On this day in Canadian history, in 1915, the Vancouver Millionaires won the Stanley Cup.
Prior to this season, the Stanley Cup was claimed through a challenge system among the country’s collection of amateur hockey associations.
Beginning in 1915, the commissioners of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA) and the National Hockey Association (NHA) decided that the winners of each league would compete in an annual tournament for the right to hoist Lord Stanley’s trophy.
In the 1915 final, the Millionaires, winners of the PCHA, played the NHA champion Ottawa Senators. Vancouver swept Ottawa in a best-of-five series, bringing the cup to the Pacific Coast.
Florida Panthers at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30PM
2014-15 Records: FLA 33-26-14 (6th in the Atlantic); TOR 27-41-6 (7th in the Atlantic)Leading Scorers: Jonathan Huberdeau (12G, 32A); Phil Kessel (24G, 30A)
The Leafs and its fans are no strangers to bad seasons. It’s nearly a perennial occurrence. But even in the midst of miserably poor years, Toronto was still guaranteed to fill all the seats in its building. However, this past Monday, the announced attendance at the Air Canada Centre was 18,366; 500 shy of a sellout and the lowest turnout since moving to the ACC in 1999.
Prediction: Florida by 1
New York Rangers at Ottawa Senators, 7:30PM
2014-15 Records: NYR 46-19-7 (1st in the Metropolitan); OTT 37-24-11 (4th in the Atlantic)Leading Scorers: Rick Nash (39G, 24A); Erik Karlsson (19G, 40A)
Ottawa’s improbable run to the post-season continues tonight. While the team's overall play has certainly improved since Dave Cameron replaced Paul MacLean as coach in December, they owe most of their recent success to goaltender Andrew Hammond. Affectionately known as “the Hamburglar,” Hammond has been stealing games since being called up from the AHL in February and is a stellar 14-0-1. During the 1996 playoffs, Florida Panthers fans threw plastic rats (yes, rats). If Ottawa’s Cinderella run continues, will this be the year of the hamburger?
Prediction: Ottawa by 1
Montréal Canadiens at Winnipeg Jets, 8:00PM
2014-15 Records: MTL 46-20-8 (1st in the Atlantic); WPG 38-24-12 (5th in the Central)Leading Scorers: Max Pacioretty (35G, 29A); Andrew Ladd (24G, 34A)
For most of his tenure in Winnipeg, goaltender Ondrej Pavelec has been abysmal. But lately, he has been the linchpin in maintaining the Jets’ tenuous hold on a wildcard playoff spot. In his last five games — all victories — Pavelec has combined for a ridiculous .966 SV% and has single-handedly kept the team’s post-season hopes alive. With key players like Dustin Byfuglien and Bryan Little still on the shelf, Pavelec and the Jets will need to continue this play in critical, upcoming games.
Prediction: Winnipeg by 1
Colorado Avalanche at Vancouver Canucks, 10:00PM
2014-15 Records: COL 33-28-12 (7th in the Central); VAN 43-26-4 (2nd in the Pacific)Leading Scorers: Gabriel Landeskog (21G, 31A); Daniel Sedin (16G, 50A)
Colorado is all but mathematically eliminated from the post-season, while Vancouver continues to hold down a divisional playoff spot. Nevertheless, the Avalanche and Canucks should have a spirited tilt tonight, but the outcome heavily favours a Vancouver victory. In their last 30 meetings, the Canucks are 22-5-3 against the Avalanche, outscoring them 102-61 in the process. Moreover, when playing Colorado at home (dating back to 2008-09), the Canucks are an impressive 10-2-1. Plus, the Canucks will be commemorating the centenary of the Millionaires' achievement tonight by once again donning the teams iconic maroon and white sweaters. Retro jerseys on a historic night, tonight’s game should be money in the bank for Vancouver.
Prediction: Vancouver by 1
Last Minute of Play:
With the Millionaires' victory in 1915, the Stanley Cup went further west of Winnipeg for the first time since the trophy was introduced in 1893. A Vancouver-based hockey team has yet to win the cup since, despite making it to the final in 1982, 1994 and 2011.Besides the importance of this winning season to Vancouver hockey history, the Millionaires and the PCHA, in general, helped revolutionize the game. Hockey Hall of Fame brothers, Lester and Frank Patrick actually founded the PCHA, with money from their father’s lumber business.
While Frank was part of the 1915 championship team, the Patrick family had a huge impact on hockey in Canada, as the PCHA was the first league to implement jersey numbers, the forward pass and a playoff system.
Current Record: 11-7
Mike Commito is a Canadian historian and an avid hockey fan. Follow him on twitter @mike_commito.
