James T. Sutherland

File:Sutherland with Frontenacs circa 1899.jpg as champions of the OHA's intermediate division.Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 46]]

James Thomas Sutherland was born on October 10, 1870, in Kingston, Ontario, as the youngest of eight children, to Alexander and Margaret Sutherland, who had Scottish and Irish roots.Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 27Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 34 The family owned a custom shoemaking business at the lower end of Princess Street, that made boots for troops at Fort Henry. At age 15, Sutherland attempted to follow his father's military footsteps, and volunteered for service with the Midand Regiment for the North-West Rebellion, but was rejected for being too young.Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 28 Sutherland attended Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute, and later became a bookkeeper for a family-owned hardware store. He was accepted for military service into Kingston's 14th Regiment two years later in 1887. He was cast as chorus member in the opera, Leo, the Royal Cadet. at age 20, and his father died two years later, in 1892.

He grew up playing hockey on the frozen Cataraqui River in downtown Kingston.{{cite web|url=http://www.originalhockeyhalloffame.com/news-events/captain-sutherland-video.html|title=The Father of Hockey: Captain James Sutherland and the Battle for Hockey's Hall of Fame|website=The Original Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=2018-01-25}} Sutherland witnessed the first recorded hockey game in Canada, on March 10, 1886, between Queen's University and the Royal Military College of Canada.Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 29 Sutherland was one of hockey's first captains, and he played as a defenceman for the Athletic Club of Kingston in winter of 1890–91, during the inaugural season of the Ontario Hockey Association.{{cite web|url=http://www.ohahockey.ca/view/oha/about-us/oha-history-8683|title=OHA History|website=Ontario Hockey Association|access-date=2018-01-25|archive-date=May 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503152511/http://www.ohahockey.ca/view/oha/about-us/oha-history-8683|url-status=dead}}

In 1897, Sutherland married Ethel Mary Metcalfe, and helped organize the Frontenac Hockey Club of Kingston.Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 30{{cite web|url=http://www.kingstonthisweek.com/2012/11/16/sutherlands-legacy-honoured-in-new-book|title=Sutherland's legacy honoured in new book|last=Barber|first=Jim|date=2012-11-16|website=Kingston This Week|access-date=2018-01-25}} He no longer played, but was involved with the club as a referee, timekeeper, manager, and coach. Sutherland was first inspired to provide his own views on how hockey began, after reading the 1899 book Hockey: Canada's Royal Winter Game.Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 39 In 1902–03, he was appointed a convenor for the eastern group of the Ontario Hockey Association. In 1904, he resigned as a commissioned lieutenant officer, then began refereeing ice hockey throughout Ontario, and travelled as a shoe salesman as far as Florida and Georgia.Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 40

Sutherland coached the Frontenac team which included future Hall of Famers Scotty Davidson, and George Richardson, that won OHA junior championships in 1910, and 1911.Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 42 In 1911, he was appointed to the OHA executive, and passed a rule change where the positions of point, and cover-point were changed to right and left defence.Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 43 Sutherland was also credited with further rule changes to allow substitutions, and to switch from two thirty-minute periods, to three twenty-minute periods. He became second vice president of the OHA in 1913, and then its first vice president in 1914.Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 51

File:Captain Sutherland WWI.jpg

Sutherland was elected president of the Ontario Hockey Association in 1915,Ontario Hockey Association (2006). p. X-1{{cite web|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/father-of-hockey-founded-original-hall-of-fame/c-281072156|title=How 'Father of Hockey' founded original Hall of Fame|last=Stubbs|first=Dave|date=2016-06-27|website=NHL.com |access-date=2018-01-25}} and was later elected president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association on December 10, 1915, to succeed W. F. Taylor of Winnipeg.Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (1990). p. 116 Sutherland then appointed OHA secretary W. A. Hewitt, as the CAHA secretary.{{cite news|title=Appreciates the Honour of Being Elected President of the C.A.H.A.|date=December 13, 1915|newspaper=The Kingston Whig-Standard|location=Kingston, Ontario|page=2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93505494/hewitt-1915/}}; {{cite news|title=New Secretary for the C.A.H.A.|date=December 29, 1915|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=3|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-dec-29-1915-3003452/}} In 1916, Sutherland enlisted for the World War I effort with the Canadian Army Service Corps, and later rejoined Kingston's 14th Regiment after a 12-year absence.{{cite web|url=https://www.vimyfoundation.ca/100daysofvimy-march-6th-2017/|title=#100DaysofVimy – March 6th, 2017|website=Vimy Foundation|date=March 6, 2017|access-date=2018-01-25|archive-date=January 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119194825/https://www.vimyfoundation.ca/100daysofvimy-march-6th-2017/|url-status=dead}}

