:Manitoba Hockey Association

{{Emergence of the NHL}}

The Manitoba Hockey Association was formed on November 11, 1892 to organize ice hockey play in Manitoba.{{cite book|title=Putting a Roof on Winter|url=https://archive.org/details/puttingroofonwin0000mcki|url-access=registration|last=McKinley|first=Michael|year=2000|publisher=Greystone Books|pages= 32}}

In 1904, it would absorb the Manitoba & Northwestern Hockey Association league, and include the Rat Portage/Kenora Thistles team from the province of Ontario. Kenora, ON was originally named Rat Portage.

In 1905, the league started to have professional players, and renamed itself the Manitoba Professional Hockey League (MPHL). This lasted until the end of the 1908–09 season, when several teams folded. E. A. Gilroy served on the league executive and coached the Portage la Prairie team.{{cite web|url=http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/gilroy_ea.shtml|title=Edward Albert Gilroy|last=Goldsborough|first=Gordon|date=July 31, 2019|website=Memorable Manitobans|publisher=Manitoba Historical Society|access-date=April 2, 2020}}{{cite news|title=E. A. Gilroy Former Hockey Official Dies|date=August 10, 1942|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=2|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-aug-10-1942-1623816/}}{{free access}} Teams in the league also competed for the Fit-Reform Cup, the Western Canada championship.{{cite news|title=Challengers Fit for First Game|date=January 11, 1909|newspaper=The Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=2|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jan-11-1909-3399722/}}{{free access}}

In November 1908, Claude C. Robinson led efforts to establish a senior amateur hockey league in Winnipeg affiliated with the Manitoba Amateur Athletic Association.{{cite news|title=Senior Amateur Hockey League|date=November 18, 1908|newspaper=The Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=6|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-nov-18-1908-3398514/}}{{free access}}{{efn|name=fn1|The Manitoba Amateur Athletic Association was a provincial branch of the Amateur Athletic Union of Canada.{{cite news|title=Manitoba Amateur Athletic Association|date=April 16, 1907|newspaper=The Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=6|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-apr-16-1907-3398398/}}{{free access}}}} Robinson coached the Victorias to a Manitoba Hockey League (MHL) championship for the 1908–09 season, and felt that his team could have competed for the newly-established Allan Cup,{{cite news|title=Annual of Victorias|date=November 13, 1909|newspaper=The Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=9|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-nov-13-1909-3399792/}}{{free access}}; {{cite news|title=Annual of Victorias (Continued)|date=November 13, 1909|newspaper=The Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=21|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-nov-13-1909-3399788/}}{{free access}}{{cite news|title=On the Sunbeam|last=Cottrell|first=Alf|date=November 17, 1942|newspaper=Vancouver Sun|location=Vancouver, British Columbia|page=11|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107576709/robinson-1942/}}{{free access}} although challenges from senior ice hockey teams were accepted only from Eastern Canada at the time.

File:Sheasamphitheatre.png

The Winnipeg Monarchs led by Fred Marples, made arrangements to play and practice at the Winnipeg Amphitheatre for the 1912–13 season. The decision caused a rift within the league which had an agreement from the previous season to play all games at the Winnipeg Auditorium, which was preferred by the Winnipeg Hockey Club and the Winnipeg Victorias. Marples and the Monarchs felt that the league did not have the authority to bind any club to any single rink, and that the Amphitheatre had better amenities for the players and spectators. As a compromise to have an outside person settle the disagreement, W. F. Taylor was elected president of the league; and Marples was elected as the secretary-treasurer.{{cite news|title=Monarchs Cause Commotion In Winnipeg Hockey League|date=November 14, 1912|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=6|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-nov-14-1912-2533882/}}{{free access}}; {{cite news|title=Monarchs Cause Commotion In Winnipeg Hockey (Continued From Page Six)|date=November 14, 1912|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=7|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-nov-14-1912-2533886/}}{{free access}} Taylor then cast a tie-breaking vote to uphold a decision by the previous executive to play all league games at the Auditorium.{{cite news|title=Winnipeg Hockey League Stands by Auditorium Rink|date=November 21, 1912|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=6|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-nov-21-1912-1904488/}}{{free access}}

