The Victoria Cubs
The Hockey Team That Nobody in Victoria Knows About
HELEN EDWARDS
have been a fan of professional hockey in Vic- Mondays, with Tuesdays for Victoria, Thursdays for Port- Itoria, British Columbia, since I saw my first game at land and Fridays for Seattle. The first game of the season about age six. I was aware of the Patrick family and their would be played on November 19 in Vancouver.2 The founding of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association PCHL would be a minor pro league with none of the (pcha). Much has been written about that era by cachet of its predecessor. authors more knowledgeable than I, but I wanted to When the schedule was released, it showed that teams know more about what happened after the teams in that would play 18 home games each and noted that several league were sold to become the bases for NHL franchises. matches would be broadcast on the radio. The playoff I found a few online references to the Victoria Cubs, but format was as follows: the top two teams would play for I was not familiar with that name. I have seen many the championship, except in the case where the third- stories of hockey history in our local media, but have place team finished within five points of second place; never seen any mention of the Cubs. I am, by nature, then those two teams would play a series to determine curious, so I began to research that team and discovered who would play the first-place team.3 its tragic history. Victoria fans were delighted to discover that the very In 1928, the Patrick family decided to form a new pro- popular former Cougar Ernie “Moose” Johnson would fessional hockey league in the West. The new league be seen in the league this year, not as a player, but as a would be somewhat of a revival of the old pcha, but referee. Gordon Meeking, another former Cougar, along instead called Pacific Coast Hockey League (pchl).1 with former Portland Rosebud and Vancouver Mil- The charter teams were the Portland Buckaroos, Seattle lionaire Charlie Uksila, would join Mickey Ion’s offici- Eskimos, Vancouver Lions and Victoria Cubs. To acquire ating crew. 4 players, Frank Patrick purchased the entire Winnipeg When the season started, there were only six players team that had been a member of the American Hockey who had come from the Winnipeg team: Bill Borland, Association. Before Lester left for his job with the New Jack Kelly, Cliff O’Meara, Ollie Redpath, Herman Runge York Rangers, he assured Victoria fans that a team would and goaltender Earl Robertson.5 Also in the lineup on make the capital city its home. Lester’s brother Stanley opening day in Vancouver were Dave Downie, Ernie was named president of the Victoria club, and Joe Smith Leacock and Jim Evans.6 Redpath scored two goals to was hired as manager. Early in October, Frank an- lead the team to a 4–3 victory. The winning goal came nounced that Vancouver would play home games on off the stick of Jack Kelly. The two best players on the
23 24 • The Hockey Research Journal, 2016/17 ice were the two young goaltenders, Robertson and The Cubs were now in second place, and Jack Kelly Percy Jackson.7 was leading the scoring race.17 The Cubs moved closer A packed house watched the first game against the to the Lions and the league lead by holding the Eskimos Vancouver Lions. Premier Simon Fraser Tolmie of British to a draw in their next home game. It was one of the Columbia dropped the puck to start the game. Both fastest games played for some time, and after a lacklustre teams played hard and skated to a 3–3 overtime tie. first period, the team came alive and pressed the net. Herman Runge scored two goals, and Oliver Redpath Kelly, Paul Runge and Evans scored in a 3–3 tie.18 got the tying goal with just three minutes left in the third Little did Victoria fans know that their team was about period. The season was off to a good start.8 The Cubs suf- to embark on a lengthy losing streak. They were defeated fered their first loss of the season when former Cougar in their next five games, putting