1894 AHAC season#Playoffs

File:Watson Jack MDS 1901.jpg

{{Emergence of the NHL}}

• President - Watson Jack, Victorias
• First Vice Pres. - A. Laurie, Quebec
• Second Vice Pres. - Weldy C. Young, Ottawa
• Secretary-Treasurer - J. A. Findlay, Montreal

In two games players scored five goals. In the opening game, in which Montreal soundly defeated Quebec 7–0, Haviland Routh scored five. On January 20, Bert Russel of Ottawa scored five.

Note GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against

Note: GP = games played, G = Goals scored.

Note: GP = Games played, GA = Goals against, SO = Shutouts, GAA = Goals against average

The first Stanley Cup playoff game occurred on March 17, 1894. At the end of the 1894 AHAC season, four teams tied for the AHA championship with records of 5–3–0. This created problems for the AHA governors and the Cup's trustees since there was no tie-breaking system in place. After long negotiation and the withdrawal of Quebec from the championship situation, it was decided that a three-team tournament would take place in Montreal, with Ottawa getting a bye to the finals (being the sole "road" team). The Montreal HC defeated the Montreal Victorias, 3 – 2.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PqwtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AH4FAAAAIBAJ&hl=fr&pg=7331%2C1466196| title = Montrealers Victorious |newspaper= The Montreal Gazette |location= Montreal|date=1894-03-19|page=8}} Five days later on March 22, 1894, Montreal successfully defended their title with a 3 – 1 win over Ottawa. They later awarded the winning players gold pocket watches. The OHA champion Osgoode Hall challenged for the Cup, but this was abandoned due to the lack of natural ice.{{cite news |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |date=March 10, 1911 |title=History of the Stanley Cup |page=5}}

Ice conditions were described as not very good. The game was considered exciting, however, with Haviland Routh and Billy Barlow starring.

The final was close and in doubt until Billy Barlow scored the winning goal at 9'00" of the third quarter.

According to the Globe report of the game:

:"Team play was marred by the softness of the ice. Rough and foul play was frequent, both defences indulging freely in tripping and slashing. Young of Ottawa was injured by James in the second half and although he finished the game without apparent distress, fainted dead away at the end of it. After the match the victors were carried off the rink."{{Cite news |newspaper=The Globe |title=Montreallers Champions|date=March 23, 1894 |pages=6 |postscript=}}

• † Spare/did not play/on team picture
• ^ Unknown who played Center, Rover, Right Wing and Left Wing, so the players are listed as forwards

non-players=

• Harry L. Shaw (Manager/Secretary-Treasurer)
• Tom Paton (President of the AAA) (missing from team picture)

• List of pre-NHL seasons
• List of Stanley Cup champions

• {{cite book | author=Coleman, Charles L. | title=The Trail of the Stanley Cup, Vol. 1, 1893–1926 inc. | pages=13–18}}
• {{cite book |last=Podnieks |first=Andrew |author2=Hockey Hall of Fame |year=2004 |title=Lord Stanley's Cup |publisher=Triumph Books |pages=12, 50 |isbn=1-55168-261-3}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070323090826/http://www.collectionscanada.ca/hockey/024002-119.01-e.php description of first Stanley Cup final on Backcheck]

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{{succession box |

before = Montreal HC
1893 |

after = Montreal Victorias
1895 |

title = Montreal Hockey Club
Stanley Cup Champions |

years = 1894|

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{{succession box |

before = 1893 AHAC season |

after = 1895 AHAC season |

title = AHAC seasons |

years = 1894|

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AHAC

Category:Amateur Hockey Association of Canada seasons