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.