them out of champi- Bobby Rowe’s Portland Buckaroos came to town. Cliff onship contention. Vancouver beat the Cubs on New O’Meara played his first game for the Cubs, coming off Year’s Day 1929, 3–1; Herman Runge scored the only the injury list from a cracked cheekbone, but his name goal.19 The team made a trade with Seattle, sending Bill did not appear in the scoring summary. The final score Borland to the Emerald City in return for Norm Pridham was 3–1, with Borland counting the only goal for the and cash.20 The Lions again proved too strong for the home team.9 Cubs in a game in Victoria and beat them 2–1; newcomer The Cubs then travelled to Portland, where they Pridham scored the only goal for the Cubs.21 The Bucka- battled the Buckaroos to a 3–3 tie. Victoria twice had the roos came to town and shut out the Cubs 3–0. Former lead, but could not hold it, surrendering the tying goal Cub Dave Downie scored the winning goal against his in the third period.10 The next two games were played old mates.22 The next game, in Portland, featured a fist- against the Seattle Eskimos. The Cubs lost the first one in fight between Herman Runge and Red Conn. Police had overtime, 4–3, to spoil a great game by Jack Kelly.11 They to intervene to separate the two combatants. The Cubs also lost the return match in Victoria, failing to score in lost 2–0; they seemed no longer able to score any goals.23 a 2–0 shutout.12 The Cubs then travelled to Seattle, where they scored In the next contest, in Vancouver, the Cubs again failed twice, but the Eskimos found the net three times to win to score and fell 1–0 to the Lions in overtime. They were 3–2. Kelly and Evans were the goal scorers in a losing no longer in first place in the standings, sitting third.13 cause.24 The team also lost a valuable player when Paul The Cubs got back on the winning track with a decisive Runge suffered three fractures to his hand.25 5–1 home victory over the Lions. Five goals were the most Finally, the Cubs got their act together and played a they had scored all year; Kelly counted three, with game with good teamwork, defeating the Seattle Downie and Leacock adding singles.14 Eskimos 3–1. Evans scored two goals, and Redpath Moose Johnson returned to active-player status with added a single. It was the first victory for the team since Portland and was greeted warmly when his Buckaroos Christmas Day. The result moved the Cubs into third took the ice. The game was close, with both goaltenders place.26 In Vancouver, the Cubs scored an overtime win the stars. Paul Runge (Herman’s brother) and Evans over the Lions. Kelly scored two goals, including the scored for the Cubs in a 2–2 draw.15 Victoria won the overtime winner. It was a clean game until the third return engagement in Portland by a score of 1–0, with period, when Mickey Ion had to call six penalties to Runge counting the only goal.16 The unbeaten streak con- keep order.27 In the next home game, the Cubs enter- tinued with a 5–2 victory over the Eskimos in Seattle. tained the Lions and battled to a 2–2 overtime draw. Paul Runge was traded from the Buckaroos for Dave The game was thrilling and exciting, and reporters re- Downie and played in the game, scoring a goal. Kelly called old Victoria–Vancouver contests in the old PCHA. counted two goals, and Herman Runge and Oscar As- Leacock and Kelly were the Victoria marksmen.28 The mundson added singles. next game in the Willows Arena had the same score, EDWARDS : The Victoria Cubs • 25
