1914 Stanley Cup Finals

The 1914 Stanley Cup Finals was a series between the Victoria Aristocrats, champions of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA), and the Toronto Hockey Club (, in media of the day, the Torontos or the Blueshirts), champions of the National Hockey Association (NHA). The Torontos defeated the Aristocrats in three games to win the best-of-five series. It was the first officially sanctioned series for the Stanley Cup between the two leagues, starting the "World's Series" era where the NHL champion played off against a PCHA or Western league champion annually for the Stanley Cup. It was also the final series of the "challenge" era, where inter-league series for the Stanley Cup were sanctioned by the Stanley Cup trustees. An anticipated follow-on challenge series between Toronto and Sydney, champions of the Maritime League did not take place as Sydney abandoned their challenge for the Cup.

Paths to the Finals

Nearing the end of the season, the NHA made arrangements for the NHA champion to receive a challenge from the Sydney Millionaires, Maritime champions, ordered by the Stanley Cup trustees. As arranged by the NHA, the series would have taken place on March 9–11. After that, the winner would face off in a series with the PCHA champions in Toronto. NHA Season ended in a tie. So a 2-game series was set for March 7 & March 11 to declare the NHA Champion and Stanley Cup Champion. Montreal and Toronto each to host a game.

Toronto Blueshirts vs. Montreal Canadiens

*Spares Toronto - Con Corbeau -P George McNamara -CP, Claude Wilson -G
*Spares Montreal - Hector Dallaire -RW, Jimmy Gardner LW-Captain, Alponse Jette -RW

*Spares Toronto - Con Corbeau -P George McNamara -CP, Claude Wilson -G
*Spares Montreal - Hector Dallaire -RW, Jimmy Gardner LW-Captain, Alponse Jette -RW

Because of the NHA playoff game, the series with Sydney Millionaires was postponed. After dispatching the Canadiens, the Blue Shirts series with Sydeny was cancelled. Toronto agreed to play a best of 5 series against the Victoria Aristocrats of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association. A controversy erupted when a letter arrived from the Stanley Cup trustees on March 17, stating that the trustees would not let the Stanley Cup travel west, as they did not consider Victoria a proper challenger because they had not formally notified the trustees. However, on March 18, Trustee William Foran stated that it was a misunderstanding. PCHA president Frank Patrick had not filed a challenge, because he had expected Emmett Quinn of the NHA to make all of the arrangements in his role as hockey commissioner, whereas the trustees thought they were being deliberately ignored. In any case, all arrangements had been ironed out and the series was accepted.

Several days later, Foran wrote to Quinn that the trustees are "perfectly satisfied to allow the representatives of the three pro leagues (NHA, PCHA and Maritime) to make all arrangements each season as to the series of matches to be played for the Cup."

Game summaries

The first game, the first Stanley Cup game in Toronto, was played under NHA rules. Toronto won 5–2 as the "Coast Champions Did Not Show Expected Form" according to the ''Toronto Globe''. Victoria had too much individual play and not enough "team play and combination work."

Scotty Davidson, Toronto's captain, sat out the second game due to the flu. The second game was seven-man hockey, played under PCHA rules, which also meant dividing up the ice into three zones, with the centre zone open to "off-side" passing. Toronto led 3–2 after the first period. Lester Patrick scored twice and Tommy Dunderdale scored in the second to give Victoria a 5–3 lead after two periods. Frank Foyston scored twice in the third to tie the score, sending it to overtime. McGiffin scored the winning goal after 18 minutes of overtime.

Davidson returned for the third game as a substitute for Cully Wilson. The Victoria forwards back-checked well and reduced the shooting opportunities of Toronto. The game had a lot of rough play, and "the man with the puck was generally sent sprawling before he had a chance to shoot," according to ''The Globe.'' The Victoria forwards played a good game bringing many shots against Toronto's Harry Holmes in net. Victoria's Patrick injured his wrist in the second period and could not shoot after that. Davidson and Bobby Genge started a fight at 15 minutes of the third period, clearing the benches. Foyston scored for Toronto in the second period, and Cameron scored in the third to score the winning goal. Victoria's Dubby Kerr scored with seven minutes to go, but Victoria was not able to get an equalizer.

All games played at Arena Gardens.

Total attendance for the series was 14,260 for an average of 4,753 in the 7,500 capacity Arena. At the time, professional hockey was less of a draw than Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) senior hockey. Two games between local OHA senior teams had combined to exceed 14,000 total attendance. The Torontos players and staff received $297 each as their share of the gate receipts.

Game summaries

Toronto: Harry "Happy" Holmes goal; George McNamara, point; Jack Marshall, cover point; Frank Foyston, centre; Allan "Scotty" Davidson, Capt., right wing; Jack Walker, left wing; Spares -Con Corbeau -P, Roy "Minnie" McGiffin -RW, Carol "Cully" Wilson -LW, Claude Wilson -G.

Victorias: Bert Lindsay, goal; Bob Genge, point; Lester Patrick, cover point; Tommy Dunderdale, centre; George "Sinner" Poulin, right wing; Albert "Dubbie" Kerr, left wing; Bobby Rowe -RW, Walter Smaill -LW, Jack Ulrich -RW.

Officials: Russel Bowie, referee, Jack Brennan, judge of play.

Att: 5,100

Toronto: Holmes, Harry 'Happy" Holmes goal; George McNamara, point; Jack Marshall, cover point; Jack Walker, Rover; Frank Foyston, centre; Allan "Scotty" Davidson, Capt., right wing; Carol "Cully" Wilson, left wing; Spares - Carol "Cully" Wilson - LW, Con Corbeau -P, Roy "Minnie" McGiffin -RW, Claude Wilson -G.

Victorias: Bert Lindsay, goal; Bob Genge, point; Lester Patrick, cover point; George "Sinner" Poulin Rover; Tommy Dunderdale, centre; Albert "Dubbie" Kerr, right wing; Walter Smaill-LW, left wing; Bobby Rowe -RW, Jack Ulrich -RW.
Officials: Russell Bowie, referee, Tommy Phillips, judge of play.

Attendance, 4,600. (est.)

Toronto: Harry "Happy" Holmes goal; George McNamara, point; Jack Marshall, cover point; Frank Foyston, centre; Allan "Scotty" Davidson, Capt., right wing; Jack Walker, left wing; Spares -Con Corbeau -P, Roy "Minnie" McGiffin RW, Carol "Cully" Wilson -LW, Claude Wilson -G.

Victorias: Bert Lindsay, goal; Bob Genge, point; Lester Patrick, cover point; Tommy Dunderdale, centre; George "Sinner" Poulin, right wing; Albert "Dubbie" Kerr, left wing; Bobby Rowe -RW, Walter Smaill-LW, Jack Ulrich-RW.

Officials: Russell Bowie, referee, Jack Brennan, judge of play.

Att: 4,835

Stanley Cup engraving

The 1914 Stanley Cup was presented by the trophy's trustee William Foran.

The following Toronto Hockey Club players and staff were eligible to have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup

1913–14 Toronto Hockey Club

See also

* 1913–14 NHA season
* 1913–14 PCHA season

References

{{Stanley Cup Finals

Stanley Cup
1913–14 PCHA season
Stanley Cup Finals
March 1914 sports events
Sports competitions in Toronto
1910s in Toronto
1914 in Ontario