The Winnipeg Tribune wrote that the leadership of Taylor and Marples had brought peace and financial stability to the Winnipeg Amateur Hockey League, and both were re-elected for the 1913–14 season.{{cite news|title=Winnipeg Hockey League Re-elects The Old Officers|date=November 10, 1913|newspaper=Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=12|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-nov-10-1913-1904538/}}{{free access}} The league chose to play its games at both the Amphitheatre and the Auditorium; and appointed a board of on-ice officials to avoid in-season arguing over the selection of officials, as suggested by Marples.{{cite news|title=Board Of Referees To Be Advocated By Secretary Marples|date=November 7, 1913|newspaper=Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=15|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-nov-07-1913-2533944/}}{{free access}}; {{cite news|title=Senior Hockey Season to Open Here December 18|date=November 14, 1913|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=6|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-nov-14-1913-2533996/}}{{free access}}

File:Allan Cup.jpg

In January 1914, the league debated whether players from leagues from elsewhere in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario were eligible to be a reserve player. Debate focused on whether these leagues were an equal level of senior hockey, or a lower level of intermediate hockey. The issue was temporarily resolved by asking permission from the other league for the player to be a reserve in another league.{{cite news|title=Questions That Are Giving Big League Food For Thought|date=January 12, 1914|newspaper=Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=8|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jan-12-1914-1906371/}}{{free access}} The issue resurfaced again in the national playoffs for the Allan Cup. Trustees for the cup struggled to determine player eligibility since there was no authoritative national body to classify leagues by the level of play, and determine who was a senior level player compared to an intermediate level player.{{cite news|title=Fate of Allan Cup Will Not Be Known Until This Morning|date=March 9, 1914|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=6|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-mar-09-1914-1906385/}}{{free access}} The Monarchs won the regular season title and were chosen to defend the first challenge for the 1914 Allan Cup on behalf of the league.{{cite news|title=Defenders of the Allan Cup|date=February 28, 1914|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=22|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-feb-28-1914-2534257/}}{{free access}} When Allan Cup trustee William Northey ruled that Dick Irvin of the Winnipeg Strathconas was ineligible to compete, the Monarchs refused to defend the Allan Cup. Marples considered the Strathconas to be a reserve team for the Monarchs and that the decision was unfair to his team.{{cite news|title=Allan Cup Games Off; Dick Irvin Is Barred; Kenora May Get Trophy|date=March 7, 1914|newspaper=Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=15|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-mar-07-1914-2534269/}}{{free access}} After three days of negotiating, the Monarchs agreed to play without Irvin in a one-game Allan Cup challenge versus the Kenora Thistles, instead of the customary two-game series decided on total goals scored.{{cite news|title=Sudden Death Game To Decide Allan Cup|date=March 10, 1914|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=6|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-mar-10-1914-2534284/}}{{free access}} The Monarchs won versus the Kenora Thistles, then lost the second Allan Cup challenge in a one-game final to the Regina Victorias.{{Cite web|url=http://www.allancup.ca/allancuparchivescores.htm|title=Allan Cup archives|website=Allan Cup|access-date=August 1, 2011|archive-date=May 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515065832/http://www.allancup.ca/allancuparchivescores.htm|url-status=dead}}

Allan Cup trustee Claude C. Robinson, suggested that a governing body be formed for hockey in Canada, which was echoed by similar calls from The Winnipeg Tribune and the Winnipeg Free Press. The league met on June 23, 1914, to form a governing body to oversee hockey in Manitoba. Taylor was appointed chairman and Marples was appointed secretary of a provisional commission which later became the Manitoba Amateur Hockey Association (MAHA), and sought to merge into a national commission when such a body became established.{{cite news|title=Winnipeg Takes Initial Step Toward Hockey Commission|date=June 23, 1914|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=6|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jun-23-1914-1904561/}}{{free access}}; {{cite news|title=Another Step Nearer Hockey Commission|date=June 23, 1914|newspaper=Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=22|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jun-23-1914-1904566/}}{{free access}} The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) was founded on December 4, 1914, with Taylor elected as its first president, and Robinson elected as its first secretary.{{cite news|title=Dominion Amateur Hockey Commission Is Now A Reality|date=December 5, 1914|newspaper=Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=28|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-dec-05-1914-1904968/}}{{free access}}{{cite news|title=Amateur Hockey Body Formed At Great Ottawa Conference|date=December 5, 1914|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=6|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-dec-05-1914-1904970/}}{{free access}}; {{cite news|title=Amateur Hockey Body Formed At Great Ottawa Conference (Continued From Page Six)|date=December 5, 1914|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=7|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-dec-05-1914-1904971/}}{{free access}}