Built by Frank and Lester Patrick for the city’s PCHA team in , Victoria’s four games in the Stanley Cup final series won by the hometown arena, located on Cadboro Bay Road in Oak Bay, played host to three of the Cougars. In , the rink became home to the Victoria Cubs of the PCHL. but the opponent was the Portland Buckaroos. The replace him. The match was a very rough affair, with Cubs had the lead in the game until there were only two two fistfights in the second period — Herman Runge vs. minutes left in the third period, but allowed a Portland Dan Daly and Ernie Kenny vs. Smokey Harris. All the goal and neither team could find the net in overtime.29 combatants received five-minute penalties. Fans were Just when everybody thought the Cubs were going upset with several calls and littered the ice with a variety to win more games and possibly gain a playoff berth, of items, including onions and tacks. None of the pro- they won only two games out of their last 15. For some jectiles hit the referee, but an innocent penalty time- unexplained reason, the Cubs could neither score goals keeper was hit in the head by a box of tacks. The rink nor keep the puck out of their net. Over the next 10 rats had to come out many times to clear the ice. In the games, they were shut out twice, scored only one goal little hockey that was played, the Eskimos outscored five times, and managed two goals three times.30 At a the Cubs 3–1. The hope for a playoff berth was fading game in Vancouver on February 11, the local crowd was quickly.32 Manager Joe Smith resigned from the club in a constant uproar after referee Mickey Ion disallowed and Cliff O’Meara, who had been named playing a goal. Fans littered the ice with debris, and the game manager in January,33 was named to replace him. Smith was stopped so that the ice could be cleared. At the end had “urgent business in the South” and was planning a of the second period, as Ion was leaving the ice, he was trip there soon.34 stopped by a fan. Unfortunately for the spectator, Ion The Cubs did not win another game until March 5. In planted a fist in his nose, drawing blood.31 The game in that contest, the league’s backup goaltender, Red Victoria on February 26 was also a wild affair, with not Hardaker, replaced young Earl Robertson, who was suf- much hockey skill demonstrated. Ion was not available fering from the flu. Smarting from a 5–2 defeat in Van- to act as the referee, so Charlie Uksila was selected to couver the night before, the Cubs put together a good 26 • The Hockey Research Journal, 2016/17 effort and shut out the Lions 3–0 at Willows Arena. Jack The Cubs closed out their unproductive season at Kelly, who had been forced out of the game the night home on March 19, 1929, where they fell to the Eskimos before when his skate broke, used a replacement pair, but 4–3 in an exciting overtime game.40 Neither the players could not perform at his usual high level. Hardaker was nor the fans could have known it would be the last pro- clearly the star of the game and quickly became a fan fessional hockey game ever played in the Willows Arena. favourite. Redpath, Kelly and Paul Runge scored the Vic- In the league playoffs, second-place Seattle beat third- toria goals. Mickey Ion was the referee, and there was no place Portland and went on to meet the league-leading fan unrest in this match.35 The Cubs lost their next match Vancouver Lions, who won the league championship. against Portland 2–1, and that game had controversy as Plans for the 1929/30 PCHL season were finalized at well. After Timmins, the Portland goaltender, com- the annual meeting of the league on November 4, 1929. plained that goal judge Frank Saunders was interfering Frank Patrick was re-elected as president, Bobby Rowe of with his game, Ion ordered Saunders off the ice, and Portland was named vice-president, Lloyd Turner and Charlie Jasper, the judge at the other end of the rink, quit Nate Druxman represented Seattle, and Stan Patrick rep- in protest. The fans littered the ice in a show of support resented Victoria. This season, each team would be able for the goal judges, and rink rats had to clear the surface to dress 11 men rather than the 10 of the previous season. to make it safe for play. Ion put two of the rink rats in as A two-minute penalty would be given to a goaltender goal umpires to finish the game. Once again, there was who deliberately delayed the game by holding the puck little good hockey played.36 for longer than three seconds; however, any offender In mid-March, there was sadness throughout hockey would receive two warnings before a penalty was