1926–27 Detroit Cougars season

National Hockey League team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1926–27 1926 Detroit Cougars (NHL)Detroit Cougars Detroit Red Wings American 5th 12–28–4 6–15–1 6–13–3 76 105 Art Duncan Art DuncanDuke Keats Art Duncan Border Cities Arena 4,400 John Sheppard (13) John Sheppard (8)Gordon "Duke" Keats (8) John Sheppard (21) John Sheppard (60) Hap Holmes (11) Herb Stuart (1.67) 1927–28 The 1926–27 Detroit Cougars season was the first season of National Hockey League (NHL) hockey in Detroit, Michigan. The Detroit Cougars scored 28 points, finished at the bottom of the American Division as well as the league and failed to make the playoffs in their inaugural year. 2 Founding On May 15, 1926, the Townsend syndicate of investors was granted a conditional expansion NHL franchise, to begin play in the upcoming season if their arena was ready. For players, the syndicate decided to purchase one of the most successful teams from the bankrupt Western Canada Hockey League, the Victoria Cougars, who had won the Stanley Cup in 1925. On September 25, 1926, the NHL made the franchise purchase permanent, although the arena was not ready. The expansion club kept the Cougars name. The club played in Windsor for the entire season. Regular season Olympia Stadium wasn't finished being built in time for the 1926–27 season, so the Cougars began play in Border Cities Arena right across the Detroit River in Windsor, Ontario. The team struggled as the players adjusted to the style of play in the NHL and the team finished with only twelve wins on the season and over 80,000 USD in debt.http://www.detroithockey.net/history/ Red Wings History DetroitHockey.com 2007-10-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20071016092727/http://www.detroithockey.net/history/ 16 October 2007 livehttp://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nhl/det/redwings.html Detroit Red Wings Historical Moments SportsEcyclopedia.com 2007-10-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20071013012345/http://sportsecyclopedia.com/nhl/det/redwings.html 13 October 2007 livehttp://redwings.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&bcid=his_default Detroit Red Wings Written History Detroit Red Wings.com 2007-10-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20071012040328/http://redwings.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&bcid=his_default 12 October 2007 dead The team's total of 28 points is the lowest total points for a season in the Detroit Red Wings' franchise history. The team's first game, a "home" game in Windsor, was played on November 18 before a sell-out crowd of 6,000. Starting goaltender Hap Holmes took ill two hours before game time and substitute Herb Stuart gave up two goals in the first three minutes before shutting down the Boston Bruins for the rest of the game. However, Detroit could not score on Doc Stewart in the Boston net and lost 2–0.Montreal Gazette November 19, 1926 Early Attack Won For Boston 2 To 0 18 Haldor "Slim" Halderson scored the first goal in franchise history in the third period of a loss to Pittsburgh on November 20.Detroit Cougars Are Beaten By Pittsburgh Pirates Detroit Free Press November 21, 1926 16 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22659521/detroit_cougars_beaten_by_pittsburgh/ Newspapers.com The team won its first game on November 24, defeating expansion cousins Chicago Black Hawks, 1–0, in Chicago. Frank Frederickson scored the game's only goal.Cougars Hand Chicago Team First Defeat: Frederickson Scores Only Goal of Game to Give Detroit Initial Victory Detroit Free Press November 25, 1926 14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22659168/cougars_hand_chicago_team_first_defeat/ Newspapers.com On November 30, Russell Oatman had the first multiple goal game in franchise history, scoring two goals in a 4–0 victory over the Maroons. In the same game, Hap Holmes recorded the first shutout in franchise history.Cougars Gain Easy Victory Over Maroons Detroit Free Press December 1, 1926 20–21 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22659746/cougars_gain_easy_victory_over_maroons/ Newspapers.com On January 1, 1927, the Cougars suspended Oatman and Hobie Kitchen for "breaking training." The Cougars then shook up their line-up that week by selling Oatman to the Maroons and trading Frank Fredrickson and Harry Meeking to the Bruins for Duke Keats and Archie Briden.Montreal Gazette Trade Is Announced January 7, 1927 15 After 33 games, the Cougars replaced Duncan as coach with Keats. Duncan has a record of 10–21–2. Keats record was 2–7–2.Hahn, Beam(2008), p.212 Final standings DET For complete final standings, see 1926–27 NHL season Record vs. opponents DET Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 5px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 5px solid; 1926–27 regular season1926-27 Detroit Cougars Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DTC/1927_games.html Hockey-Reference.com April 2, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; November: 3–2–0 (home: 1–1–0; road: 2–1–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts |- | 1 || November 18 || Boston || 2–0 || Detroit || || 0–1–0 || 0 |- | 2 || November 20 || Detroit || 1–4 || Pittsburgh || || 0–2–0 || 0 |- | 3 || November 24 || Detroit || 1–0 || Chicago || || 1–2–0 || 2 |- | 4 || November 27 || NY Americans || 2–4 || Detroit || || 2–2–0 || 4 |- | 5 || November 30 || Detroit || 4–0 || Mtl. Maroons || || 3–2–0 || 6 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; December: 2–6–1 (home: 1–4–0; road: 1–2–1) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts |- | 6 || December 4 || NY Rangers || 0–1 || Detroit || || 4–2–0 || 8 |- | 7 || December 9 || Ottawa || 3–1 || Detroit || || 4–3–0 || 8 |- | 8 || December 11 || NY Americans || 4–2 || Detroit || || 4–4–0 || 8 |- | 9 || December 14 || Detroit || 2–7 || Boston || || 4–5–0 || 8 |- | 10 || December 16 || Detroit || 5–0 || Ottawa || || 5–5–0 || 10 |- | 11 || December 19 || Detroit || 1–1 || NY Rangers || OT || 5–5–1 || 11 |- | 12 || December 23 || Mtl. Canadiens || 3–2 || Detroit || || 5–6–1 || 11 |- | 13 || December 25 || Detroit || 0–2 || Chicago || || 5–7–1 || 11 |- | 14 || December 30 || Mtl. Maroons || 2–0 || Detroit || || 5–8–1 || 11 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; January: 3–8–1 (home: 1–2–0; road: 2–6–1) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts |- | 15 || January 1 || Pittsburgh || 3–2 || Detroit || || 5–9–1 || 11 |- | 16 || January 4 || Toronto || 2–1 || Detroit || || 5–10–1 || 11 |- | 17 || January 6 || Detroit || 3–1 || Pittsburgh || || 6–10–1 || 13 |- | 18 || January 9 || Detroit || 1–4 || NY Rangers || || 6–11–1 || 13 |- | 19 || January 11 || Detroit || 1–0 || NY Americans || OT || 7–11–1 || 15 |- | 20 || January 13 || Boston || 2–3 || Detroit || || 8–11–1 || 17 |- | 21 || January 15 || Detroit || 1–1 || Toronto || OT || 8–11–2 || 18 |- | 22 || January 18 || Detroit || 3–5 || Mtl. Canadiens || || 8–12–2 || 18 |- | 23 || January 22 || Detroit || 0–1 || Pittsburgh || || 8–13–2 || 18 |- | 24 || January 25 || Detroit || 1–2 || Mtl. Maroons || || 8–14–2 || 18 |- | 25 || January 27 || Detroit || 1–3 || Ottawa || || 8–15–2 || 18 |- | 26 || January 29 || Detroit || 0–2 || NY Rangers || || 8–16–2 || 18 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; February: 2–6–0 (home: 2–4–0; road: 0–2–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts |- | 27 || February 