PCHA teams that weren’t

During its life from 1911 to 1924, the Pacific Coast Hockey Association had teams in six cities — New Westminster, Portland, Seattle, Spokane, Vancouver, and Victoria — although never more than four at once, and usually only three.

Other cities were spoken of as potential PCHA sites and there were earlier attempts to create something akin to the PCHA, although a key difference is that some of the proposed leagues probably would have been amateur instead of professional.

Detail from Rand McNally map of North America, 1912.

In October 1908, J.L. Bell of Calgary and August Wolf of the Spokane Chamber of Commerce talked about forming a league composed of Spokane, Calgary, Edmonton, and Nelson — the latter presumably included because it was where the Patricks lived, although they weren't specifically mentioned. [1]

According to the Nelson Daily News, the proposal called for Spokane and Nelson to play two series of three games each and the Alberta teams to do the same. The winning teams would  then meet for a series and the chance to be crowned “international northwest champions.” [2]

A few weeks later, the Victoria Daily Colonist reported that plans for a northwest league involving Calgary, Nelson, “and several other Canadian and American cities” were still alive, but they came to naught. [3]

When the Nelson hockey club held its annual meeting in November 1908, a huge British Columbia hockey league was proposed consisting of Nelson, Rossland, Revelstoke, Grand Forks, Greenwood, Phoenix, Fernie, Moyie, Cranbrook, and Vernon, BC; plus Coleman, Alta. and Spokane. It also failed to materialize. [4]

In March 1909, the Patricks were said to be in talks with star Edmonton player Fred Whitcroft (pictured, with whom they would later play in Renfrew), and J. McCullogh of Calgary about forming a new professional league in western Canada. Lester suggested a meeting be held in Calgary, that would also include representatives from Lethbridge, Wetaskiwin, Regina, Medicine Hat, Saskatoon, and Strathcona (an Edmonton neighbourhood that was then a separate city). The proposal was still alive as of October, but it didn’t happen either. [5]

When the Patricks announced the Pacific Coast Hockey Association in March 1911 (although it wasn’t yet called that), it was initially expected the league would consist of Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, and Edmonton, with artificial-ice rinks to be built in the BC cities and natural-ice rinks to be built in the Alberta cities.

Each rink would be managed by a local company, the executives of which were already in place.

• Vancouver: Joe Patrick, F.L. Buckley, Blake Wilson (a vice-president of the P. Burns and Co. Ltd. meat empire), Hugh Gilmour, W.G. Gillett (a former Nelson mayor who would end up as the contractor on the Vancouver rink), John Dewar, “and others.” [6]

• Victoria: Thomas Hooper (pictured, architect of the Victoria rink), Robert F. Green (former Kaslo mayor and MLA for Slocan and Kaslo, who was then MP for Kootenay), J.A. Turner, Dr. G.A.B. Hall (former Nelson MLA, and Lester Patrick’s brother-in-law), Harry Wright (Nelson MLA and Patrick family friend), and Mike Carlin (whose property the rink was supposed to be built on). [7]

• Edmonton: Fred Whitcroft, James McKinnon, A.J. (or H.J.) Helliwell, Frank Day, George B. McLeod, “and others.” [8]

• Calgary: Fred C. Lowes, Dr. J.L. Gibson, R.G. McNeillie, and Mr. Doyle of P. Burns and Co. [9]

Fred Lowes explained that he wasn’t involved in plans for the league per se, but had agreed to help build rinks in Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver. [10]

The Nelson Daily News wishfully envisioned these teams taking on the local club when passing through Nelson en route to and from Alberta and the coast, “Or better still could not the league be a five team proposition, with Nelson as the fifth member.” [11]

A few weeks later, while on his honeymoon in Ottawa, Lester mused to a news reporter that the PCHA might have teams at Vancouver, Fernie, Nelson, and “other western cities.” [12]

The nascent league’s membership remained in flux for most of the year. In July 1911, the Victoria Colonist reported that in addition to Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, and Edmonton, there would be a Regina club and “probably one other.” [13]

In August 1911, as plans for the Willows Arena in Victoria were unveiled, the Patricks indicated the league would consist only of the four original cities: Vancouver, Victoria, Edmonton, and Calgary. [14]