as- over the news that Pete Muldoon, manager of the Seattle sessed. The Victoria Cubs were “strengthened by the ad- Eskimos, had died suddenly of a heart attack. Muldoon dition of Jocko Anderson as manager.”41 The teams had started as a trainer with the Vancouver lacrosse team would play 18 games each at home and the same number and came to the attention of the Patricks, when they were away, with the first game in Victoria scheduled to be forming the PCHA, due to his clean living and sports- played on November 19, against the Seattle Eskimos. manship. He often advised his young athletes to live the The Cubs added Odie Lowe to the roster; he had good life; he never drank nor smoked. He had played played the previous year in Seattle.42 Seven members hockey in the Ontario Hockey Association in the 1900s, of the Cubs attended the first workout of the season. then moved to the Pacific Coast to follow a boxing career. Returnees from last year were Kelly, Kenny and the He also played lacrosse and was famous for being able Runge brothers. New to the team were Lowe, Tommy to skate on stilts. He was likely best known as the McInenly and Ken Williamson. Ernie Leacock was hos- manager of the Seattle Metropolitans when they won the pitalized with chicken pox, so was isolated for two Stanley Cup in 1917. When the Seattle club folded, he weeks. Jimmy Evans and Earl Robertson were on their went with his players to Portland, and when that team way from Vancouver and would join the team the next was sold to Chicago, he went to work there. He resigned day.43 Oliver Redpath, who had tried out with Pitts- after a single season and returned to Seattle, where he burgh, was ordered to report to the Cubs, and did so. and a group of investors brought back hockey.37 The last team member to arrive was Oscar Asmundson. The Cubs achieved their last victory of the season The team was now complete.44 when they travelled to Portland and outscored the Bucka- Disaster struck Victoria hockey in the early hours of roos 4–2. Redpath had a hat trick and Kelly added a Sunday, November 10, 1929.45 The Willows Arena was single.38 The team then travelled to Seattle, where they destroyed in a spectacular fire. The blaze was believed to went down to defeat, 3–1, to the Eskimos. During the have started in the engine room of the Arena and spread game, play was stopped and a bugler played “Taps” in quickly through the wooden structure. The first intima- honour of Muldoon.39 tion of the blaze was seen by Robert Smith, driver of a EDWARDS : The Victoria Cubs • 27
In the early hours of Sunday, November , , the Willows Arena was de- personal records. The PCHL decided that the now-homeless Cubs would split stroyed in a spectacular fire. Also lost was a collection of photographs and the rest of their “home” games between Seattle and Vancouver. They trans- records from the early days of hockey in Victoria, along with Lester Patrick’s ferred to Tacoma for the league’s final season, /.
Palm Dairy milk wagon, at about 4:35 on Sunday Mr. George Robertson, damage to building and morning. His first thought was to notify Chief Syme of effects. Estimated loss, $2,500. the Oak Bay police, who in turn informed the fire Dwelling at 2090 Cadboro Bay Road, occupied departments of Oak Bay and Victoria. Four nearby resi- by Mrs. L. F. Louridge, damaged roof and walls. Es- dences and a small store were also gutted. The loss to the timated loss, $1,000. Arena was partially covered by insurance.46 The estimate Store on Cadboro Bay Road, opposite Victoria of damage to all structures was as follows: Arena, owned by Mr. V. Casnave, completely burned to ground. Estimated loss, $1,100. Victoria Arena, 2110 Cadboro Bay Road, totally de- Refreshment stand operated by Mr. Ray Keep. stroyed. Estimated loss, $100,000, of which $40,000 Estimated loss, $500. insurance is carried in board companies. In addition Telephone equipment, estimated loss, $2,500.47 it is estimated there was $5,000 worth of privately owned patrons’ clothing, skates and equipment. Witnesses told of how