straight league championship....
- Ice hockey in OttawaIce hockey in OttawaOttawa ice hockey clubs date back to the first decade of recorded organized ice hockey play. The men's senior-level Ottawa Hockey Club is known to have played in a Canadian championship in 1884...
- List of Stanley Cup champions
- List of Stanley Cup Challenge Games