Pittsburgh Victorias
Encyclopedia
The Pittsburgh Victorias were an ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
and were members of the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League
. The team lasted until 1904, when the WPHL disbanded its teams to form the Pittsburgh Pros. In the 1902
the WPHL became the first professional ice hockey league. The Pittsburgh Victorias were added to the WPHL making a four team league. Many great hockey stars from Canada
were enticed to come to Pittsburgh by both money and the artificial ice rink located at the Duquesne Gardens
. In 1904 the Victorias won the WPHL title and played Houghton, Michigan's
Portage Lakes Hockey Club
for the United States Professional title that year. The league champion Victorias lost the series two games to one. The team disbanded later that year.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
and were members of the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League
Western Pennsylvania Hockey League
The Western Pennsylvania Hockey League , was a semi-professional ice hockey league from the early 1900s. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the league was the pre-eminent ice hockey league at the time in the United States...
. The team lasted until 1904, when the WPHL disbanded its teams to form the Pittsburgh Pros. In the 1902
1903 WPHL season
-Final standings:Source: Fitzsimmons, p. 414-References:...
the WPHL became the first professional ice hockey league. The Pittsburgh Victorias were added to the WPHL making a four team league. Many great hockey stars from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
were enticed to come to Pittsburgh by both money and the artificial ice rink located at the Duquesne Gardens
Duquesne Gardens
Duquesne Gardens was the main sports arena located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA during the first half of the 20th century. It opened 3 years after a fire destroyed the city's prior sports arena, the Schenley Park Casino, in 1896. The arena was the first hockey rink to use glass above the dasher...
. In 1904 the Victorias won the WPHL title and played Houghton, Michigan's
Houghton, Michigan
Houghton is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and largest city in the Copper Country on the Keweenaw Peninsula. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,708. It is the county seat of Houghton County...
Portage Lakes Hockey Club
Portage Lakes Hockey Club
The Portage Lakes Hockey Club was one of the first professional ice hockey clubs. Based in Houghton, Michigan, the club played at the Amphidrome from 1904 until 1906...
for the United States Professional title that year. The league champion Victorias lost the series two games to one. The team disbanded later that year.