quickly the fire had spread, with Dwelling, 2184 Epworth Street, occupied by sparks flying 300 feet in the air. Several bits of tarpaper Mr. Robert Day, badly damaged, furniture com- were picked up on Collinson Street, miles away from the pletely destroyed, together with Ford coupe standing fire site. The Robert Day family told the story of their re- near curb. Estimated loss, $3,000. markable escape when their residence was destroyed. Dwelling at 2162 Epworth Street, occupied by The fire was coming through a window when Robert Mrs. Beatrice Godfrey, badly damaged and but few called his wife and daughter and hustled them out of the articles of furniture saved. Loss, $3,000. house. In five minutes, it would have been too late. The Dwelling at 2140 Epworth Street, occupied by family lost everything in the blaze, including all their 28 • The Hockey Research Journal, 2016/17 clothes and money, service medals, discharge papers, war an auditorium for the region, and thought that perhaps a souvenirs and other irreplaceable items.48 Also lost in dual-purpose structure could be designed. Alderman the conflagration was a collection of photographs and Litchfield said, “When a calamity like the Arena fire occurs, records from the early days of hockey in Victoria. The I think the City Fathers should spring to attention, and wall of fame, with its photos not only of Victoria teams initiate a plan for a building that will give ample accom- but also the teams they had played over the years, was modation for the requirements of the community.”54 destroyed, while Lester Patrick’s personal records, in- By February 11, Victoria Council had adopted the cluding the activities of the PCHA teams since 1911, were request of the Chamber of Commerce to ask the CPR to gone and could never be replaced.49 erect a combined auditorium and skating rink on the Preliminary investigation of the fire indicated that it southeast corner of Belleville and Douglas Streets. A six- had been deliberately set. Stan Patrick advised that strict lot parcel was removed from sale for six months to allow rules governed all patrons and staff at the Arena and no time for negotiation. Preliminary plans drawn by Spurgin smoking was allowed at all. The arena engineer, Fred San- and Semeyn showed a fireproof building with 138 feet of diford, had carefully checked the Arena on Saturday frontage on Douglas Street and 312 feet on Belleville. The night, after a Rotary Carnival, and ensured that the power ice rink would measure 80 feet by 200 and would hold was turned off. There had been a previous fire, also sus- 3,000 people; capacity would be 5,000 when the ice was picious, at the Arena during the summer, but it had been removed. The cost was estimated at between $200,000 confined to the southeast corner of the building and was and $250,000.55 Although the Chamber of Commerce quickly extinguished.50 held meetings with the CPR officials, that company said The loss of the Arena presented a thorny problem for it had already invested considerable funds in the city and the PCHL executives. What would they do with the Vic- it was not likely that it would want to build yet another toria Cubs? Now homeless, and with a new arena not building.56 The project never was built, so the dream of likely to be built, where could they go? Three options a new skating facility faded into obscurity. were presented at the league meeting in Seattle: the Cubs Meanwhile, the PCHL had decided that the Cubs could become a road team for the season; their players would be a road team, with “home” games split between could be absorbed by the three other teams; or the Cubs Vancouver and Seattle. It was generally thought that the could be transferred to Tacoma, which had wanted a fran- club would be transferred to Tacoma the following chise for some time.51 In the meantime, the Cubs trav- season, but no firm decision was made.57 elled to Vancouver, where they obtained some new equip- The 1929/30 season opened on November 18 with the ment and began to practise in preparation for a new