1925–26 NHL season

Professional ice hockey league season August 2023 1925–26 NHL season National Hockey League Ice hockey November 26, 1925 – March 27, 1926 Regular season 36 7 Ottawa Senators Nels Stewart (Maroons) Hart Memorial Trophy Nels Stewart (Maroons) O'Brien Cup O'Brien Trophy (ice hockey) Montreal Maroons Ottawa Senators 1926–27 NHL season 1924–25 NHL season 1926–27 1924–25 NHL thumb|1925-26 New York Americans team (NHL) The 1925–26 NHL season was the ninth season of the National Hockey League (NHL). The NHL dropped the Hamilton Tigers and added two new teams, the New York Americans and the Pittsburgh Pirates, to bring the total number of seven teams, playing a season of 36 games each. The Ottawa Senators were the regular-season champion, but lost in the NHL playoff final to the Montreal Maroons. The Maroons then defeated the defending Stanley Cup champion Victoria Cougars of the newly renamed Western Hockey League three games to one in a best-of-five series to win their first Stanley Cup. League business A special meeting was held on September 22, 1925, to discuss expansion to New York City. The NHL approved the dropping of the Hamilton Tigers franchise and the adding of the New York Americans club, which would sign the Hamilton players after many had paid a reinstatement fee for their players strike the year before.Coleman 1966 487 The New York franchise was granted to Colonel J. S. Hammond and T. J. Duggan, although the ownership was held secretly by "Big Bill" Dwyer, an infamous bootlegger from New York City, to play in New York's Madison Square Garden. Former Ottawa executive Tommy Gorman, joined the Americans' organization. At the annual meeting on November 7, 1925, the league added another new expansion franchise, in Pittsburgh, the third United States-based team in the NHL. The Ottawa Senators objected to the adding of the team, but were outvoted.Coleman 1966 487 The Pittsburgh team, known as the Pirates, was formed because former Toronto NHA owner Eddie Livingstone had been again threatening to form a rival league and mentioned Pittsburgh as one of the possible franchise locations. League president Frank Calder and the governors quickly agreed to grant the Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets organization an NHL franchise, known as the Pittsburgh Pirates, like the baseball club. Odie Cleghorn left the Canadiens to sign on as playing-coach with Pittsburgh.Coleman 1966 487 Alex Currie, a former Ottawa Senators player in the old NHA, was hired to coach the team. The league imposed a salary cap of $35,000 per team in an effort to curb player's salaries. The Pittsburgh Pirates' Lionel Conacher was paid $7,500 for the season, the Montreal Maroons' Dunc Munro was also paid $7,500, the New York Americans' Billy Burch was paid $6,500, the Americans' Joe Simpson, and the Toronto Maple Leafs' Hap Day were paid $6,000.Dryden 2000 28 Rule changes Only two players on defence within the blue line at a time. A faceoff for 'ragging the puck' unless playing short-handed. Only team captains would be allowed to talk to referees. Timekeepers would signal the end of a period with a gong instead of the referee's whistle. Goalkeeper pads were limited to 12 in wide. 14-player roster limits. Only 12 to be dressed for any one game. Team salary cap of $35,000. Coleman 1966 488 Arena changes The expansion New York Americans moved into the third building named Madison Square Garden. The expansion Pittsburgh Pirates moved into Duquesne Garden. Regular season The Hamilton Tigers had spent their first five seasons in the NHL in last place until last season where they went from worst to first. The success enjoyed by the Tigers players was not carried over to New York, though, as the Americans finished fifth overall with a record of 12–20–4. Eddie Gerard improved the Montreal Maroons by signing Nels Stewart and Babe Siebert and signing former Olympian Dunc Munro for defence. The Maroons were on their way to glory. Nels Stewart not only set a record for goals by a first-year player, but became the first rookie to win the scoring title. Stewart also won the Hart Trophy as league MVP. Stewart's record of 34 goals remains an NHL record for rookies until 1970–71.Dryden 2000 28 From the 1910–11 season Georges Vezina had been the Montreal Canadiens goaltender, and had led them to the Cup in 1916 and 1924. In the first game of this season, he collapsed on the ice as the second period got underway. It was found he had tuberculosis, and he died in March 1926.Dryden 2000 28 The Canadiens finished last in the standings and missed the playoffs. Ottawa's coach Curry was quite successful, as he took a team that had gone from fourth overall to first with an impressive record of 24–8–4, and the expansion Pittsburgh Pirates, with a strong cast of ex-amateurs led by future Hall of Famers Roy Worters and Lionel Conacher, finished third. The Pirates introduced "on-the-fly" player substitution to the NHL, a practice