1907 ECAHA season

The 1907 ECAHA season was the second season of the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association (ECAHA). Teams played a ten-game schedule. The Montreal Wanderers won the league championship going undefeated, with their only loss of the season coming in a Stanley Cup challenge series with Kenora.
==League business==
===Executive===
* Fred McRobie (President)
* Thomas D'Arcy McGee, Ottawa (1st Vice-President)
* Gordon Blair, Quebec (2nd Vice-President)
* Emmett Quinn, Shamrocks (Secretary-Treasurer)
Nationals and Grand Trunk applied for franchises but did not get three-fourths approval.
===Rule changes===
* Teams could have professionals as well as amateurs
* After a puck strikes a goalie, the rebound could now be played by the defending team without it being called offside
* A player injured in the first half can sit for ten minutes and the other team has to take off a player.
==Regular season==
Frank McGee of Ottawa retired to pursue his government career. The Wanderers added two professionals, Riley Hern from the Portage Lake-Houghton pros and Hod Stuart from the Pittsburgh pros.
Prior to the season, Ottawa travelled to Winnipeg for a series of exhibition games against Manitoba league teams including the Kenora Thistles, who then came east to play a challenge in Montreal. The Montreal Victorias hosted the St. Nicholas Hockey Club from New York in an exhibition on December 22, 1906, defeating them 16–3.
===Highlights===
A major battle took place for the game between the Senators and Wanderers on January 12. Stick work was the order of the day as Charles Spittal of Ottawa knocked Cecil Blachford in the head, Alf Smith hit Hod Stuart in the head and Harry Smith broke Ernie Johnson's nose. The Wanderers would still win, 4–2.
After the game, a special league meeting was called to hand out discipline, with Victorias and Wanderers wanting Spittal and Alf Smith suspended for the season. The players were not suspended, leading the league president Mr. McRobie to resign, leaving Darcy McGee to take over as president.
On the next visit of the Ottawa team to Montreal, to play the Victorias, the three Ottawa players were arrested by Montreal police. Eventually Alf Smith and Spittal were fined $20 for their actions and Harry Smith was found not guilty.
The scoring championship was close, with Ernie Russell of the Wanderers placing first with 42 goals in 9 games, and Russell Bowie scoring 38 in 10 games.
===Final standings===
Team 	Games Played	Wins	Losses	Ties	Goals For	Goals Against
Montreal Wanderers 	10 	10 	0 	0 	105 	39
Ottawa Hockey Club 	10 	7 	3 	0 	76 	54
Montreal Victorias 	10 	6 	4 	0 	101 	70
Montreal Hockey Club	10 	3 	7 	0 	58 	83
Quebec Hockey Club 	10 	2 	8 	0 	62 	88
Montreal Shamrocks 	10 	2 	8 	0 	52 	120
==Stanley Cup challenges==
The 1907 season had two Stanley Cup champions, Montreal Wanderers and Kenora Thistles.
===Wanderers vs. New Glasgow at Montreal===
The Wanderers played one Stanley Cup challenge before the season, defeating the New Glasgow Cubs in a two-game series 10–3, 7–2, December 27–29, 1906. This was the first series in which professional players played for the Stanley Cup, as the Wanderers and other teams in the ECAHA were starting to mix amateurs with pros in their squads.
Date 	Winning Team 	Score 	Losing Team 	Location
December 27, 1906 	Montreal Wanderers 	10–3 	New Glasgow Cubs 	Montreal Arena
December 29, 1906 	Montreal Wanderers 	7–2 	New Glasgow Cubs 	Montreal Arena
Montreal wins total goals series 17 goals to 5.	Montreal wins total goals series 17 goals to 5.	Montreal wins total goals series 17 goals to 5.	Montreal wins total goals series 17 goals to 5.	Montreal wins total goals series 17 goals to 5.