{{quote box|title=World War I — A call to arms|quote=I feel that I have a greater responsibility and duty to perform at this time and that is to point out to the great army of hockey players and officials scattered throughout our beloved Canada, how great and urgent the need is for men to come forward and rally to the defence of our common cause and strike a blow for liberty and justice. It takes nerves and gameness to play the game of hockey. The same qualities are necessary in the greater game that is now being played in France and on the other fighting fronts." "With every man doing his bit, Canada will raise an army of brain and brawn from our hockey enthusiasts the likes of which the world has never seen. The whistle has sounded. Let every man play the greatest game of his life.|source=—Captain Sutherland, 1916McKinley, Michael (2014), p.8{{cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/1663676/hockey-greats-traded-sticks-for-rifles-to-fight-for-canada/|title=Hockey greats traded sticks for rifles to fight for Canada|last=Davidson|first=Neil|date=2014-11-10|website=Globalnews.ca|access-date=2018-04-11}}|width=40%|align=left}}

Sutherland encouraged Canadian hockey players to join the war effort, and used his position with the CAHA to issue a recruiting message across the nation.Brignall, Richard (2011), page 99 He promoted the teamwork of hockey, and compared it to war against a common enemy.{{cite web|url=http://www.everythingzoomer.com/featured/sports/2016/11/11/remembering-hockey-players-who-served-in-war/|title=Remembering Hockey Players Who Served in War|last=Muggeridge|first=Peter|date=2016-11-11|website=Everything Zoomer|access-date=2018-04-11}}

Sutherland deployed to Europe in 1916, as a captain in the 146th Battalion in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. His battalion was later absorbed into the 95th battalion, and he was reelected OHA president for another year, while serving overseas as quartermaster of the Casualty Training Battalion.Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 52Young, Scott (1989), p. 128

The OHA elected a new president in 1917, however the CAHA did not hold elections from 1916 to 1918 during the war. While overseas due to WW I, J. F. Paxton acted as CAHA president, until Sutherland's return in 1918.{{cite web|url=https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/corporate/contact/board-of-directors/past-officers|title=Past Officers|website=Hockey Canada|access-date=2018-04-16}} Sutherland was in Paris on Armistice Day, and made sure to visit the grave of George Richardson, before he returned to Canada, the CAHA, and the Frontenacs after the war.Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 53

File:Memorial Cup at the 2015 championship.jpg

Sutherland continued to serve as CAHA president until 1919, when succeeded by Frederick E. Betts.Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (1990). p. 125 He was known as an authoritative source for information on the history of hockey, refereeing, and introduced preseason exercises, and a coaching system. He worked to create a trophy to honour all of the soldiers who died during World War I, many of whom played junior hockey, and responded to Sutherland's call to arms.{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/hockey-hall-of-famers-traded-sticks-for-rifles-to-fight-for-country/article21523533/|title=Hockey Hall of Famers traded sticks for rifles to fight for country|last=Davidson|first=Neil|date=2014-11-10|website=The Globe and Mail|access-date=2018-01-25}} The deaths of two former Frontenacs, Scotty Davidson, and George Richardson served as inspiration for the trophy.McKinley, Michael (2014), p.16–18 Sutherland, with the help of businessman Liam Carr purchased a trophy, which was donated by the Ontario Hockey Association.{{cite web|url=http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/those-who-served/hockey-canadian-military/history|title=History – Hockey and the Canadian military|date=2017-03-29|website=Veterans Affairs Canada|access-date=2018-01-25}} The Memorial Cup was originally known as the OHA Memorial Cup, and was first awarded in 1919 to the best junior hockey team in Canada each year.Brignall, Richard (2011), page 144

