1888 AHAC season

1888 AHAC season
League Amateur Hockey Association of Canada
Sport ice hockey
Duration January 13, 1888 – March 12, 1888
Number of teams 4
1888
Champion Montreal Hockey Club

The 1888 AHAC season was the second season of the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada. Play was in a series format. The Montreal Hockey Club would win a playoff against the Montreal Victorias to win the Canadian championship for the first time.

League business

The league at its annual meeting of November 9, 1887 decided to change the method of play for the season to a 'series' between the teams of the AHAC. Each team would play every other team twice. Ottawa did not attend and did not participate in the season.[1]

Executive

Source: Kitchen 2000, p. 11

Regular season

Ottawa would not return this season to challenge.

Overall record

Team Games Played Wins Losses Ties Goals For Goals Against
Montreal Hockey Club
6
5
1
0
23
6
Montreal Victorias
6
5
1
0
24
9
Montreal Crystals
6
2
4
0
18
14
McGill University
6
0
6
0
4
40

† National Champion

Playoff

The playing of the game was tarnished with some scandal. The AHAC council convened to set the date of the playoff. Two players for the Victorias, Ashe and J. J. Arnton Jr. were injured, and the council set the date for the playoff before the players were recovered. The deciding vote for the date was cast by J. Stewart, who played for the Montreal HC team.[1] Hodgson of Montreal scored the first goal at 4½ minutes, followed two minutes by a goal of Campbell for the Vics. 5½ minutes later Hodgson lifted a shot past Arnton in the Vic's goal to put Montreal ahead to stay. The Vics protested that the goal was off-side to no avail. There was no more scoring in the match. The Montreal Daily Herald reporter praised referee Hamilton of the McGill Club, noting that both side broke the off-side rule often.[2]

Schedule and results

Date Visitor Score Home Score Location
January 13 Montreal Hockey Club 4 Montreal Crystals 1 Crystal Rink
January 18 Montreal Victorias 8 McGill 1 Victoria Rink
January 23 Montreal HC 5 McGill 0 Crystal Rink
January 27 Montreal Victorias 3 Montreal Crystals 1 Crystal Rink
February 3 Montreal Victorias 3 Montreal HC 1 Victoria Rink
February 10 Montreal Crystals 4 McGill 1 Crystal Rink
February 15 Montreal HC 3 Montreal Crystals 1 Crystal Rink
February 22 Montreal Victorias 6 McGill 2 Crystal Rink
February 27 Montreal HC 2 Montreal Victorias 1 Crystal Rink
March 2 Montreal HC 8 McGill 0 Crystal Rink
March 7 Montreal Victorias 3 Montreal Crystals 2 Victoria Rink
March 12 Montreal Crystals 9 McGill 0 Crystal Rink

Source: "Before the Trail of the Stanley Cup"[1]

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Name Club GP G
Elliot, D.A. Crystals 68
Campbell, Jack Victorias 78
McNaughton, Archie Montreal 26
Ashe, Fred Victorias 55
Kinghorn, James Victorias 75
Lee, Sam Crystals 44
Hodgson, Archie Montreal 54
Shearer, Andy Victorias 74

Goalkeeper averages

Note: GP = Games played, GA = Goals against, SO = Shutouts, GAA = Goals against average

Name Club GP GA SO GAA
Scanlan, Robert Crystals 1101.0
Paton, Tom Montreal 7721.00
Crathern, J.C. Victorias 5601.2
Arnton, Tom Victorias 2412.0
Higginson, A.G. Montreal 1202.0
Virtue, William Crystals 4902.2
Norris, Jack Crystals 1404.0
Shanks, A. McGill 52905.8
McCaffrey, Ed McGill 1606.0

Montreal HC 1888 AHAC champions

Roster

  Forwards
  • Findlay, J.,
  • Hodgson, A., (also played coverpoint)
  • Hodgson, W.,
  • Low, G.S.,
  • Virtue,J.
  Defencemen
  • Cameron, A.,
  • McNaughton, A.
  • Stewart, J.A.
  Goaltenders
  • Paton, T.L.


Source: Kitchen 2000, p. 11

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Kitchen 2000, p. 11.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Sporting Intelligence". Montreal Daily Herald. March 16, 1888. p. 8.
Preceded by
Montreal Crystals
1887
Montreal Hockey Club
AHAC Champions
1888
Succeeded by
Montreal HC
1888–89
Preceded by
1887
AHAC seasons
1888
Succeeded by
1888–89