 December 27, 1906
New Glasgow Cubs 	3 	at 	Montreal Wanderers 	10 	
Frank Morrison 	 	G 	William "Riley" Hern 	 	
James Musick 	 	P 	Billy Strachan 	 	
Evan MacMillian 	 	CP 	Rod Kennedy 	 	
Jack Marks 	2 	RO 	Lester Patrick 	2 	
Jack McDonald 	1 	C 	Frank "Pud" Glass 	4 	
Jimmy Williams 	 	LW 	Ernie "Moose' Johnson 	 	
Bill Lannon 	 	RW 	Ernie Russell 	3 	
Percy MacDonald 	 	Spare 	Cecil Blachford, Capt 	 	
James Murphy 	 	Spare 	Hod Stuart 	 	
Referees Howard, Russell Bowie	Referees Howard, Russell Bowie	Referees Howard, Russell Bowie	Referees Howard, Russell Bowie	Referees Howard, Russell Bowie	
 December 29, 1906
New Glasgow Cubs 	2 	at 	Montreal Wanderers 	7 	
Frank Morrison 	 	G 	William "Riley" Hern 	 	
Jack McDonald 	1 	P 	Billy Strachan 	 	
Percy McDonald 	 	CP 	Rod Kennedy 	1 	
Bill Lannon 	 	RO 	Lester Patrick 	3 	
Jimmy Williams 	 	C 	Frank "Pud" Glass 	1 	
James Murphy 	1 	LW 	Ernie "Moose" Johnson 	2 	
James Musick 	 	RW 	Cecil Blachford, Capt 	 	
Evan MacMillan 	 	Spare 	Hod Stuart 	 	
Jack Marks 	 	Spare 	Ernie Russell 	 	
Referees Howard, Russell Bowie	Referees Howard, Russell Bowie	Referees Howard, Russell Bowie	Referees Howard, Russell Bowie	Referees Howard, Russell Bowie	
</div>
===Wanderers vs. Kenora at Montreal===
The Wanderers played one Stanley Cup challenge during the season, losing to the Kenora Thistles 2–4, 6–8 on January 17–21. Aided by future Hockey Hall of Famers Joe Hall, Tom Hooper, Tommy Phillips, and Art Ross, the Thistles came away with 4–2 and 8–6 victories for a combined score of 12–8 to win a two-game total goals series. Hall and Ross were borrowed from the Brandon Wheat City team.
For Montreal, these were their first games after their donnybrook with Ottawa on January 12. Centre Cecil Blachfor], who had been knocked out in the Ottawa game, did not play. Johnson and Stuart, who had required hospitalization, did play. Ernie Russell substituted for Blachford.
Date 	Winning Team 	Score 	Losing Team 	Location
January 17, 1907 	Kenora Thistles 	4–2 	Montreal Wanderers 	Montreal Arena
January 21, 1907 	Kenora Thistles 	8–6 	Montreal Wanderers 	Montreal Arena
Kenora wins total goals series 12 goals to 8	Kenora wins total goals series 12 goals to 8	Kenora wins total goals series 12 goals to 8	Kenora wins total goals series 12 goals to 8	Kenora wins total goals series 12 goals to 8
 January 17, 1907
Montreal Wanderers 	2 	vs 	Kenora Thistles 	4 	
William "Riley" Hern 	 	G 	Eddie Geroux 	 	
Billy Strachan 	 	P 	Art Ross 	 	
Hod Stuart 	 	CP 	Si Griffis 	 	
Lester Patrick, Capt. 	2 	RO 	Tom Hooper 	 	
Ernie Russell 	 	C 	Billy McGimsie 	 	
Frank "Pud" Glass 	 	RW 	Roxy Beaudro 	 	
Ernie "Moose" Johnson 	 	LW 	Tommy Phillips, Capt. 	4 	
Jack Marshall 	1 	sub 	 	 	
Rod Kennedy 	 	spare 	Joe Hall 	 	
Bill Chipcase 	 	spare 	Russell Phillips 	 	
Referees Meldrun, Russell Bowie	Referees Meldrun, Russell Bowie	Referees Meldrun, Russell Bowie	Referees Meldrun, Russell Bowie	Referees Meldrun, Russell Bowie	
 January 21, 1907
Montreal Wanderers 	6 	vs 	Kenora Thistles 	8 	
William "Riley" Hern 	 	G 	Eddie Geroux 	 	
Rod Kennedy 	 	P 	Art Ross 	 	
Hod Stuart 	 	CP 	Si Griffis 	 	
Lester Patrick, Capt 	3 	RO 	Tom Hooper 	3 	
Ernie Russell 	2 	C 	Billy McGimsie 	1 	
Frank "Pud" Glass 	 	RW 	Roxy Beaudro 	1 	
Ernie "Moose" Johnson 	 	LW 	Tommy Phillips, Capt. 	3 	
Jack Marshall 	1 	sub 	 	 	
Billy Strachan 	 	spare 	Joe Hall 	 	
Bill Chipcase 	 	spare 	Russell Phillips 	 	
Referees Chittick, Shea	Referees Chittick, Shea	Referees Chittick, Shea	Referees Chittick, Shea	Referees Chittick, Shea	
After the series, the Thistles played an exhibition game in Ottawa on January 23. The Thistles lost 8–3 to Ottawa. Harry Smith scored four goals and Harry Westwick scored three for Ottawa. In this game Billy McGimsie suffered a career-ending shoulder injury.
