Skene Ronan
Encyclopedia
Erskine Rockliffe Ronan was a Canadian
professional hockey
player who played 10 professional seasons. Ronan played the majority of his professional career in the National Hockey Association
(NHA) and played one season in its successor league, the National Hockey League
(NHL) in 1918–19 as a member of the Ottawa Senators. He was a member of the 1916 Montreal Canadiens
Stanley Cup
championship team. He was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
.
of the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League
(WPHL) in 1908–09, then would break his contract to leave to play with the Toronto Professionals, finishing with a few games for the Haileybury team in the Temiskaming Professional Hockey League (TPHL). He would stay with Haileybury in 1910 in the inaugural season of the NHA. In 1911, Ronan remained in the NHA after Haileybury returned to the TPHL, as a member of the Renfrew Creamery Kings
in their final season in the NHA.
For the 1911–12 season, Renfrew dropped out of the league and its players dispersed by drawing lots. Ottawa picked Ronan after the Wanderers had picked Cyclone Taylor
, and tried to trade Ronan to the Wanderers for Taylor without success. Ottawa's regular centre Marty Walsh
was not playing well and Ottawa tried Ronan out at centre. Ronan blossomed at centre, scoring eight goals in one game and five in another, ending up with 35 goals in 18 games. Ronan would play two more seasons with Ottawa before being sold to the Toronto Shamrocks
before the 1914–15 season
, but did not duplicate his goal totals.
Ronan played a season and a half with the Shamrocks before being dealt to the Montreal Canadiens
, playing on their 1916 Stanley Cup
-winning squad. After the season, Ronan signed up with the military where he served until 1918. He returned to professional hockey and was re-acquired by Ottawa in a trade with the Canadiens in exchange for Harry Hyland
. However, he had lost his offensive skills and was released after eleven games without scoring any goals.
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...
professional hockey
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...
player who played 10 professional seasons. Ronan played the majority of his professional career in 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) and played one season in its successor league, the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL) in 1918–19 as a member of the Ottawa Senators. He was a member of the 1916 Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
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...
championship team. He was born in Ottawa, Ontario, 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...
.
Playing career
Ronan made his professional debut as a defenceman with the Pittsburgh BankersPittsburgh Bankers
The Pittsburgh Bankers were a Pittsburgh hockey club that consisted of a group of local men from Pittsburgh that were employeed by local banks during the early 1900s. The Bankers began as the amateur Banker's League. The league later merged into one team which became members of the Western...
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...
(WPHL) in 1908–09, then would break his contract to leave to play with the Toronto Professionals, finishing with a few games for the Haileybury team in the Temiskaming Professional Hockey League (TPHL). He would stay with Haileybury in 1910 in the inaugural season of the NHA. In 1911, Ronan remained in the NHA after Haileybury returned to the TPHL, as a member of the Renfrew Creamery Kings
Renfrew Creamery Kings
The Renfrew Hockey Club, also known as the Creamery Kings and the "Renfrew Millionaires" was a founding franchise in 1909 of the National Hockey Association, the precursor to the National Hockey League...
in their final season in the NHA.
For the 1911–12 season, Renfrew dropped out of the league and its players dispersed by drawing lots. Ottawa picked Ronan after the Wanderers had picked Cyclone Taylor
Cyclone Taylor
Frederick Wellington "Cyclone" Taylor, OBE, was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and civil servant. Taylor was one of the earliest professional players. He played professionally for the Portage Lakes Hockey Club, the Ottawa Hockey Club and the Vancouver Millionaires from 1905 to 1923...
, and tried to trade Ronan to the Wanderers for Taylor without success. Ottawa's regular centre Marty Walsh
Marty Walsh
Martin J. Walsh was a Canadian amateur, later professional, ice hockey forward who played for the Ottawa Senators, winning three Stanley Cups in 1909, 1910 and 1911 and is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame...
was not playing well and Ottawa tried Ronan out at centre. Ronan blossomed at centre, scoring eight goals in one game and five in another, ending up with 35 goals in 18 games. Ronan would play two more seasons with Ottawa before being sold to the Toronto Shamrocks
Toronto Ontarios
The Toronto Ontarios was a professional men's ice hockey team in the National Hockey Association from 1912 to 1915 based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
before the 1914–15 season
1914–15 NHA season
The 1914–15 NHA season was the sixth season of the National Hockey Association and played from December 26, 1914 until March 3, 1915. Each team played 20 games. The Ottawa Senators won the NHA championship in a two game, total goal playoff against the Montreal Wanderers...
, but did not duplicate his goal totals.
Ronan played a season and a half with the Shamrocks before being dealt to the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
, playing on their 1916 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...
-winning squad. After the season, Ronan signed up with the military where he served until 1918. He returned to professional hockey and was re-acquired by Ottawa in a trade with the Canadiens in exchange for Harry Hyland
Harry Hyland
Harold Macarius Hyland was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Montreal Wanderers and Ottawa Senators...
. However, he had lost his offensive skills and was released after eleven games without scoring any goals.