Sutherland served as a long-time member of the OHA executive committee after being president.{{cite web|url=http://www.greatesthockeylegends.com/2013/02/captain-james-t-sutherland-battle-for.html?m=1|title=Captain James T. Sutherland: Battle For Hockey Hall of Fame|last=Pelletier|first=Joe|date=2013-02-21|website=Greatest Hockey Legends|access-date=2018-01-25}} He recommended rule changes in the amateur levels to improve player safety, and spoke in support of the ban against bodychecking in junior ice hockey.Young, Scott (1989), pp. 236–238 He also spoke against having paid coaches, but rather to keep amateur status.Young, Scott (1989), pp. 160–161 Likewise he discouraged having players with future professional contracts in the OHA.Young, Scott (1989), pp. 167–173 He helped establish the annual West Point Weekend exhibition match between the Royal Military College of Canada at Kingston, and the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1923.

{{quote box|title=The "Origin of Hockey" report|quote=Historians are said to differ considerably on the place in which the great Caesar first saw "the light of day," and similarly in respect to the birthplace of Canada's national winter sport, Hockey. There may be some who will claim sundry and divers places as being the authentic spot or locality. Whatever measure of merit the claim of other places may have, I think it is generally admitted and has been substantially proven on many former occasions that the actual birthplace of organized hockey is the city of Kingston, in the year 1888 (actually 1886). The first actual game that we have any record of occurred in Capt. Dix's rink, which was located on the harbour in front of the city buildings, Kingston. This game was played between teams representing Queen's University and the Royal Military College.|source=—Captain Sutherland, 1942{{cite web|url=http://www.birthplaceofhockey.com/origin/kingston-sutherland/|title=James T Sutherland Article|website=Birthplace of Hockey|date=April 30, 2013|access-date=2018-01-25}}|width=40%|align=left}}

Sutherland spent much of his retirement campaigning for Kingston to be recognized as the birthplace of hockey, and its rightful place in history as for the early development of the game.Henderson & Prime (2011), Page 5, column 1. He published an article in the Canadian Hockey Yearbook in 1924, which first established the claim.Henderson & Prime (2011), Page 4, column 2. He followed up with a full-page 1925 article in the Whig titled, "Hockey Heroes of Former Days Made Game Famous in Kingston".Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 59 A 1926 article in Maclean's titled, "A six letter word meaning the best game in the word", cited Sutherland as the father of hockey.Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 60 He published another full-page article in the Whig in 1928, entitled "Kingston–The Birthplace of Hockey".Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 61 Sutherland's claims were disputed by other places in Canada, including Montreal, Quebec, two cities in Nova Scotia, and Deline, Northwest Territories. His claim for the birthplace of hockey was based on a report of a game played on Christmas Day, 1855, in Kingston Harbour, which predated the 1886 match between Queen's University and the Royal Military College. When the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum opened in 1939, the argument over the birthplace of hockey intensified to become a battle to create a similar institution for hockey where the game originated.

In 1941, the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association appointed a committee to write a history of hockey in Canada, led by Sutherland, including W. A. Hewitt and George Slater.{{cite news|title=Officers of C.A.H.A. Re-elected at Tuesday Session of Annual Meeting of Body In Calgary|agency=The Canadian Press|date=April 16, 1941|newspaper=Lethbridge Herald|location=Lethbridge, Alberta|page=18|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-apr-16-1941-3031904/}}{{cite news|title=Captains, Colonels & Kings: Capt. James T. Sutherland – The Legend Maker|last=Fitsell|first=Bill|author-link=Bill Fitsell|date=January 4, 1986|newspaper=The Kingston Whig-Standard|location=Kingston, Ontario|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96964137/hewitt-1940s/}} In 1943, the committee concluded that hockey had been played in Canada since 1855, and that Kingston and Halifax had equal claims to be the birthplace of hockey, since both cities hosted games played by the Royal Canadian Rifle Regiment. The report also stated that Kingston had the first recognized hockey league in 1885, which merged into the Ontario Hockey Association in 1890.{{cite news|title=Across Canada|last=Edwards|first=Charles|author-link=Charles Edwards (journalist)|date=January 4, 1943|newspaper=Winnipeg Free Press|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=13|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jan-04-1943-2981090/}}{{cite news|title=Puck Problem!!! Kingston First With Hockey?|date=March 17, 1943|newspaper=The Winnipeg Tribune|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|page=14|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-mar-17-1943-3033393/}}

