1910 NHA season

The 1910 NHA season was the first season of the National Hockey Association men's professional ice hockey league. The season started on January 5, but was suspended immediately and the league then absorbed the Ottawa and Shamrocks teams of the Canadian Hockey Association and the season continued from January 15 to March 15. Seven teams played 12 games each. The Ottawa Hockey Club played two Stanley Cup challenges during the season, but lost the Cup to their rivals the Montreal Wanderers who won the league championship and played a Cup challenge afterwards.
==League business==
After the Canadian Hockey Association (CHA) turned down the Wanderers' application to join, Wanderers' manager Jimmy Gardner, along with Renfrew's Ambrose O'Brien worked to put together enough teams to form a league. Gardner approached the Ottawa Senators of the Federal League to have an Ottawa entry, but the players decided to fold the team, rather than compete with the Ottawa Hockey Club. Gardner also approached the Mutual Street Rink of Toronto to form a professional team, but was turned down as the rink was fully booked.
The league was founded on December 2, 1909, at a private meeting at 300 St. James Street, the headquarters of the Dominion Office and Store Fitting Limited in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. At this meeting four franchises were approved:
* Wanderers (represented by P. J. Doran, R. R. Boon, Jimmy Gardner)
* Renfrew (represented by Ambrose O'Brien, George E. Martel, Jim Barnett)
* Cobalt (Thomas C. Hare)
* Haileybury (Noah Timmins)
Eddie McCafferty acted as secretary, and he also was representative of interests in Toronto. A franchise would be held for a future Toronto team. The NHA discussed organizing a team in Ottawa with the Ottawa Lacrosse Club and getting Montreal Le National to join the NHA. The Wanderers and Renfrew signed a pact not to merge with the CHA unless Cobalt and Haileybury were also admitted. The teams pledged a $1,000 bond to stay together.
Two days later on December 4, the NHA held an organizing meeting at the Windsor Hotel in Montreal. The CHA was meeting at the hotel also, and a message was sent to the Ottawa, Shamrocks and Le National teams to seek a merged seven-team league. This was turned down by the CHA, which would not accept Cobalt and Haileybury. The CHA proposed that Renfrew and Wanderers join the CHA, but the NHA teams turned that proposal down.
An executive was elected:
* President – M. Doheney, Renfrew
* Vice-President – Thomas C. Hare, Cobalt
* Sec.-Treasurer – E. John McCafferty
* Executive – J. Ambrose O'Brien, Slaght, Boon, Jack Laviolette and Thomas C. Hare
At the meeting, a franchise for 'Les Canadiens' was granted, to be organized by Jack Laviolette. Mr. Hare of Cobalt put up a security deposit for the franchise on the understanding that it would be transferred to Montreal French sportsmen as soon as possible.Coleman(1966), pg. 179
The NHA decided to run the league in a more business-like manner. The league decided to write a standard player's contract. McCafferty, who was also secretary of the Montreal Baseball Club, was to draw up the contract. The NHA also decided to have professional referees. Both of these were innovations in the world of ice hockey.
==Regular season==
The first Canadiens game ever took place on January 5 under a cloud. Didier Pitre had signed a contract with both the Canadiens and the Nationals. Pitre was risking a $2,000 fine and 60 days's jail time. The Nationals had a legal injunction against Pitre playing for the Canadiens. This contributed to an over-capacity crowd at the Jubilee Rink of about 5,000. Pitre did play (he was guaranteed any fines by Canadiens' management) and court action commenced. Pitre was found to not to have a binding contract with the Nationals by the courts. By this time, the CHA had folded, and no contract was enforceable. Pitre would have a long career with the Canadiens, playing into the 1920s.O'Brien(1971), pp. 4–9
On January 15, a meeting was held by the league executive and Ottawa and Montreal Shamrocks were admitted to the NHA. The games played before that date were thrown out, and games from that date forwards counted towards the final standings.Coleman(1966), pg. 182
On January 22, at a game between Renfrew and Shamrocks, Shamrock's Joe Hall was ejected for striking the judge-of-play Rod Kennedy. After regulation time, the game was tied. Referee Tom Hodge proposed that Hall return for the overtime, but Renfrew objected and did not play the overtime. Hall was later fined $100 for the incident and suspended until January 30. The game was ordered replayed but wasn't due to ice conditions and the game results were accepted as a tie.Coleman(1966), pp. 185–186
On Cyclone Taylor's first return to Ottawa as a member of the Renfrew team, he made his famous promise to score a goal backwards against Ottawa. This led to incredible interest, with over 7000 in attendance. A bet of $100 was placed at the King Edward Hotel against him scoring at all. The Senators would win 8–5 (3 goals in overtime) and more importantly keep Taylor off the scoresheet. Later in the season at the return match in Renfrew, Taylor made good on his boast with a goal scored backwards. This was the final game of the season, and the Senators had no chance at the league title, and don't appear to have put in an effort, losing 17–2.Coleman(1966), pg. 189
===Final standings===
National Hockey Association
 	GP	W 	L 	T	GF	GA
Montreal Wanderers 	12	11	1 	0	91	41
Ottawa Hockey Club 	12	9 	3 	0	89	66
Renfrew Creamery Kings	12	8 	3 	1	96	54
Cobalt Silver Kings 	12	4 	8 	0	79	104
Haileybury Hockey Club	12	4 	8 	0	77	83
Montreal Shamrocks 	12	3 	8 	1	52	95
Les Canadiens 	12	2 	10	0	59	100
Standings: 
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against
==Stanley Cup challenges==
During the season Ottawa as Cup champion played a challenge against Edmonton in addition to their regular schedule. They had played a challenge during the CHA season against Galt.