Victoria Cubs visiting the Vancouver Lions. Although season. Rookie Tommy McInenly was cut from the team young netminder Earl Robertson played well, his team and left for his home in Ottawa.52 went down to defeat 2–1.58 In the next game, the Cubs Back in Victoria, a local group was interested in building again scored only once, and lost to Seattle 3–1.59 In their a combination auditorium and skating rink. They felt that, first eight games, the Cubs only managed a total of six as Victoria was advertised in tourist publications as the goals. During that time, they lost six games and tied two. winter playground of the Pacific, an arena of some type It was not until December 17 that they won their first was needed. From a business perspective, a downtown game of the season, a 3–0 shutout of the Portland Bucka- rink would be more profitable than one located outside roos.60 The team followed up that victory with an im- of downtown, as the Willows Arena had been. One pos- pressive 2–1 win over Seattle, when Asmundson scored sible site was the city-owned land across from the Crystal the winning goal just 27 seconds before the end of the Garden. The group’s leaders tried to arrange a meeting game.61 The rest of the season was an exercise in futility. with Canadian Pacific Railway officials to get them inter- The Cubs won only three more games by the end of the ested in the project.53 The Chamber of Commerce wanted season, finishing with a dismal record of 5 wins, 29 losses EDWARDS : The Victoria Cubs • 29 and 2 ties. From February 10 to March 20, they played 11 after the 1930/31 season. Public taste had moved on, and games and were shut out in 10 of them.62 Following this the media coverage reflected that. team as a fan must have been very hard. The Victoria Cubs might have been a failure as a fran- To create interest in the Cubs, the Daily Colonist ran chise, but there were 19 players who wore the Cubs jersey, a series of columns entitled “Some Sidelights on the Or- and they deserve to be remembered. Let’s hear it for: phaned Victoria Icemen.” The author was former Cubs manager Joe Smith. In his December 1 article, he out- Oscar “Ossie” Asmundson lined how difficult it was for Jocko Anderson to manage William James “Bill” Borland a club with no home rink and no home fans, playing in Daniel Edward Carrigan front of often-hostile crowds.63 He reinforced this notion Eugene “Gene” Carrigan in a later article in which he said: “Every third week, the Coleman (played goal in one game in 1929/30, but Cubs have a nasty trip. They leave . . . on Wednesday his first name has never been discovered) night, leave Seattle 9:30 am, arrive at Portland just after David McKenzie “Wildcat” Downie 3, play at 8:30, catch a train out for Seattle again at 11:30 James “Chick” Evans that same night, arrive Seattle 7 am, breakfast and start Albert Horace Harlow “Red” Hardaker for Vancouver, and at 8:30 Friday night, play in Van- John Cowan “Jack” “Red” Kelly couver.”64 Eventually, this column no longer appeared. Ernie Kenny Despite the best efforts of some media outlets, there was Ernest Sidney “Ernie” Leacock little or no interest in the Cubs in Victoria. Odie John David Lowe The franchise was transferred to Tacoma for the Clifford O’Meara 1930/31 season and renamed the Tigers, but local backers Norman Francis Pridham there never secured enough financing to build an arena. Oliver Redpath The team was again homeless, as the Cubs had been Earl Cooper Robertson before them, and president Frank Patrick did not want Herman Runge a similar situation for yet another year. However, the Paul Runge Tigers did make history before they faded into history. Ken East “Swede” Williamson On January 1, 1931, they played a rare hockey double- header, with two 40-minute games against the Vancouver Lions. After the games, the Tigers disbanded and the Notes players were sold, with teams in the Pacific Coast League 1. “Victoria Will Have Strong Team in New Coast Hockey League,” having the first choice.65 Victoria Daily Times, September 26, 1928, 