Victoria Cougars
Encyclopedia
The Victoria Cougars were a major league professional ice hockey
team that played in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association
(PCHA) from 1922 to 1924, and (after the PCHA's merger with the Western Canada Hockey League
) in the Western Hockey League (WHL) from 1924 to 1926. The team was based in Victoria, British Columbia
.
champion Quebec Bulldogs
in a 1913 exhibition series. The Aristocrats officially challenged the Toronto Blueshirts
for the Cup the following year, but lost. In 1916 the team was forced to move to Spokane, Washington
after having their arena (Patrick Arena
) commandeered by the Canadian military. The club folded the following year as the Spokane Canaries
.
A new team was formed in 1918 and again were dubbed the Aristocrats. In 1922 they changed their name to the Victoria Cougars. Led by coach Lester Patrick
, the Cougars would finally win a Stanley Cup in 1925 against the Montreal Canadiens
of the National Hockey League
(NHL). The Cougars were the last non-NHL team to hoist the Stanley Cup as well as the last west coast team to win the Cup, until the Anaheim Ducks
won the Cup in 2007. They would attempt to repeat as champions in 1926 but they were unsuccessful as they lost the final series to the NHL's Montreal Maroons
. The WHL dissolved the following year and the rights to many players from the Stanley Cup finalist team were purchased and relocated to Detroit, MI. The new NHL franchise would retain the nickname "Cougars" in tribute. The Detroit Cougars
would later be re-named the Detroit Falcons
, and would ultimately be re-named the Detroit Red Wings
as they remain today.
Among the notable players who wore the uniform of the Cougars were Hall of Famers Hec Fowler
(goaltender), Frank Foyston
, Frank Fredrickson
, Hap Holmes
(goaltender), Clem Loughlin
, Harry Meeking
and Jack Walker.
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...
team that played in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association
Pacific Coast Hockey Association
The Pacific Coast Hockey Association was a professional men's ice hockey league in western Canada and the western United States, which operated from 1911 to 1924 when it then merged with the Western Canada Hockey League...
(PCHA) from 1922 to 1924, and (after the PCHA's merger with the Western Canada Hockey League
Western Canada Hockey League
The Western Canada Hockey League , founded in 1921, was a major professional ice hockey league originally based in the prairies of Canada. It was renamed the Western Hockey League in 1925 and disbanded in 1926.-History:...
) in the Western Hockey League (WHL) from 1924 to 1926. The team was based in Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
.
History
The original Victoria franchise of the PCHA, the Senators, were formed in 1911, and became the Aristocrats in 1913. That incarnation is best known for defeating the Stanley CupStanley 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...
champion Quebec Bulldogs
Quebec Bulldogs
The Quebec Bulldogs were a men's senior-level ice hockey team officially known as the Quebec Hockey Club, later as the Quebec Athletic Club. Their recorded play goes back as far as the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada in 1889, although the Quebec Hockey Club is known to have played since 1880...
in a 1913 exhibition series. The Aristocrats officially challenged the Toronto Blueshirts
Toronto Blueshirts
The Toronto Hockey Club, known as the Torontos and the Toronto Blue Shirts were a professional National Hockey Association team that played in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
for the Cup the following year, but lost. In 1916 the team was forced to move to Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
after having their arena (Patrick Arena
Patrick Arena
Patrick Arena was the main sports arena located in the Greater Victoria, British Columbia area. The wood constructed arena was located in the suburb municipality of Oak Bay, on the north east corner of Cadboro Bay Road and Epworth Street...
) commandeered by the Canadian military. The club folded the following year as the Spokane Canaries
Spokane Canaries
The Spokane Canaries were a former hockey team in Spokane, Washington. They played in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association for only one season, 1916-1917. Previously the team was located in Victoria, British Columbia as the Victoria Aristocrats. Their home arena was the Elm Street...
.
A new team was formed in 1918 and again were dubbed the Aristocrats. In 1922 they changed their name to the Victoria Cougars. Led by coach Lester Patrick
Lester Patrick
Curtis Lester "The Silver Fox" Patrick born in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada, was a professional ice hockey player and coach associated with the Victoria Aristocrats/Cougars of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association , and the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League...
, the Cougars would finally win a Stanley Cup in 1925 against 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 ...
of 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). The Cougars were the last non-NHL team to hoist the Stanley Cup as well as the last west coast team to win the Cup, until the Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
won the Cup in 2007. They would attempt to repeat as champions in 1926 but they were unsuccessful as they lost the final series to the NHL's Montreal Maroons
Montreal Maroons
The Montreal Maroons was a professional men's ice hockey team in the National Hockey League . They played in the NHL from 1924 to 1938, winning the Stanley Cup in 1926 and 1935...
. The WHL dissolved the following year and the rights to many players from the Stanley Cup finalist team were purchased and relocated to Detroit, MI. The new NHL franchise would retain the nickname "Cougars" in tribute. The Detroit Cougars
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
would later be re-named the Detroit Falcons
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
, and would ultimately be re-named the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
as they remain today.
Among the notable players who wore the uniform of the Cougars were Hall of Famers Hec Fowler
Hec Fowler
Norman Boswell "Hec" Fowler was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender, most notably for the Victoria Cougars of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association....
(goaltender), Frank Foyston
Frank Foyston
Frank Corbett "The Flash" Foyston was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward.Born in Minesing, Ontario, Foyston played for the Toronto Blueshirts of the NHA, the Seattle Metropolitans in the PCHA, the Victoria Cougars in the WCHL/WHL and Detroit Cougars in the NHL.He won the Stanley Cup with...
