The Timiskaming Professional Hockey League (TPHL) was a minor professional ice hockey league based in the area of Lake Timiskaming, Canada. Founded in 1906, the league is notable for providing teams and

Ambrose O'Brien John Ambrose O'Brien (May 27, 1885 – April 24, 1968) was a Canadian industrialist and sports team owner. He was a founder of the National Hockey Association (NHA), owner of the Renfrew Millionaires and the founding owner of the Montreal Cana ...

, a founder of the National Hockey Association and the founding owner of the Montreal Canadiens.

History

The league was founded in the early 1900s in the mining towns of Northern Ontario, Canada. Owned by wealthy mine owners, the league paid its players, one of the few leagues to do so at the time. The games between teams served as the basis for high-stakes gambling between the owners, players and the public. 'Ringers' from the southern ice hockey leagues would be paid to join the teams for a single game, hoping to garner large gambling profits for the team owners. Haileybury Hockey Club, 1908–09

In a 1909 game between Haileybury and Cobalt at Cobalt, over $10,000 dollars was in the pot in bets. Haileybury won 6–5 in overtime, with five of the six goals scored by Harry Smith who had been lured from the Montreal Wanderers of the

Eastern Canada Hockey Association The Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association (ECAHA) was a men's amateur – later professional – ice hockey league in Canada that played four seasons. It was founded on December 11, 1905 with the top clubs from two other leagues: four ...

. The use of 'ringers' had one negative effect on the league. The league challenged for the

Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup (french: La Coupe Stanley) is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, an ...

twice in 1909 and was rejected twice by the Stanley Cup trustees because of the 'ineligible' players on Cobalt, the 1909 champion. The trustees implemented a rule that players had to be a member of the team at the start of season, set at January 2. Just before the 1910 season, the league dissolved so that two of its teams, Cobalt and Haileybury would help to form the National Hockey Association. The owner of the two teams

, along with his family's money financed four teams in the NHA, including the

Renfrew Millionaires Renfrew (; sco, Renfrew; gd, Rinn Friù) is a town west of Glasgow in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It is the historic county town of Renfrewshire. Called the "Cradle of the Royal Stewarts" for its early link with Scotland's former ...

and the Montreal Canadiens, then known as 'Les Canadiens'. In 1910, after their NHA franchises were dealt away, the TPHL resumed play and Cobalt and Haileybury returned to the league for the 1910–11 season before ending operations.

Teams

* Cobalt Silver Kings – 1906 – 1911 *

Haileybury Comets The Haileybury Hockey Club (also known as the ''Haileybury Comets'' or ''Haileybury Miners'') of Haileybury, Ontario, was a professional ice hockey club established in 1906. The team is notable for being a founding member of the National Hockey ...

– 1906 – 1911 * New Liskeard, Ontario – 1906–07 * Latchford, Ontario – 1906–07 * North Bay, Ontario – 1910–11

Notable players

These may have been 'ringers' imported for single games: *

Ed Decarie Edmond Julien Decarie (August 8, 1883 – February 1, 1942) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey Association.Newsy Lalonde – Cobalt 1906-07, Haileybury 1907-08 * Bert Lindsay – Latchford 1906–07 * Hugh Lehman – Cobalt 1906-07 * Didier Pitre – Cobalt 1906-07 *

Bruce Ridpath David Bruce Ridpath (January 2, 1884 – June 4, 1925) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and general manager. He was a member of the 1911 Stanley Cup champion Ottawa Senators before an automobile accident ended his playing career. Rid ...

– Cobalt 1906-07, 1908–09 * Bobby Rowe – Latchford 1906–07, Haileybury 1908–09 *

Art Ross Arthur Howe Ross (January 13, 1885 – August 5, 1964) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and executive from 1905 until 1954. Regarded as one of the best defenders of his era by his peers, he was one of the first to skate with the puck ...

– Cobalt 1908–09 * Harry Smith – Haileybury 1908–09 * Tommy Smith – Haileybury 1908–09

References

Defunct ice hockey leagues in Ontario Pre–National Hockey League Defunct ice hockey leagues in Quebec {{icehockey-league-stub

History

Teams

Notable players

See also

References