===Ottawa vs. Edmonton===
Edmonton was champion of the Alberta Professional Hockey League.
 January 18
Edmonton 	4 	at 	Ottawa 	8 	
Jack Winchester 	 	G 	Percy LeSueur 	 	
William Field 	 	P 	Fred Lake 	 	
Hugh Ross 	 	CP 	Hamby Shore 	 	
Fred Whitcroft 	2 	RO 	Bruce Stuart, Capt. 	2 	
Harold Deeton 	1 	C 	Marty Walsh 	1 	
Hay Millar 	1 	RW 	Gordon Roberts 	4 	
Bert Boulton 	 	LW 	Bruce Ridpath 	1 	
Referees – Bowie & Campbell	Referees – Bowie & Campbell	Referees – Bowie & Campbell	Referees – Bowie & Campbell	Referees – Bowie & Campbell	
 January 20
Edmonton 	7 	at 	Ottawa 	13 	
Jack Winchester 	 	G 	Percy LeSueur 	 	
William Field 	 	P 	Fred Lake 	 	
Hugh Ross 	 	CP 	Hamby Shore 	1 	
Fred Whitcroft 	3 	RO 	Bruce Stuart, Capt. 	5 	
Harold Deeton 	2 	C 	Marty Walsh 	1 	
Hay Millar 	 	RW 	Gordon Roberts 	3 	
Bert Boulton 	2 	LW 	Bruce Ridpath 	3 	
Referees – Bowie & Campbell	Referees – Bowie & Campbell	Referees – Bowie & Campbell	Referees – Bowie & Campbell	Referees – Bowie & Campbell	
===NHA league champions take over Stanley Cup===
The Wanderers having won the O'Brien trophy won regular season championship of the NHA and took possession of the Cup from Ottawa. They had a challenge from Berlin, champions of the Ontario Professional Hockey League and easily defeated them. For 1910, there would be two Stanley Cup holders, Ottawa until March, and Montreal for the rest of the year.
===Wanderers vs. Berlin===
 March 12
Berlin 	3 	at 	Wanderers 	7 	
Hugh Lehman, Capt. 	 	G 	William "Riley" Hern 	 	
Albert Seibert 	1 	P 	Jack Marshall 	 	
Harvey Corbeau 	1 	CP 	Ernie Johnson 	 	
E. "Toad" Edmunds 	 	RO 	Frank "Pud" Glass, Capt.	 	
Roy Anderson 	 	C 	Harry Hyland 	3 	
Ezra Dumart 	 	RW 	Ernie Russell 	4 	
Oren Frood 	1 	LW 	Jimmy Gardner 	 	
Referees – Bowie & Kirby	Referees – Bowie & Kirby	Referees – Bowie & Kirby	Referees – Bowie & Kirby	Referees – Bowie & Kirby	
==NHA Exhibitions at New York==
After the season, the NHA arranged an 'international championship' at New York's St. Nicholas Rink. Like the previous spring, Ottawa and Wanderers played a two-game series in New York for a purse of $1,500. Wanderers won both games 4–3. Renfrew next travelled to New York and defeated the Wanderers in a single game for $1,000.
Date 	Winning Team 	Score	Losing Team
March 15, 1910	Montreal Wanderers 	4–3 	Ottawa HC
March 16, 1910	Montreal Wanderers 	4–3 	Ottawa HC
March 19, 1910	Renfrew Millionaires	9–4 	Montreal Wanderers
;Source:
* 
* 
* 
==Schedule and results==
Month	Day	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Score
Jan. 	5 	Cobalt 	6 	Canadiens 	7 (5'35" over.)†
Jan. 	8 	Cobalt 	6 	Wanderers 	10 †
Jan. 	12 	Cobalt 	11 	Renfrew 	9 †
Jan. 	15 	Renfrew 	2 	Wanderers 	7
Jan. 	15 	Shamrocks 	3 	Ottawa 	15
Jan. 	18 	Cobalt 	7 	Haileybury	6 (4'30" over.)