, Frank Fredrickson
Frank Fredrickson
Sigurður Franklin Fredrickson was a Canadian ice hockey centre who was significant to both the amateur and professional sport as it evolved in North America in the early 20th century...
, Hap Holmes
Hap Holmes
Harry George "Hap" Holmes was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. As a professional, Holmes won the Stanley Cup four times, with four different teams. He tied the record of his 1914 Stanley Cup winning Toronto Blueshirts teammate Jack Marshall, who also has won Cups with four different...
(goaltender), Clem Loughlin
Clem Loughlin
Clement Joseph Loughlin was a defenceman who played hockey for the Victoria Cougars of theWestern Canada Hockey League and the Detroit Cougars and Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League...
, Harry Meeking
Harry Meeking
Harry "Hurricane Howie" Meeking was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 3 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Arenas, Detroit Cougars and Boston Bruins. He was born in Berlin, Ontario....
and Jack Walker.
Seasons
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against| Season | Name | League | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1912 1912 PCHA season The 1912 PCHA season was the first season of the now defunct men's professional ice hockey Pacific Coast Hockey Association league, which was founded on December 7, 1911. Season play ran from January 2, 1912 until March 19. Teams were to play a 16 game schedule, but one game was cancelled. The New... |
Senators | PCHA | 16 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 81 | 90 | 3rd | - |
| 1912–13 1912–13 PCHA season The 1912–13 PCHA season was the second season of the professional men's ice hockey Pacific Coast Hockey Association league. Season play ran from December 10, 1912 until March 18, 1913. Like the previous season, teams were to play a 16 game schedule, but one game was cancelled. The Victoria... |
15 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 68 | 56 | 1st | - | ||
| 1913–14 1913–14 PCHA season The 1913–14 PCHA season was the third season of the professional men's ice hockey Pacific Coast Hockey Association league. Season play ran from December 5, 1913 until February 24, 1914. Like the previous two seasons, teams were to play a 16 game schedule, but one game was cancelled. The Victoria... |
Aristocrats | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 80 | 67 | 1st | Lost Stanley Cup challenge to Toronto Blueshirts Toronto Blueshirts The Toronto Hockey Club, known as the Torontos and the Toronto Blue Shirts were a professional National Hockey Association team that played in Toronto, Ontario, Canada... |
|
| 1914–15 1914–15 PCHA season The 1914–15 PCHA season was the fourth season of the professional men's ice hockey Pacific Coast Hockey Association league. Season play ran from December 8, 1914 until March 9, 1915. The schedule was made for each team to play 18 games, but like the previous three seasons, one game was cancelled.... |
17 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 64 | 116 | 3rd | - | ||
| 1915–16 1915–16 PCHA season The 1915–16 PCHA season was the fifth season of the professional men's ice hockey Pacific Coast Hockey Association league. Season play ran from December 7, 1915 until February 25, 1916. Each team would play 18 games. The Portland Rosebuds club would be PCHA champions. After the season the club... |
18 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 74 | 102 | 4th | - | ||
| 1916–17 1916–17 PCHA season The 1916–17 PCHA season was the sixth season of the professional men's ice hockey Pacific Coast Hockey Association league. Season play ran from December 1, 1916 until March 2, 1917. The season was expanded to 24 games per team, except that the final game was cancelled. The Seattle Metropolitans... |
Canaries | 24 | 8 | 15 | 0 | 89 | 143 | 4th | - | |
| 1918–19 | Aristocrats | 20 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 44 | 81 | 3rd | - | |
| 1919–20 1919–20 PCHA season The 1919–20 PCHA season was the ninth season of the professional men's ice hockey Pacific Coast Hockey Association league. Season play ran from December 26, 1919 until March 10, 1920. The season was enlarged to 22 games per team... |
22 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 57 | 71 | 3rd | - | ||
| 1920–21 | 24 | 10 | 13 | 1 | 21 | 72 | 3rd | - | ||
| 1921–22 1921–22 PCHA season The 1921–22 PCHA season was the 11th season of the professional men's ice hockey Pacific Coast Hockey Association league. Season play ran from December 26, 1919 until March 10, 1920. The season was enlarged to 24 games per team... |
24 | 11 | 12 | 1 | 61 | 71 | 3rd | - | ||
| 1922–23 1922–23 PCHA season The 1922–23 PCHA season was the twelfth season of the professional men's ice hockey Pacific Coast Hockey Association league. Season play ran from November 13, 1922 until March 2, 1923... |
Cougars | 30 | 16 | 14 | 0 | 94 | 85 | 2nd | Lost in PCHA playoff | |
| 1923–24 1923–24 PCHA season The 1923–24 PCHA season was the thirteenth and last season of the professional men's ice hockey Pacific Coast Hockey Association league. Season play ran from November 26, 1923 until February 25, 1924. Each team played 30 games, including eight games against Western Canada Hockey League teams... |
30 | 11 | 18 | 1 | 78 | 103 | 3rd | - | ||
| 1924–25 | WCHL | 28 | 16 | 12 | 0 | 84 | 63 | 3rd | Won WCHL, Won Stanley Cup | |
| 1925–26 | WHL | 30 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 68 | 53 | 3rd | Won WHL, Lost Stanley Cup final |
Victoria Cougars 1925 Stanley Cup champions
See also
- Detroit Red WingsDetroit Red WingsThe Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
- List of Stanley Cup champions
- Lester PatrickLester PatrickCurtis Lester "The Silver Fox" Patrick born in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada, was a professional ice hockey player and coach associated with the Victoria Aristocrats/Cougars of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association , and the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League...
- List of ice hockey teams in British Columbia