8. A detailed examination of coverage of the Victoria 2. “Opening Dates for Pro Hockey League Announced To-day,” Vic- Cubs shows that even the local newspapers were not that toria Daily Times, October 2, 1928, 9. supportive as play went on. When the 1928/29 season 3. “Eighteen Games in Each Town; Radio to Be Widely Used,” Vic- started, there were banner headlines and complete stories, toria Daily Times, October 22, 1928, 8. but as the season progressed, reports were often placed 4. “‘The Moose,’ Hero of Victoria Fans, Will Return This Season,” on the secondary pages of the sports section, as the NHL Victoria Daily Times, November 16, 1928, 8. now was the hockey league of choice. The Detroit 5. “1927–1928 Winnipeg Maroons,” Society for International Hockey Cougars and “Lester’s Boys,” the New York Rangers, re- Research website, http://www.sihrhockey.org/member _team_ ceived most of the coverage. In some cases, the scores of sheet.cfm?team_id=280&season_id=53; “1928–1929 Victoria Cubs games were difficult to find, making it almost im- Cubs,” Society for International Hockey Research website, possible to compile a complete record of team statistics. http://www.sihrhockey.org/member_team_sheet.cfm?team_id=3 The PCHL itself was ultimately not successful, folding 23&season_id=54. 30 • The Hockey Research Journal, 2016/17
6. “Victoria Cubs Take Opening Game,” Daily Colonist (Victoria, 28. “Lions and Cubs Put Up Furious Battle in Overtime Draw,” BC), November 20, 1928, 10. Vancouver Sun, January 23, 1929, 12. 7. “Red Kelly’s Goal Gives Cubs a Win in Opening Battle,” Victoria 29. “Bond’s Goal with Two Minutes to Go Gives Bucks Draw,” Daily Times, November 20, 1928, 8. Victoria Daily Times, January 30, 1929, 8. 8. “Victoria Cubs Take Lead in the P.C.H.L.,” Victoria Daily Times, 30. Numbers are taken from my statistical analysis of all games played November 22, 1928, 10. in the 1929/30 season. 9. “Bucks Skate Their Heads Off to Hand Cubs a 3–1 Defeat,” 31. “Referee Ion Hits Fan as Climax to Wild Hockey Game,” Victoria Victoria Daily Times, November 28, 1928, 8. Daily Times, February 12, 1929, 8; “Vancouver Increases Lead by 10. “Buckaroos Rally in Last Period to Gain Draw with Victoria,” 2 to 1 Win; Ion Hits Spectator,” Daily Colonist, February 12, 1929, Victoria Daily Times, November 30, 1928, 8. 13. 11. “Cubs Slip Badly in Third Period to Let Esks Win in Overtime,” 32. “Irate Fans Litter the Ice with Everything from Onions to Tacks,” Victoria Daily Times, December 1, 1928, 8. Victoria Daily Times, February 27, 1929, 8; “Eskimos Send Locals 12. “Seattle Eskimos Show Their Class to Blank Cubs by Score of Down to Defeat for Ninth Straight Loss,” Daily Colonist, Feb- 2–0,” Victoria Daily Times, December 5, 1928, 8. ruary 27, 1929, 13. 13. “Sanderson’s Goal in Overtime Gives Lions Sweet Win over Cubs,” 33. “Fast Game Expected When Victoria Takes On Sound City Crew,” Victoria Daily Times, December 11, 1928, 9. Daily Colonist, January 15, 1929, 12. 14. “Cubs Break Jackson’s String of Shut-outs by Lacing Lions 5–1,” 34. “Resigns as Manager of Victoria Cubs,” Daily Colonist, Feb- Victoria Daily Times, December 12, 1928, 8. ruary 27, 1929, 12. 15. “Cubs and Buckaroos Battle to draw in a Thrilling Game,” 35. “Red Hardaker Plays Spectacularly and Cubs Trounce Lions,” Victoria Daily Times, December 19, 1928, 8. Victoria Daily Times, March 6, 1929, 10. 16. “Victoria Cubs Jump Into Second Place by Win Over Bucks,” 36. “Bucks Regain Second Position in League by Defeating Cubs,” Victoria Daily Times, December 21, 1928, 8. Victoria Daily Times, March 13, 1929, 10; “Portland Chalks Up 17. “Red-headed Kelly Leads Cubs to Win over Seattle Esks,” 2–1 Victory in Last Fixture with Locals,” Daily Colonist, March 13, Victoria Daily Times, December 22, 1928, 8. 1929, 10. 