In 1943, The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association accepted Sutherland's claim that Kingston was the birthplace of hockey.{{cite web|url=http://www.queensjournal.ca/story/2005-10-04/features/hockey-night-kingston/|title=Hockey night in Kingston|last=Kennedy|first=Brendan|date=2005-10-04|website=The Journal|publisher=Queen's University|access-date=2018-04-11|archive-date=April 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427043205/http://queensjournal.ca/story/2005-10-04/features/hockey-night-kingston/|url-status=dead}} Despite the approval at the time, Sutherland's claim was later dismissed with further research. He had claimed that Kingston was home to Canada's first league, however Kingston did not have a league until the formation of the OHA in 1890–91, and the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada was formed earlier in Montreal, in December 1886.{{cite web|url=http://www.hockeyleaguehistory.com/Amateur_Hockey_Association_of_Canada.htm|title=Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (1887-1898)|website=Hockey League History|access-date=2018-04-10}} Scholars have agreed instead that Kingston, Sutherland, and the OHA, played an important role in developing hockey from Montreal, westward into Ontario, and southward into the United States.

File:International Hockey Hall of Fame.jpg

The National Hockey League endorsed the establishment of a Hockey Hall of Fame in Kingston, on September 10, 1943.Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 96Brignall, Richard (2011), page 53 The CAHA followed suit on September 20, 1943.McKinley, Michael (2014), pp.136–138 Sutherland began a local committee for planning the Hall of Fame, raised funds, and convinced the CAHA and the NHL to contribute money. The Hall of Fame inducted its first members 1945. Sutherland desired "to perpetuate the memories of the men who have done so much to develop nationally and internationally Canada's great winter sport." The Hall of Fame was originally planned to be located inside the Kingston City Hall, due to wartime restrictions on new buildings, and then later expected to be part of a new community arena, which became the Kingston Memorial Centre.

Sutherland donated $1,000 of his own, and raised more with the help of Kingston's Mayor Crawford, but due to World War II, fundraising was slow and difficult. The planning committee was beset by disagreements with the NHL over the proposed site for the hall, and the soaring construction costs. Other interests lobbied to relocate the Hall of Fame, and by 1955 the NHL withdrew financial support for Kingston's plans, and approved a site at the Canadian National Exhibition place in Toronto. Despite the loss of NHL backing, the Kingston committee went ahead with planning an International Hockey Hall of Fame, using the monies and memorabilia donated,Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 160 since the funds collected by the incorporation could only be legally used to build a shrine in the Kingston vicinity.Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 162

{{multiple image | align=right | total_width=250 | image1=Sutherland Cup 2015.JPG | alt1=Photo of the Sutherland Cup | caption1=The Sutherland Cup | image2=Gravestone Captain Sutherland.jpg | alt2=Grave stone in Cataraqui Cemetery | caption2=Sutherland's grave stone}}

Sutherland died on September 16, 1955, and his wife died nine days later.Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 152 His funeral was eulogized by local authorities, and NHL officials.Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 153 The Sutherlands were interred at Cataraqui Cemetery, about 50 feet from Canada's first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. Their gravestone is inscribed with crossed hockey sticks, used as the original logo of Hockey Hall of Fame.Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 154

Sutherland was made a life member of the CAHA in 1928,Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (1990). p. VII{{cite web|url=https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/corporate/contact/board-of-directors|title=Board of Directors|website=Hockey Canada|access-date=2018-04-11}} the highest honour which may be bestowed by the organization.Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (1990). p. 32 He was made a lifetime member of the OHA in 1931.{{cite web|url=http://www.ohahockey.ca/view/oha/about-us/association-awards/oha-life-members|title=OHA Life Members|website=Ontario Hockey Association|access-date=2018-01-27|archive-date=June 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607200455/http://www.ohahockey.ca/view/oha/about-us/association-awards/oha-life-members|url-status=dead}} The Sutherland Cup was dedicated in his honour in 1934, and awarded to the Junior B champions of the OHA.{{cite web|url=http://gojhl.ca/view/gojhl/2017-2018/sutherland-cup|title=Sutherland Cup|website=GOJHL League Site|access-date=2018-04-21}}Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 78 In 1943, he was presented with a Gordon Medal as a life member of the OHA and CAHA, and for 60 years of involvement in hockey.Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 105 He was among the first group in 1947, to receive the OHA Gold Stick order of merit.{{cite web|url=http://www.ohahockey.ca/view/oha/about-us/association-awards/gold-stick|title=Gold Stick|website=Ontario Hockey Association|access-date=2018-06-30}}