Jan. 	19 	Canadiens 	4 	Renfrew 	9
Jan. 	22 	Canadiens 	4 	Ottawa 	6
Jan. 	22‡	Renfrew 	1 	Shamrocks 	1
Jan. 	22 	Wanderers 	2 	Haileybury	4
Jan. 	25 	Wanderers 	11 	Cobalt 	6
Jan. 	25 	Haileybury	2 	Shamrocks 	3 (30" over.)
Jan. 	26 	Ottawa 	8 	Canadiens 	4
Jan. 	28 	Shamrocks 	2 	Renfrew 	10
Jan. 	29 	Haileybury	4 	Ottawa 	11
Feb. 	1 	Haileybury	3 	Wanderers 	8
Feb. 	2 	Canadiens 	3 	Shamrocks 	8
Feb. 	4 	Haileybury	3 	Renfrew 	6
Feb. 	5 	Shamrocks 	1 	Wanderers 	10
Feb. 	5 	Ottawa 	5 	Cobalt 	4
Feb. 	7 	Haileybury	5 	Canadiens 	9
Feb. 	9 	Wanderers 	11 	Shamrocks 	6
Feb. 	9 	Ottawa 	8 	Haileybury	4
Feb. 	12 	Shamrocks 	6 	Haileybury	12
Feb. 	12 	Renfrew 	5 	Ottawa 	8 (10' over.)
Feb. 	12 	Wanderers 	9 	Canadiens 	4
Feb. 	15 	Shamrocks 	4 	Cobalt 	11
Feb. 	15 	Renfrew 	8 	Canadiens 	6
Feb. 	19 	Ottawa 	5 	Wanderers 	7
Feb. 	19 	Renfrew 	12 	Cobalt 	7
Feb. 	22 	Renfrew 	11 	Haileybury	5
Feb. 	23 	Ottawa 	9 	Shamrocks 	6
Feb. 	24 	Canadiens 	7 	Cobalt 	11
Feb. 	25 	Wanderers 	5 	Renfrew 	0
Feb. 	26 	Cobalt 	5 	Ottawa 	11
Feb. 	26 	Canadiens 	3 	Haileybury	15
Mar. 	2 	Cobalt 	3 	Wanderers 	7
Mar. 	5 	Wanderers 	3 	Ottawa 	1
Mar. 	5 	Cobalt 	6 	Canadiens 	4
Mar. 	8 	Cobalt 	6 	Shamrocks 	8
Mar. 	8 	Ottawa 	2 	Renfrew 	17
Mar. 	9 	Canadiens 	6 	Wanderers 	11
Mar. 	11 	Shamrocks 	4 	Canadiens 	5 (12' over.)
Mar. 	11 	Cobalt 	4 	Renfrew 	15
Mar. 	15 	Haileybury	14 	Cobalt 	9
† Games played before January 15, which were played before the CHA teams joined
were not counted against the final standings.
‡ The January 22 game was abandoned due to an on-ice incident. It was ordered replayed on March 2 in Ottawa, but wasn't played due to soft ice in Ottawa.
==Player statistics==
===Goaltending averages===
Note: GP = Games played, GA = Goals against, SO = Shutouts, GAA = Goals against average
Name 	Club 	GP	GA 	SO	GAA
Nicholson, Billy 	Haileybury	1 	3 	 	3.0
Hern, Riley 	Wanderers 	12	41 	1 	3.4
Lindsay, Bert 	Renfrew 	12	54 	 	4.5
Winchester, Jack 	Shamrocks 	5 	26 	 	5.2
LeSueur, Percy 	Ottawa 	12	66 	1 	5.5
Moran, Paddy 	Haileybury	11	80 	 	7.3
Broughton, George	Shamrocks 	5 	43 	 	8.6
Cattarinich, Joe 	Canadiens 	3 	23 	 	7.7
Groulx, Teddy 	Canadiens 	9 	77 	 	8.6
Jones, Chief 	Cobalt 	12	104	 	8.7
Baker, Bill 	Shamrocks 	2 	26 	 	13.0
===Scoring leaders===
Player 	Team 	 	 	
Newsy Lalonde 	Montreal CanadiensRenfrew Creamery Kings 	11	38	56
Ernie Russell 	Montreal Wanderers 	12	32	51
Harry Smith 	Cobalt Silver KingsHaileybury Hockey Club	12	32	26
Lester Patrick	Renfrew Creamery Kings 	12	24	25
Harry Hyland 	Montreal Wanderers 	11	20	23
Herb Clarke 	Cobalt Silver Kings 	12	20	27
Horace Gaul 	Haileybury Hockey Club 	12	20	53
Marty Walsh 	Ottawa Senators 	11	19	44
Steve Vair 	Cobalt Silver Kings 	12	17	8
Bruce Ridpath 	Ottawa Senators 	12	16	32
==References==
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==External links==
* NHA history from the Edmonton Oilers website
Category:1910 in ice hockey
Category:National Hockey Association seasons