===Wanderers vs. Kenora at Winnipeg===
After returning home, Kenora had played the balance of the MPHL season and playoffs. After losing McGimsie, Si Griffis and Tom Hooper also went down to injury. Kenora signed three players to bolster its team: Alf Smith and Rat Westwick of Ottawa, and Fred Whitcroft of Peterborough to finish the season. (All three were future Hall of Fame inductees.) By the time of the MPHL playoff, Stanley Cup trustee Bill Foran notified Kenora that Smith and Westwick were ineligible for the challenge.
Kenora dressed Smith and Westwick for the challenge anyway and Montreal filed a protest with Foran. Foran ruled that both players were ineligible. The series was supposed to start on March 20 in Kenora, but did not. One report was that the ice in the rink was too poor to play on and the rink was closed. The clubs went ahead and started the series on March 23 in Winnipeg instead, with Smith and Westwick playing. Mr. Foran was notified by the press (inaccurately) that Montreal had dropped its protest and that the clubs intended to play anyway. Mr. Foran threatened to take the Cup back to Ottawa:
If the two clubs ignore the instructions of the cup trustees by mutually agreeing to play against Westwick and Smith when both were positively informed these men were ineligible to participate in the present cup matches, the series will be treated as void, and the cup will be taken charge of by the trustees. It will remain in their possession till the various hockey leagues can educate themselves up to a standard where decent sport will be the order of the day.”
The teams went ahead and played the series. However, Mr. Foran changed his mind after the Wanderers won the Cup, stating that the Wanderers could keep the Cup, because they had not rescinded their protest.
After the series, the Wanderers returned to Montreal with the Stanley Cup. The Cup was stolen from Montreal photographer Jimmy Rice's home and held for ransom. No ransom was paid, and the Cup was returned to Rice. It was used as a geranium planter until the fall.
Date 	Winning Team 	Score 	Losing Team 	Location
March 23, 1907 	Montreal Wanderers 	7–2 	Kenora Thistles 	Winnipeg Auditorium
March 25, 1907 	Kenora Thistles 	6–5 	Montreal Wanderers 	Winnipeg Auditorium
Montreal wins total goals series 12 goals to 8	Montreal wins total goals series 12 goals to 8	Montreal wins total goals series 12 goals to 8	Montreal wins total goals series 12 goals to 8	Montreal wins total goals series 12 goals to 8
 March 23, 1907
Montreal Wanderers 	7	at 	Kenora Thistles 	2	
William "Riley" Hern 	 	G 	Eddie Geroux 	 	
Lester Patrick, Capt. 	 	P 	Tom Hooper 	 	
Hod Stuart 	 	CP 	Si Griffis 	 	
Frank "Pud" Glass 	2	RO 	Harry "Rat" Westwick 	 	
Ernie Russell 	4	C 	Fred Whitecroft 	 	
Cecil Blachford 	 	RW 	Alf Smith 	1	
Ernie "Moose" Johnson 	1	LW 	Tommy Phillips, Capt.	1	