already in use in the Western League.Dryden 2000 28 Highlights First game at Madison Square Garden December 15, 1925 The first regular-season game at Madison Square Garden between the Montreal Canadiens and the expansion New York Americans was a big event. Opening ceremonies included performances by the Governor General's Body Guard Band of Toronto and the United States Military Band from West Point, displays of 'fancy skating', a miniature game between the team's mascots and the opening faceoff was made by New York Mayor John F. Hylan and Tex Rickard. The attendance was 19,000 and the ticket prices ranged from $1.50 to $11.50. Gate receipts were donated to the Neurological Society of New York. Montreal won the game, officiated by Cooper Smeaton 3–1, and were awarded the new Prince of Wales Trophy.The Globe 10 New York Beaten By Canadiens, 3–1 (The Trophy would subsequently be given as an award to the NHL playoff champions.) One innovation brought in was the painting of the ice white. After a half-inch of ice was frozen, it was painted white, and another inch of ice was frozen on top.Ross 2015 127 Final standings Playoffs This is the last season that saw challengers from outside of the NHL compete for the Stanley Cup. At the beginning of the season, the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL) renamed itself the Western Hockey League because one of its teams, the Regina Capitals, had moved to the States to play in Portland, Oregon. They were renamed the Portland Rosebuds. Once again, the Victoria Cougars finished third in the WHL, and once again won their league championship and the right to play for the Stanley Cup. The previous season, the Cougars beat the Montreal Canadiens for the Stanley Cup with that being the only time in NHL history in which a non-NHL team won the Cup. After the 1926 playoffs, the Western Hockey League folded leaving the Stanley Cup entirely to the NHL. The Cup was never again contested by a non-NHL team. This was also the only season in NHL history where the number of playoff berths was less than half of the number of teams in the league and is the most recent season in which none of the Original Six qualified for the playoffs. NHL championship The top three teams in the league qualified for the O'Brien Cup playoffs. The second-place Montreal Maroons beat the third-place Pittsburgh Pirates in a two-game total-goals series, then went on to beat first-place Ottawa Senators in another two-game total-goals series to capture the O'Brien Cup and the newly introduced, redundant, Prince of Wales Trophy. As NHL champions, the Maroons moved on to play the WHL champion Victoria Cougars for the Stanley Cup. Pittsburgh Pirates Montreal Maroons Duquesne Garden Montreal Forum March 20 2 3–1 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mmr-vs-pir/1926/03/20/1925030111#game=1925030111,game_state=final 16:21 - Rodger Smith (1) No scoring 15:45 - Chuck Dinsmore (1) Reg Noble (1) - 14:07 5:35 - Merlyn Phillips (1) No scoring Roy Worters Clint Benedict March 23 1 3–3 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/pir-vs-mmr/1926/03/23/1925030112#game=1925030112,game_state=final No scoring 5:40 - Merlyn Phillips (2)16:20 - Punch Broadbent (1) Harold Darragh (1) - 13:40 14:00 - Merlyn Phillips (3) Herb Drury (1) - 8:50 14:04 - Baldy Cotton (1) Roy Worters Clint Benedict Montreal won the series on total goals 6–4 Montreal Maroons Ottawa Senators Montreal Forum Ottawa Auditorium March 25 2 1–1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/sen-vs-mmr/1926/03/25/1925030211#game=1925030211,game_state=final No scoring No scoring 8:00 - pp - Punch Broadbent (2) No scoring No scoring King Clancy (1) - sh - 19:50 Clint Benedict Alec Connell March 27 1 1–0 1 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mmr-vs-sen/1926/03/27/1925030212#game=1925030212,game_state=final Babe Siebert (1) - 5:45 No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring No scoring Clint Benedict Alec Connell Montreal won the series on total goals 2–1 Stanley Cup Finals 1926 Stanley Cup Finals Nels Stewart was "Old Poison" to the Victoria Cougars, as he scored six goals in the four games and goaltender Clint Benedict shut out the westerners three times. Montreal Maroons Victoria Cougars Montreal Forum Victoria Arena March 30 0–3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/vic-vs-mmr/1926/03/30/1925030311#game=1925030311,game_state=final No scoring 02:00 – Nels Stewart (1)05:05 – Punch Broadbent (3) No scoring No scoring No scoring 16:10 – Nels Stewart (2) Hap Holmes Clint Benedict April 1 0–3 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/vic-vs-mmr/1926/04/01/1925030312#game=1925030312,game_state=final No scoring 10:10 – pp – Nels Stewart (3) No scoring 09:40 – Merlyn Phillips (4) No scoring 15:55 – pp – Dunc Munro (1) Hap Holmes Clint Benedict April 3 1 3–2 1 https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/vic-vs-mmr/1926/04/03/1925030313#game=1925030313,game_state=final