For the 1914–15 season, the league adopted all Allan Cup rules and player eligibility.{{cite news|title=All is Harmony in the Ranks of Big Puck League|date=November 11, 1914|newspaper=The Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=10|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-nov-11-1914-3384424/}}{{free access}} The league also supported formation of the Winnipeg Intermediate Hockey League for the second-tier teams of its clubs, and appointed Robinson chairman of the intermediate league.{{cite news|title=Winnipeg Hockey League Will Support Intermediates|date=December 23, 1914|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=6|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-dec-23-1914-3384443/}}{{free access}}

The Winnipeg Amateur Hockey League included teams composed of military personnel for the 1915–16 season, and raised funds to support soldiers and the war effort.{{cite news|title=Patriotic Senior Hockey is Likely for Winnipeg Fans|date=November 4, 1915|newspaper=The Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=19|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-nov-04-1915-3384530/}}{{free access}}; {{cite news|title=Six Clubs and Single Series For Patriotic Senior Hockey League|date=December 7, 1915|newspaper=The Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=13|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-dec-07-1915-3384537/}}{{free access}} The league was renamed to the Winnipeg Patriotic Hockey League.{{cite news|title=Monarch Protest Not Entertained|date=March 2, 1916|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=6|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-mar-02-1916-3384744/}}{{free access}}

During World War I, the league donated a portion of profits towards patriotic funds to support the war effort.{{cite news|title=Winnipeg Hockey League Plan Successful Season|date=November 11, 1914|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=6|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-nov-11-1914-1904662/}}{{free access}} The Monarchs repeated as league champions in the 1914–15 season and defeated the Melville Millionaires to win the 1915 Allan Cup.{{cite web|url=http://honouredmembers.sportmanitoba.ca/inductee.php?id=308&criteria_sort=name|title=Honoured Members Database: 1915 Winnipeg Monarchs|year=2004|website=Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame|access-date=May 8, 2021}}; {{cite news|title=Allan Cup Redeemed By Champion Monarchs|last=Finlay|first=W. J.|date=March 13, 1915|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=6|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-mar-13-1915-2566197/}}{{free access}} Robert McKay succeeded Taylor as league president in 1915, as registration of players decreased due to enlistments during the war.{{cite news|title=Local Hockey League Favours Suspension of Allan Cup Contests|date=November 15, 1915|newspaper=Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=10|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-nov-15-1915-2536631/}}{{free access}} The league renamed itself the Patriotic Hockey League as of the 1915–16 season,{{cite news|title=League Will Probe Penalty Box Scrap|date=February 8, 1916|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=7|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-feb-08-1916-1906934/}}{{free access}}; {{cite news|title=Dispute Over Monarch-Sixty-First Contest to Be Settled Today|date=March 1, 1916|newspaper=Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=10|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-mar-01-1916-1905430/}}{{free access}} which saw the Winnipeg 61st Battalion win the 1916 Allan Cup.{{cite news|title=Allan Cup Team Highly Honored|date=March 20, 1916|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=6|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-mar-20-1916-1907012/}}{{free access}} The Winnipeg Patriotic Hockey League became the Winnipeg Military Hockey League during the 1917–18 season, and its teams were temporarily renamed for battles fought during the war.{{cite news|title=Military Hockey League To Open Season Dec. 27|date=December 11, 1917|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=6|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-dec-11-1917-2537198/}}{{free access}}

† Stanley Cup winner.

File:Portage la Prairie hockey team 1907-08.png

‡ Stanley Cup winner.

† Brandon and Kenora only played one game in 1907–08 season before ceasing play.

File:1915 Winnipeg Monarchs team photo collage.jpg

File:Winnipeg 61st Battalion, 1915–16.png

File:Winnipegfalcons.jpg

In parallel with the MPHL, the MHA started the MHL amateur senior league in 1908–09. The Winnipeg Falcons, which entered the league in 1915, would win the 1920 championship, then win the Allan Cup national championship. As Allan Cup winners, the Falcons were selected to represent Canada at the 1920 Olympics, where the team would win the first Olympic gold medal for ice hockey.

Notes:

WAHL = Winnipeg Amateur Hockey League, MMHL = Manitoba Military Hockey League

‡ Allan Cup winners.

† Olympic champions.

• List of Stanley Cup champions
• Hockey Manitoba

{{Notelist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20091028122315/http://geocities.com/kinhobo/kenorastats1.html Kenora Thistles stats]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070820005701/http://www.puckerings.com/stats.html puckerings early stats pages]

Category:Sports leagues established in 1892

Category:1892 establishments in Manitoba

Category:Sports leagues disestablished in 1923

Category:1923 disestablishments in Manitoba