Owen McCourt
Encyclopedia
Owen "Bud" McCourt was a Canadian ice hockey
forward noteworthy as the first player in senior North American hockey play to die as a result of on-ice injuries. McCourt received several blows to the head from other players' sticks.
Hockey Club against the Ottawa Vics in a replay of a match on February 15 protested by Ottawa because McCourt and one other player had played for the Montreal Shamrocks
of a rival league. McCourt's eligibility, protested by Ottawa, had been established before the game. Early in the second half of the match, a brawl broke out between the teams during which McCourt suffered from a head injury. He was taken from the ice unconscious, and died the following morning.
In the second known trial (after the 1905 trial of Allan Loney
) stemming from an in-game ice hockey incident, Masson was arraigned on a charge of manslaughter (reduced from a murder charge over the objection of the Crown prosecutor) on April 10, 1907. Several witnesses attested that McCourt had been struck by another, unknown player before Masson's blow, and Masson was subsequently acquitted.
In the aftermath of the incident, Cornwall withdrew from the league, and the Vics (one of the two remaining teams in the loop after the withdrawals of the second-place Cornwall team and the first-place Montagnards) were named champions. Ironically enough, as champions of the league, Ottawa challenged for the Stanley Cup
, which was accepted by the trustees, and played a year later against the Montreal Wanderers
in January, 1908.
The referee of the match in which McCourt died, Emmett Quinn
, later became president of the National Hockey Association
(NHA).
of the Federal Amateur Hockey League
(FAHL) -- save for a two-game stint with the Montreal Shamrocks
of the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association
in 1907 --and blossomed into stardom in his final two seasons. He led Cornwall with five goals in the 1906 season, and went on in 1907 to score sixteen goals in eight games to lead the league, including seven against Morrisburg on February 22.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
forward noteworthy as the first player in senior North American hockey play to die as a result of on-ice injuries. McCourt received several blows to the head from other players' sticks.
Death from on-ice injuries
On March 6, 1907, McCourt was playing for the CornwallCornwall, Ontario
Cornwall is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada and the seat of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario. Cornwall is Ontario's easternmost city, located on the St...
Hockey Club against the Ottawa Vics in a replay of a match on February 15 protested by Ottawa because McCourt and one other player had played for the Montreal Shamrocks
Montreal Shamrocks
The Montreal Shamrocks were an amateur, later professional, men's ice hockey club in existence from 1886, merging with the Montreal Crystals club in 1896. They won the Stanley Cup ice hockey championship in 1899 and 1900...
of a rival league. McCourt's eligibility, protested by Ottawa, had been established before the game. Early in the second half of the match, a brawl broke out between the teams during which McCourt suffered from a head injury. He was taken from the ice unconscious, and died the following morning.
Aftermath
An inquest was held that same day at which the following verdict was rendered:That Owen McCourt came to his death by a blow from a hockey stick in the hands of Charles Masson during the progress of a game of hockey played in the Victoria rink in the town of Cornwall March 6th, 1907. And, that in the opinion of this jury, although there is no evidence of ill feeling previous to the assault, there was no justification by personal provocation for the blow at the hands of the said Charles Masson. After hearing the evidence, your jury further recommends that legislation be enacted whereby players or spectators encouraging or engaging in rough or foul play may be severely punished.
In the second known trial (after the 1905 trial of Allan Loney
Allan Loney
Allan Loney was an ice hockey player from the Ontario town of Maxville. He was the first hockey player to be charged with murder for the death of another player, after he clubbed Alcide Laurin to death during a game on February 24, 1905....
) stemming from an in-game ice hockey incident, Masson was arraigned on a charge of manslaughter (reduced from a murder charge over the objection of the Crown prosecutor) on April 10, 1907. Several witnesses attested that McCourt had been struck by another, unknown player before Masson's blow, and Masson was subsequently acquitted.
In the aftermath of the incident, Cornwall withdrew from the league, and the Vics (one of the two remaining teams in the loop after the withdrawals of the second-place Cornwall team and the first-place Montagnards) were named champions. Ironically enough, as champions of the league, Ottawa challenged for the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
, which was accepted by the trustees, and played a year later against the Montreal Wanderers
Montreal Wanderers
The Montreal Wanderers were a Canadian amateur, and later becoming a professional men's ice hockey team. The team played in the Federal Amateur Hockey League , the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association , the National Hockey Association and briefly the National Hockey League . The Wanderers are...
in January, 1908.
The referee of the match in which McCourt died, Emmett Quinn
Emmett Quinn
Thomas Emmett Quinn ) was a Canadian ice hockey executive, coach and referee. Quinn served as president of the National Hockey Association , the predecessor of today's National Hockey League . His brother Percy Quinn was also an ice hockey executive...
, later became president of the National Hockey Association
National Hockey Association
The National Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey organization with teams in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. It is the direct predecessor organization to today's National Hockey League...
(NHA).
Playing career
McCourt played his entire, brief career with CornwallCornwall, Ontario
Cornwall is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada and the seat of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario. Cornwall is Ontario's easternmost city, located on the St...
of the Federal Amateur Hockey League
Federal Amateur Hockey League
The Federal Amateur Hockey League was a Canadian men's senior-level ice hockey league that played six seasons from 1904 to 1909. The league was formed initially to provide a league for teams not accepted by the rival Canadian Amateur Hockey League . One team, the Montreal Le National, was the first...
(FAHL) -- save for a two-game stint with the Montreal Shamrocks
Montreal Shamrocks
The Montreal Shamrocks were an amateur, later professional, men's ice hockey club in existence from 1886, merging with the Montreal Crystals club in 1896. They won the Stanley Cup ice hockey championship in 1899 and 1900...
of the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association
Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association
The Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association was a men's amateur, later professional ice hockey league in Canada that played four seasons. It was founded on December 11, 1905 with six clubs: four from the Canadian Amateur Hockey League and two from the Federal Amateur Hockey League, to bring...
in 1907 --and blossomed into stardom in his final two seasons. He led Cornwall with five goals in the 1906 season, and went on in 1907 to score sixteen goals in eight games to lead the league, including seven against Morrisburg on February 22.
See also
- List of ice hockey players who died during their playing career
- Violence in ice hockeyViolence in ice hockeyViolence has been a part of ice hockey since at least the early 1900s. According to the book Hockey: A People's History, in 1904 alone, four players were killed during hockey games from the frequent brawls and violent stickwork....