Bill Chipcase 	 	spare	Roxy Beaudro 	 	
T Eskrine & Rod Kennedy	 	spare	Russell Phillips 	 	
Referee- W. MacFarlane 	 	 	 	 	
Referee W. Kean 	 	 	 	 	
 March 25, 1907
Montreal Wanderers 	5	at 	Kenora Thistles 	6	
William "Riley" Hern 	 	G 	Eddie Geroux 	 	
Lester Patrick, Capt. 	1	P 	Roxy Beaudro 	1	
Hod Stuart 	 	CP 	Si Griffis 	1	
Frank "Pud" Glass 	1	RO 	Harry "Rat" Westwick 	 	
Ernie Russell 	1	C 	Fred Whitecroft 	2	
Cecil Blachford 	 	RW 	Alf Smith 	1	
Ernie "Moose' Johnson 	2	LW 	Tommy Phillips, Capt.	1	
T Eskrine & Rod Kennedy	 	spare	Russell Phillips 	 	
Bill Chipcase 	 	spare	Tom Hooper 	 	
Referee- W. MacFarlane 	 	 	 	 	
Referee W. Kean 	 	 	 	 	
==Schedule and results==
Month	Day	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Score
Jan. 	2 	Wanderers	6 	Victorias	5 (10' overtime)
Jan. 	5 	Montreal 	5 	Shamrocks	3
Jan. 	5 	Quebec 	1 	Ottawa 	6
Jan. 	9 	Wanderers	6 	Montreal 	3
Jan. 	12 	Ottawa 	2 	Wanderers	4
Jan. 	12 	Victorias	10 	Quebec 	1
Jan. 	16 	Victorias	16 	Shamrocks	3
Jan. 	19 	Shamrocks	2 	Ottawa 	6
Jan. 	19 	Quebec 	8 	Montreal 	15
Jan. 	23 	Victorias	12 	Montreal 	6
Jan. 	26 	Ottawa 	12 	Victorias	10
Jan. 	26 	Wanderers	11 	Quebec 	3
Jan. 	30 	Shamrocks	5 	Montreal 	3
Feb. 	2 	Montreal 	2 	Ottawa 	5
Feb. 	2 	Quebec 	8 	Shamrocks	11
Feb. 	6 	Wanderers	5 	Victorias	2
Feb. 	9 	Ottawa 	5 	Quebec 	4 (2' overtime)
Feb. 	9 	Montreal 	3 	Wanderers	16
Feb. 	13 	Shamrocks	7 	Victorias	19
Feb. 	16 	Victorias	7 	Ottawa 	16
Feb. 	16 	Quebec 	5 	Wanderers	13
Feb. 	19 	Shamrocks	5 	Wanderers	18
Feb. 	23 	Ottawa 	12 	Shamrocks	6
Feb. 	23 	Montreal 	5 	Quebec 	9
Feb. 	27 	Montreal 	8 	Victorias	13
Mar. 	2 	Wanderers	10 	Ottawa 	6
Mar. 	2 	Quebec 	6 	Victorias	7
Mar. 	6 	Shamrocks	5 	Wanderers	16
Mar. 	9 	Ottawa 	6 	Montreal 	8
Mar. 	9 	Shamrocks	5 	Quebec 	17
==Player statistics==
===Goaltending averages===
Note: GP = Games played, GA = goals against, SO = Shutouts, GAA = Goals against average
Name 	Club 	GP	GA 	SO	GAA
Riley Hern 	Wanderers	10	39 	 	3.9
Percy LeSueur 	Ottawa 	10	54 	 	5.4
Nathan Frye 	Victorias	10	70 	 	7.0
Charles Doddridge	Quebec 	4 	30 	 	7.5
White 	Montreal 	10	83 	 	8.3
Paddy Moran 	Quebec 	6 	58 	 	9.7
Currie 	Shamrocks	10	120	 	12.0
===Leading scorers===
Name 	Club 	GP	G
Russell, Ernie 	Wanderers	9 	42
Bowie, Russell 	Victorias	10	38
Russell, Blair 	Victorias	10	25
Smith, Harry 	Ottawa 	9 	21
Sargent, Grover 	Montreal 	10	20
Hale, Chandler 	Victorias	7 	18
Smith, Alf 	Ottawa 	9 	17
Shore, Hamby 	Ottawa 	10	17
Johnson, Ernie 	Montreal 	10	15
Charles Francis Constantine	Quebec 	7 	15
==References==
*
* Podnieks, Andrew: Lord Stanley Cup, Fenn Publishing Company, 2004
* 
* Adams, Trevor J.: Long Shots, Nimbus Publishing, 2012
Category:1907 in ice hockey
Category:Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association seasons