Sutherland was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as builder, in the first class of 1945.Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 109 He was also inducted into the International Hockey Hall of Fame in 1947. The Hall of Fame which he founded finally opened in Toronto on August 26, 1961, followed by the Kingston Hall of Fame which opened on July 29, 1965.Fitsell, J.W. (2012), p. 177 Sutherland's extensive collection of hockey memorabilia was donated to the IHHOF, and displayed in a hall named for him.

Sutherland was the subject of the book, Captain James T. Sutherland: The Grand Old Man of Hockey & The Battle for the Original Hockey Hall of Fame by Bill Fitsell, in 2012,Fitsell, J.W. (2012), 204 pages and was the subject of the biography, "The Father of Hockey" by WJP Media in 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.fatherofhockey.wjpmedia.ca/index.html|title=The Father of Hockey|website=The Father of Hockey|access-date=2018-01-25}}{{Clear}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book|last=Fitsell|first=J.W. (Bill)|author-link1=Bill Fitsell|title=Captain James T. Sutherland: The Grand Old Man of Hockey & The Battle for the Original Hockey Hall of Fame|publisher=Quarry Heritage Books|date=2012|location=Kingston, Ontario|isbn=978-1-55082-374-5}}
• {{cite book|last1=Henderson|first1=Paul|author-link1=Paul Henderson|last2=Prime|first2=Jim|title=How Hockey Explains Canada: The Sport That Defines a Country|publisher=Triumph Books|date=2011|location=Chicago, Illinois|isbn=978-1-60078-575-7|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/howhockeyexplain0000hend}}
• {{cite book|last=Brignall|first=Richard|title=Forgotten Heroes: Winnipeg's Hockey Heritage|publisher=J. Gordon Shillingford Publishing Inc.|date=2011|location=Winnipeg, Manitoba|isbn=978-1-897289-65-5}}
• {{cite book|last=McKinley|first=Michael|title=It's Our Game: Celebrating 100 Years Of Hockey Canada|publisher=Viking Press|date=2014|location=Toronto, Ontario|isbn=978-0-670-06817-3}}
• {{cite book|title=Annual Report: Constitution, Regulations and Rules of Competition|publisher=Ontario Hockey Association|date=2006-06-17|location=Cambridge, Ontario}}
• {{cite book|last=Young|first=Scott|author-link1=Scott Young (writer)|title=100 Years of Dropping the Puck|publisher=McClelland & Stewart|date=1989|location=Toronto, Ontario|isbn=0-7710-9093-5|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/100yearsofdroppi0000youn}}
• {{cite book|title=Constitution, By-laws, Regulations, History|publisher=Canadian Amateur Hockey Association|date=May 1990|location=Gloucester, Ontario}}

• {{icehockeystats|legendsm=B194707}}

{{Memorial Cup}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sutherland, James T.}}

Category:1870 births

Category:1955 deaths

Category:20th-century Canadian historians

Category:Burials at Cataraqui Cemetery

Category:Canadian Amateur Hockey Association presidents

Category:Canadian ice hockey coaches

Category:Canadian ice hockey defencemen

Category:Canadian ice hockey officials

Category:Canadian Expeditionary Force officers

Category:Canadian male non-fiction writers

Category:Canadian military personnel from Ontario

Category:Canadian people of Irish descent

Category:Canadian people of Scottish descent

Category:Canadian sports builders

Category:Canadian sports executives and administrators

Category:Hockey Hall of Fame inductees

Category:Memorial Cup

Category:Museum founders

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Category:Shoemakers

Category:Sportspeople from Kingston, Ontario

Category:Writers from Kingston, Ontario