1 || Chicago || 3–4 || Detroit || OT || 9–16–2 || 20 |- | 28 || February 8 || Detroit || 0–2 || Boston || || 9–17–2 || 20 |- | 29 || February 12 || Mtl. Canadiens || 4–1 || Detroit || || 9–18–2 || 20 |- | 30 || February 15 || Toronto || 1–5 || Detroit || || 10–18–2 || 22 |- | 31 || February 17 || Ottawa || 2–1 || Detroit || || 10–19–2 || 22 |- | 32 || February 19 || Chicago || 4–1 || Detroit || || 10–20–2 || 22 |- | 33 || February 22 || Detroit || 2–3 || Boston || || 10–21–2 || 22 |- | 34 || February 24 || Mtl. Maroons || 2–0 || Detroit || || 10–22–2 || 22 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; March: 2–6–2 (home: 1–4–1; road: 1–2–1) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts |- | 35 || March 1 || Detroit || 0–3 || Mtl. Canadiens || || 10–23–2 || 22 |- | 36 || March 5 || Detroit || 2–4 || Toronto || || 10–24–2 || 22 |- | 37 || March 8 || Chicago || 4–1 || Detroit || || 10–25–2 || 22 |- | 38 || March 10 || Pittsburgh || 1–7 || Detroit || || 11–25–2 || 24 |- | 39 || March 13 || NY Rangers || 2–2 || Detroit || OT || 11–25–3 || 25 |- | 40 || March 15 || Detroit || 1–0 || NY Americans || || 12–25–3 || 27 |- | 41 || March 17 || NY Rangers || 2–0 || Detroit || || 12–26–3 || 27 |- | 42 || March 19 || Boston || 3–1 || Detroit || || 12–27–3 || 27 |- | 43 || March 22 || Detroit || 3–3 || Chicago || OT || 12–27–4 || 28 |- | 44 || March 26 || Pittsburgh || 6–4 || Detroit || OT || 12–28–4 || 28 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Player statistics Scoring leaders Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes     Regular season   Playoffs Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM John Sheppard F 43 13 8 21 60 – – – – – Gordon "Duke" Keats* C 25 11 8 19 42 – – – – – Frank Foyston C 41 10 5 15 16 – – – – – Clem Loughlin D 34 7 3 10 40 – -- – – – Fred Gordon RW 36 5 5 10 28 – – – – – Frank Fredrickson* C 16 4 6 10 12 – – – – – Archie Briden* LW 32 5 2 7 36 – – – – – Jack Walker F 37 3 4 7 6 – – – – – Pete Bellefeuille* RW 18 6 0 6 14 – – – – – Jack Arbour D 37 4 1 5 46 – – – – – Art Duncan D 34 3 2 5 26 – – – – – Russell Oatman* LW 14 3 0 3 12 – – – – – Harold "Slim" Halderson* D 18 2 0 2 29 – – – – – Chapman "Hobie" Kitchen F 17 0 2 2 42 – – – – – James Riley* D 2 0 0 0 0 – – – – – Harold "Gizzy" Hart* LW 6 0 0 0 0 – – – – – Harry Meeking* D 6 0 0 0 4 – – – – – *Stats reflect games played with Detroit only. Goaltending Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average     Regular season   Playoffs Player GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA GP TOI W L GA SO GAA Hap Holmes 41 2685 11 26 4 100 6 2.23 – – – – – – – Herb Stuart 3 180 1 2 0 5 0 1.67 – – – – – – – Transactions The Cougars were involved in the following transactions during the 1926–27 season. Trades October 18, 1926 To Detroit Cougars Art Duncan To Chicago Black Hawks Gord FraserArt Gagne October 27, 1926 To Detroit Cougars Fred Gordon To Saskatoon Crescents (WHL) Cash December 12, 1926 To Detroit Cougars Cash To Montreal Canadiens Harold "Gizzy" Hart January 6, 1927 To Detroit Cougars Cash To Montreal Maroons Russell Oatman January 7, 1927 To Detroit Cougars Archie BridenGordon "Duke" Keats To Boston Bruins Frank FredricksonHarry Meeking January 7, 1927 To Detroit Cougars Pete Bellefeuille To Toronto St. Pats Harold "Slim" Halderson See also 1926–27 NHL season References Detroit Red Wings 2008–09 Media Guide Hahn, John Beam, Todd 2008 Detroit Reed Wings Notes External links Player stats: Detroit Red Wings player stats on hockeydb.com Game log: Detroit Red Wings game log on detroithockey.net Team standings: NHL standings on hockeydb.com Detroit Category:Detroit Red Wings seasons Detroit Cougars Detroit Cougars Category:1926 in Detroit Category:1927 in Detroit