1902–03 WPHL season

August 2023 1902–03 WPHL season Western Pennsylvania Hockey League Ice hockey 4 Regular season Pittsburgh Bankers (1st title) 1903–04 1901–02 The 1902–03 WPHL season was the sixth season of operation for the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League. This was the first season whereby the league and its teams were recognized as professional, making it the first professional ice hockey league. To fill their team the Pittsburgh Athletic Club lured players from Canada with promises of high-paid employment and small cash incentives, which was around $30 a week. Four Pittsburgh-area teams competed in the season, in which all games were played at the Duquesne Garden. The Pittsburgh Victorias were added to the WPHL making it a four team league. The team was made up of players from Ottawa, that were enticed to come to Pittsburgh. The Victorias were able to add Stanley Cup winner Bruce Stuart to their team, giving the future Hall of Famer his start in professional hockey. That season, Stuart led the WPHL with 16 goals in his first pro season and was named to the First All-Star team. The season concluded with the Pittsburgh Bankers having the best record in the league and being named league champions. It would be the team's first league title. Season Final standings Note GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, PTS = Points Team GP W L T GF GA PTS Pittsburgh Bankers 14 10 3 1 59 18 21 Pittsburgh Athletic Club 13 7 5 1 36 32 15 Pittsburgh Victorias 14 7 7 0 47 40 14 Pittsburgh Keystones 13 2 11 0 19 71 4 Results Month Day Team Score Team Score 1902 November 28 Bankers 4 Victorias 1 December 2 Pittsburgh AC 2 Keystones 0 5 Pittsburgh AC 1 Bankers 1 9 Victorias 7 Keystones 1 12 Victorias 3 Pittsburgh AC 2 16 Bankers 2 Keystones 1 19 Victorias 2 Bankers 1 23 Pittsburgh AC 4 Keystones 1 1903 January 6 Pittsburgh AC 4 Victorias 2 9 Pittsburgh AC 3 Bankers 2 13 Bankers 4 Keystones 0 16 Victorias 7 Keystones 1 20 Victorias 4 Bankers 1 23 Pittsburgh AC 5 Keystones 3 27 Pittsburgh AC 2 Keystones 1 February 3 Bankers 4 Pittsburgh AC 2 6 Bankers 4 Pittsburgh AC 3 10 Bankers 13 Keystones 0 13 Victorias 3 Pittsburgh AC 2 17 Keystones 4 Victorias 2 20 Bankers 1 Victorias 0 24 Bankers 10 Keystones 1 March 3 Victorias 11 Keystones 3 6 Pittsburgh AC 6 Victorias 3 10 Bankers 7 Victorias 0 13 Bankers 5 Pittsburgh AC 0 17 Keystones 3 Victorias 2 References Early Professional, Early Senior WHA and Modern Minor Professional League Standings Total Hockey Fitzsimmons Ernie Diamond Dan 2000 Total Sport Publishing 1-892129-85-X 414–432 1901–02 1903–04 WPHL seasons 1902–03 Category:Western Pennsylvania Hockey League seasons WPHL