Chaucer Elliott
Edwin Smith "Chaucer" Elliott (August 20, 1878 – March 13, 1913) was a Canadian sportsman and a Hall of Fame referee and linesman. He was the grandfather of Bob Elliott, one of Canada's most respected sports writers.
Early life and education
Born in Kingston, Ontario, Elliott played hockey and football at his hometown Queen's University. While studying arts and later medicine, he captained Queen's rugby and hockey team.{{cite news|title="Chaucer Elliott" the Sportsman|date=March 22, 1913|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/obituary-clipping-mar-22-1913-1487507/}}{{free access}} He also played for the Kingston Granites, winners of the Canadian championship in 1899.{{cite book |last1=Blevins |first1=Dave |title=The Sports Hall of Fame Encyclopedia: Baseball, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Soccer |date=December 23, 2011 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=9781461673705 |pages=281 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a7CnkH2HIsQC&pg=PA281 |access-date=December 29, 2019}} It was while at Queen's that Elliott earned his nickname Chaucer, after Geoffrey Chaucer due to his expansive vocabulary.{{cite news |last1=Elliott |first1=Bob |title=Elliott looks back on an old Argos coach: His grandpa |url=https://torontosun.com/2012/11/23/elliott-looks-back-on-an-old-argos-coach-his-grandpa/wcm/6952566e-9b69-4901-84ce-6946fa0999b2 |access-date=December 29, 2019 |publisher=Toronto Sun |date=November 23, 2012}}[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montreal-star-chaucer-elliotts-ni/100206621/ ""Chaucer" Elliott's nick-name"] The Montreal Star, November 17, 1906. Retrieved 2024-12-29. However, he left the university before graduating to organize a semi-professional baseball club in Kingston, Ontario.
Career
In 1903, Elliott joined a Toronto baseball team that played within the Eastern League, and later moved to play in the New England League.{{cite news|title="Chaucer" Elliott|date=March 13, 1913|newspaper=Cape Vincent Eagle|location=New York|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-mar-20-1913-1487509/}}{{free access}} While playing minor league baseball, he also began his career as a hockey referee with the Ontario Hockey Association. By 1906, Elliott began coaching the ORFU's Toronto Argonauts, where he was later appointed manager.{{cite news|title=Hockey|date=October 2, 1906|newspaper=Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-oct-02-1906-1487517/}}{{free access}} The following year, he was hired as the coach for the Montreal AAA's Winged Wheelers and an advisor for the organization.{{cite web |title=Chaucer Elliott |url=https://www.hhof.com/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=o196101&type=Official&page=bio&list=ByName |website=hhof.com |access-date=December 29, 2019}} He also managed the Oswego baseball team in the Empire League and attempted to organize an international baseball league.{{cite news|title=Chaucer Elliot's Team|date= August 23, 1907|newspaper=Lindsay Weekly Post|location=Ontario|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-aug-23-1907-1513533/}}{{free access}}
Elliott resigned from the Montreal AAA Winged Wheelers position in 1911 to manage the St. Thomas Saints of the Canadian Baseball League. He also managed the Toronto Blueshirts of the National Hockey Association.{{cite news|title=Short Snaps|date=December 20, 1911|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-dec-20-1911-1513541/}}{{free access}} This was shortlived however as he was diagnosed with an irreversible form of cancer in 1913 and died in his hometown Kingston at the age of 34.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19130314&id=9BYqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AYUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4288,1572717 "Chaucer Elliott died at Kingston"] The Montreal Gazette, March 14, 1913.
In 1961 he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
References
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External links
- {{icehockeystats|legendsm=O196101}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140408220319/http://www.nhlofficials.com/halloffame.asp?member_id=5 E.S. (Chaucer) Elliott] biography at the NHL Officials Association
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Category:Canadian people of British descent
Category:Deaths from cancer in Ontario
Category:Hockey Hall of Fame inductees
Category:Ice hockey people from Ontario
Category:National Hockey League officials
Category:Sportspeople from Kingston, Ontario
Category:Queen's Golden Gaels football players