Harold Halderson (1) – 16:15 03:02 – Babe Siebert (2) Clem Loughlin (1) – 10:05 No scoring Frank Fredrickson (1) – 07:50 16:15 – Nels Stewart (4) Hap Holmes Clint Benedict April 6 1 0–2 2 www.nhl.com/gamecenter/vic-vs-mmr/1926/04/06/1925030314#game=1925030314,game_state=final No scoring No scoring No scoring 02:50 – Nels Stewart (5)19:10 – Nels Stewart (6) No scoring No scoring Hap Holmes Clint Benedict Montreal won series 3–1 Awards The new Prince of Wales Trophy was introduced this season. It was first presented to the Montreal Canadiens as winners of the first game in the new Madison Square Garden. The trophy was then intended to be used as a new trophy to be awarded to the champions of the National Hockey League. The existing O'Brien Cup, given also to the league champions, was not retired. Nels Stewart won the Hart for the first time in his career. Frank Nighbor won his second consecutive Lady Byng Trophy. Hart Trophy:(Most valuable player) Nels Stewart, Montreal Maroons Lady Byng Trophy:(Excellence and sportsmanship) Frank Nighbor, Ottawa SenatorsO'Brien Cup:(League champions) Montreal MaroonsPrince of Wales Trophy:(for winning first game in Madison Square Garden) Montreal CanadiensPrince of Wales Trophy:(League champions) Montreal Maroons Player statistics Scoring leaders Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points Player Team GP G A PtsNels Stewart Montreal Maroons 36 34 8 42Cy Denneny Ottawa Senators 36 24 12 36Carson Cooper Boston Bruins 36 28 3 31Jimmy Herbert Boston Bruins 36 26 5 31Howie Morenz Montreal Canadiens 31 23 3 26Jack Adams Toronto St. Patricks 36 21 5 26Aurel Joliat Montreal Canadiens 35 17 9 26Billy Burch New York Americans 36 22 3 25Hooley Smith Ottawa Senators 28 16 9 25Frank Nighbor Ottawa Senators 35 12 13 25 Source: NHL.Dinger 2011 146 Leading goaltenders GP = Games played, GA = Goals against, SO = Shutouts, GAA = Goals against average Player Team GP GA SO GAA Alec Connell Ottawa Senators 36 42 15 1.12 Roy Worters Pittsburgh Pirates 35 68 7 1.90 Clint Benedict Montreal Maroons 36 73 6 1.92 Charles Stewart Boston Bruins 35 80 6 2.21 Jake Forbes New York Americans 36 89 2 2.30 NHL Playoff leading scorer Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points Player Team GP G A PtsNels Stewart Montreal Maroons 8 6 3 9 Coaches Boston Bruins: Art Ross Montreal Canadiens: Leo Dandurand Montreal Maroons: Eddie Gerard New York Americans: Tommy Gorman Ottawa Senators: Alex Currie Pittsburgh Pirates: Odie Cleghorn Toronto St. Patricks: Eddie Powers Debuts The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1925–26 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs): Wildor Larochelle, Montreal Canadiens Albert Leduc, Montreal Canadiens Pit Lepine, Montreal Canadiens Babe Siebert, Montreal Maroons Nels Stewart, Montreal Maroons Joe Simpson, New York Americans Hec Kilrea, Ottawa Senators Roy Worters, Pittsburgh Pirates Harold Darragh, Pittsburgh Pirates Baldy Cotton, Pittsburgh Pirates Lionel Conacher, Pittsburgh Pirates Hib Milks, Pittsburgh Pirates Last games The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1925–26 (listed with their last team): Gerry Geran, last active player to have been a member of the Montreal Wanderers franchise. Dave Ritchie, last active player to have been a member of the Quebec Bulldogs franchise. Georges Vezina, Montreal Canadiens Transactions October 23, 1925 To Toronto St. PatricksGerry Munro To Montreal Maroons cash November 8, 1925 To Boston BruinsSprague Cleghorn To Montreal Canadiens cash November 25, 1925 To Pittsburgh PiratesJesse Spring To New York Americans Future considerations January 14, 1926 To Toronto St. PatricksNormand Shay To Boston Bruins cash January 23, 1926 To Pittsburgh PiratesOdie Cleghorn To New York Americans Joe Miller See also List of Stanley Cup champions Western Hockey League List of pre-NHL seasons 1925 in sports 1926 in sports References The Trail of the Stanley Cup, vol.1 1893–1926 inc. Coleman Charles L. 1966 National Hockey League Total Hockey Diamond, Dan Total Sports 2000 1-892129-85-X Dinger Ralph 2011 The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012 Dan Diamond & Associates 978-1-894801-22-5 registration https://archive.org/details/nationalhockeyle0000unse_u6g5 Dryden Steve Century of hockey McClelland & Stewart Ltd. Toronto, ON 2000 0-7710-4179-9 Fischler Stan Fischler Shirley Hughes Morgan Romain Joseph Duplacey James 2003 The Hockey Chronicle: Year-by-Year History of the National Hockey League Publications International Inc. 0-7853-9624-1 Fischler 2003 McFarlane Brian The Story of the National Hockey League Pagurian Press New York, NY 1973 0-684-13424-1 registration https://archive.org/details/storyofnationalh0000mcfa Ross J. Andrew 2015 Joining the Clubs: The Business of the National Hockey League to 1945 Syracuse University Press 9780815633839 Notes External links Hockey Database NHL.com 1925 NHL Category:1925–26 in American ice hockey by league