Frank Patrick still insisted in September that would be the case, but the Edmonton Bulletin accused him of “shooting hot air” and said his promise to include Alberta teams came “Despite all evidences [sic] to the contrary … Vancouver and Victoria are certain, but where, oh where, is Edmonton.” [15]

On the same day, the Vancouver Province said the Vancouver team looked to be so strong that “the enthusiasts who proposed to back teams in Calgary and Edmonton are kind of getting cold feet.” The Province writer felt there was still time for the Alberta cities to secure arenas, but questioned their ability to ice competitive teams. [16]

By mid-October, with construction nearing completion on the Denman Arena in Vancouver, the Alberta teams were out. Edmonton and Calgary hadn’t had enough time to organize, it was explained, although they were considered likely additions the following season. The Patricks offered to buy 25 per cent of the stock in those cities if locals would buy the rest, but there wasn’t enough support. [17]

The Patricks now suggested the league would consist of Vancouver, Victoria, Nelson, and Rossland. [18] Or maybe just Vancouver and Victoria. [19] Then, suddenly, New Westminster was in the mix. [20]

The Vancouver World clucked about the ever-changing line-up:

Within the past week we have had — on paper — in the league, Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, and Edmonton. We have also had Vancouver, Victoria, Rossland, and Nelson, while at the same time we had it Vancouver and Victoria going it solamente. Also we had Vancouver, Victoria, and a third club chosen from one of the foregoing named, with the possible addition of New Westminster as the third factor in the race. What will be the situation? Frank Patrick himself cannot tell you at this minute. [21]

The New Westminster club was seemingly organized in a matter of days, with lawyer W. Norman Bole as president, W.J. Kerr as vice-president, and P.W. Luce as secretary-treasurer, plus George Kennedy, L.B. Lusby, and Dr. C.E. Doherty as directors. [22]

Meanwhile, the initial executive of the Vancouver Hockey Club (distinct from the company that ran the arena) consisted of honorary president L.D. Taylor (Vancouver’s mayor, pictured), president W.P. Irving, manager Frank Patrick, secretary-treasurer A.J. Smaill, and directors C.S. Douglas, J. Harry Senkler, and J.A. Dewar. [23]

When the puck finally dropped in early 1912, there were three teams: Victoria, Vancouver, and New Westminster, with the latter two sharing a rink. New Westminster got its own arena toward the end of the following season.

Barely had the inaugural PCHA season begun when it was announced that Seattle would join the following year following the construction of an artificial-ice rink at Tenth and Madison promoted by realtor L.H. Griffiths. [24] In fact, the PCHA would not come to Seattle until 1915, and the rink would be built at Fifth and University. 

It was also suggested there was interest in Spokane, Portland, and Tacoma. [25] The first two cities would eventually secure teams, but not Tacoma, though it was still spoken of as a possibility as of December 1912. [26]

Other PCHA teams that failed to materialize:

• In 1913, a Calgary group tried again to secure a franchise, but Frank Patrick rebuffed them, explaining “the travelling expenses, scarcity of good players and size of the city would be a big handicap.” He suggested Calgary and Edmonton instead form a minor pro league, who could take on PCHA teams. [27] It didn’t happen in the short term, although eventually the PCHA merged with the Prairie-based Western Canada Hockey League.

• In 1916, the proprietors of the San Francisco Winter Garden applied for a franchise but were refused. No reason was given. [28]

• In 1917, there was talk of the PCHA expanding to Oakland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. It remained just talk. [29] In 1926, after the PCHA amalgamated with the WCHL, the same three California cities were proposed as potential places to relocate the Prairie franchises. [30]

• In 1919, Con Jones, a Vancouver lacrosse promoter known for his Don’t Argue pool halls and smoke shops, was said to be interested in adding a second Vancouver team. A dispatch from Montreal claimed he had obtained options on “four or five” of the best players in the east, including former Vancouver Millionaire Newsy Lalonde, who had previously played lacrosse for him. However, The Vancouver Sun said “followers of hockey regard the proposal as more or less of a joke.” [31]

Jones apparently did submit a formal application, but the Victoria Colonist reported “Conditions at the present time … do not warrant a second team in Vancouver, and it is expected that his application will be turned down at the annual meeting of the league.” [32]

When that meeting happened in November, there was no mention of Jones or his proposed team. [33]

Con Jones (centre) imported Newsy Lalonde and Leo Dandurand to play on his lacrosse team in 1912. (Stuart Thomson/Vancouver Public Library 35177)

NOTES

[1] “International trophy,” The Daily News (Nelson), Oct. 10, 1908, p. 1

[2] Ibid.