18. “Cubs Creep Nearer Lions by Holding Eskimos to Draw,” 37. “Smiling and Happy, Pete Muldoon Had Not Single Enemy,” Vic- Victoria Daily Times, December 26, 1928, 10. toria Daily Times, March 14, 1929, 8. More details of Pete 19. “Cubs Fail to Get by Stiff Defence and Vancouver Wins,” Victoria Muldoon’s life are available at http://www.seattlehockey Daily Times, January 2, 1929, 8. .net/Seattle_Hockey_Homepage/Articles_files/PeteMuldoon.pdf. 20. “Bill Borland Is Sold to Seattle Eskimos,” Victoria Daily Times, 38. “Redpath Sinks Puck Three Times, as Cubs Hand Bucks Setback,” January 2, 1929, 8. Victoria Daily Times, March 15, 1929, 8. 21. “Cubs Again Find Vancouver Lions a Goal Too Good,” Victoria 39. “Eskimos Win and Regain Second Place,” Victoria Daily Times, Daily Times, January 3, 1929, 8. March 6, 1929, 8. 22. “Portland Shutout Victoria to Stay in Second Place,” Vancouver 40. “Cubs Stage Finest Exhibition of Season But Lose to Seattle,” Sun, January 9, 1929, 12. Victoria Daily Times, March 20, 1929, 10. 23. “Policeman’s Aid Is Called When Bucks Win from Victoria,” 41. “Frank Patrick Re-elected,” Victoria Daily Times, November 4, Victoria Daily Times, January 11, 1929, 9. 1929, 8. 24. “Lady Luck Deserts Cubs and They Lose Tough One to Esks,” 42. “Victoria Cubs Oppose Seattle in First Game,” Victoria Daily Victoria Daily Times, January 12, 1929, 8. Times, November 4, 1929, 8. 25. “A Casualty,” Victoria Daily Times, January 12, 1929, 8. 43. “Seven Members of Cubs Limber Up at Opening Practice,” 26. “Cubs Display Fine Improvement to Win from Seattle Club,” Victoria Daily Times, November 5, 1929, 8. Victoria Daily Times, January 16, 1929, 10. 44. “Roster of Ice Team Completed,” Victoria Daily Times, No- 27. “Overtime Win over Lions Lifts Cubs Out of the Cellar,” Victoria vember 9, 1929, 8. Daily Times, January 22, 1929, 8. 45. There is considerable confusion regarding the date of the fire. EDWARDS : The Victoria Cubs • 31
Most online sources say it occurred on November 11, 1929. 55. “Reserve Set on Site for Auditorium,” Daily Colonist, February 11, However, newspaper accounts published on November 12 talk 1939: 1 and 2. about the fire on Sunday morning. A quick check of a 1929 cal- 56. “Mr. Coleman Is Told Need of Auditorium,” Daily Colonist, March endar clearly shows Sunday’s date as November 10. A report en- 18, 1930: 3. titled “Fire Hits Hockey Arena” in the Spokane Spokesman-Review 57. “Cubs Will Play Games on the Road This Season,” Victoria Daily edition of November 12, 1929, is datelined November 10. Times, November 14, 1929, 9. 46. “Arena Destroyed in Early Morning Blaze,” Daily Colonist, No- 58. “Lions Give Finished Display to Win Opening P.C.H.L. Game,” vember 12, 1929, 1. Victoria Daily Times, November 19, 1929, 8. 47. “Insurance Partially Covers Loss from Serious Outbreak,” Daily 59. “Victoria Cubs Are Tossed for Their Second Straight Loss,”Vic- Colonist, November 12, 1929, 1. toria Daily Times, November 20, 1929, 8. 48. “Fire Victims Miraculously Escape Death,” Daily Colonist, No- 60. “Victoria Cubs Whitewash Portland Buckaroos,” Daily Colonist, vember 12, 1929, 2. December 18, 1929, 12. 49. “Famous Set of Pictures Destroyed,” Victoria Daily Times, No- 61. “Cubs Display Real Form to Win over Esks in Thriller,” Victoria vember 12, 1929, 6. Daily Times, December 21, 1929, 8. 50. “Incendiarism in Arena Fire Is Suggested,” Victoria Daily Times, 62. To have some meaningful statistics, I read game summaries in November 12, 1929, 1. the Victoria Daily Times, Daily Colonist and Vancouver Sun and 51. “Cubs Will Become Road Team or Be Absorbed by Other Three compiled a record of games played, the final score, goals for and Clubs,” Victoria Daily Times, November 12, 1929, 6. goals against the Cubs. 52. “Cageless Cubs Workout in New Hockey Raiment,” Vancouver 63. Joe Smith, “Some Sidelights on Victoria’s Orphaned Ice Team,” Sun, November 13, 1929, 20. Daily Colonist, December 1, 1929, 25. 53. “Campaign Being Launched to Secure New Arena in Victoria,” 64. Joe Smith, “Some Sidelights on Victoria’s Orphaned Ice Team,” Victoria Daily Times, November 13, 1929, 10. Daily Colonist, January 5, 1930, 25. 54. “Great Need in City for Auditorium,” Daily Colonist, November 65. “Tacoma Dropped from Coast Ice Hockey,” Daily Colonist, 28, 1929, 2. January 2, 1931, 13.