[3] “Nelson has Stanley trophy in view,” The Daily Colonist (Victoria), Nov. 1, 1908, p. 14

[4] “Invite Spokane in hockey league,” The Spokesman-Review (Spokane), Nov. 29, 1908, p. 11

[5] “Professional hockey,” The Daily Phoenix (Saskatoon,) March 16, 1909, p. 3 and

“Big pro league proposed,” The Evening Citizen (Ottawa), Oct. 27, 1909, p. 8

[6] “Vancouver to have an artificial ice rink,” The Vancouver Daily Province, March 10, 1911, p. 9; “Artificial ice rink is now assured here,” The Vancouver World, March 10, 1911, p. 21; and “Edmonton hockey men support pro league,” The Calgary Daily Herald, March 16, 1911, p. 9

[7] Ibid.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid.

[10] “Edmonton hockey men support pro league,” The Calgary Daily Herald, March 16, 1911, p. 9

[11] “Sporting spotlights,” The Daily News (Nelson), March 13, 1911, p. 3

[12] “Phillips to play again,” The Winnipeg Tribune, April 3, 1911, p. 7

[13] “Crack ice hockey player engaged,” The Daily Colonist (Victoria), July 25, 1911, p. 15

[14] “Victoria to have ice hockey rink,” The Daily Colonist (Victoria), Aug. 13, 1911, p. 17

[15] “Frank Patrick still shooting hot air,” Edmonton Daily Bulletin, Sept. 26, 1911, p. 9

[16] “Many changes in ice hockey map,” The Vancouver Daily Province, Sept. 26, 1911, p. 11

[17] “Hockey league will comprise two teams,” The Vancouver Daily Province, Oct. 12, 1911, p. 10 and The Daily Colonist (Victoria), Oct. 14, 1911

[18] The Vancouver World, Oct. 11, 1911, p. 14

[19] “Hockey league will comprise two teams,” The Vancouver Daily Province, Oct. 12, 1911, p. 10

[20] “Westminster will have hockey team,” The Vancouver Daily Province, Nov. 14, 1911, p. 10

[21] “Hockey situation beclouded still,” The Vancouver World, Oct. 16, 1911, p. 14

[22] “Westminster club is now organized,” The Vancouver Daily Province, Nov. 24, 1911, p. 10

[23] Ibid.

[24] “Seattle will build artificial ice rink,” The Vancouver Daily Province, Jan. 20, 1912, p. 30

[25] “International hockey league for Coast cities next season,” The Sun (Vancouver), March 11, 1912, p. 8

[26] “Tacoma talking of building ice rink,” The Vancouver Daily Province, Dec. 24, 1912, p. 10

[27] “Suggests a minor league for Prairie,” Victoria Daily Times, March 29, 1913, p. 8

[28] “Coast hockey moguls sign peace treaty; Franchise for San Francisco refused,” The Sun (Vancouver), Nov. 11, 1916, p. 6

[29] “Hockey trophy is in Seattle,” The Vancouver World, June 4, 1917, p. 9

[30] “News to me,” says Staehli, The Oregonian, May 4, 1926, p. 12 and Joining the Clubs: The Business of the National Hockey League to 1945, J. Andrew Ross, p. 134, citing “Lester says other five clubs in Western Hockey League have been sold as well,” in unknown newspaper of May 5, 1926 in Library and Archives Canada, Hockey Hall of Fame Fonds, Vol. 21, Lester Patrick scrapbook 1902-34

[31] “Montreal story on Coast hockey is news locally,” Vancouver Daily Sun, July 9, 1919, p. 8 

[32] “Three clubs only for Coast hockey,” The Daily Colonist (Victoria), Oct. 14, 1919, p. 13

[33] “Frank Patrick again head of Pacific Coast League,” The Vancouver Daily Sun, Nov. 22, 1919, p. 8 and 17