The Montreal Winter Carnival Ice Hockey Tournaments were a series of annual ice hockey tournaments held in the 1880s in conjunction with the Montreal Winter Carnival, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. First held in 1883, these tournaments are considered to be the first championship ice hockey tournaments and the predecessor to the first championship ice hockey league, the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada.
History
In 1883, the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association was asked to add sports to the events to be held with the Montreal Carnival. The association was affiliated with the Montreal Snow Shoe Club. Along with the McGill Hockey Club, they organized a four-team tournament, played partly outdoors on the Saint Lawrence River. The trophy for this tournament is on display at the McCord Museum in Montreal. In 1884, the location changed to a rink made on the McGill University grounds. It was moved indoors subsequently. The carnival was not held in 1886 and 1888.
In December 1886, the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada was founded by the four Montreal teams (McGill, Montreal Hockey Club, Montreal Crystals, Montreal Victorias) and the Ottawa Hockey Club.
Season-by-season record
1883: Montreal Winter Carnival Hockey Tournament (winner McGill), held on the St. Lawrence River 1884: Montreal Winter Carnival Hockey Tournament (winner Victorias), held at McGill's outdoor rink 1885: Montreal Winter Carnival Hockey Tournament (winner Montreal), held at the Crystal Rink 1886: No tournament; Carnival cancelled — Dominion Championship (winner Crystals) 1887: Montreal Winter Carnival Hockey Tournament (winner Montreal) 1888: No tournament; Carnival cancelled 1889: Montreal Winter Carnival Hockey Tournament (winner Victorias)
1883
The carnival was held from January 23 to 28. Montreal, McGill and Quebec teams contested the trophy and McGill won the tournament. The trophy for this tournament is on display at the Musee McCord Museum in Montreal.
McGill wins hockey tournament
Rosters
The following players were part of the hockey teams participating in the 1883 Montreal Winter Carnival.
Montreal Victorias: C. Lamothe (c.), S. Abbott, J. Arnton, E. Sheppard, E. Stevenson, J. Muir, D. Watt.
Quebec HC: W. Scott (c.), F. Ashe, A. Scott, M. Swift, A. Colley, S. Valler, A. Davidson.
McGill: A. Low, J. Elder, T. Green, R. Smith, W. Murray, J. Kinlock (c.), P. Foster.
Source: Montreal Daily Witness
1884
The 1884 tournament saw several games lost due to rain. The outdoor rink was unplayable on February 6 and the Crystals and Wanderers did not show at the rink for their games. Both teams lost by default although the games could not have been played.
The tournament was the first appearance of the Ottawa Hockey Club (which would eventually field a team in the National Hockey League) in competitive play. The club made it to the final game before losing to the Victorias 1–0.
Victorias win Winter Carnival Tournament
Source: Montreal Gazette
1885
Montreal wins Winter Carnival Tournament
Source: Montreal Gazette
Rosters
The following players were part of the hockey teams participating in the 1885 Montreal Winter Carnival.
Montreal Victorias: J. Arnton, J. Muir
Montreal HC: Tom Paton, Fred Larmonth, Billy Aird, Billy Hodgson, Richard Smith, F. W. Barlow, Duncan McIntyre.
McGill: G. W. Stephens, J. M. Elder, Hanbury Arthur Budden, J. A. Kinlock, H. D. Johnson, R. E. Palmer, C. P. Brown.
Montreal Football Club: A. Elliott, R. Campbell, W. J. Cleghorn, A. J. Campbell, R. Sterling, D. Robertson.
Montreal Crystals: William Hutchison, James A. Stewart, Robert Laing, Jack A. Findlay, Allan Cameron, W. McCaffrey, D. Labonte.
Ottawa HC: William O'Dell, G. Currier, Thomas D. Green, Tom Gallagher, Frank Jenkins (c.), Jack Kerr, Halder Kirby.
Source: Montreal Gazette
1887
In February, the Montreal teams of the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada participated in the Montreal Winter Carnival hockey tournament. The tournament, which was scheduled to play outdoors on an ice rink at the Ice Palace, was disrupted by two days of storms, and was not completed until February 25. During this time, no challenges were played.
Montreal wins Winter Carnival Tournament
Source: Montreal Gazette
Rosters
The following players were part of the hockey teams participating in the 1887 Montreal Winter Carnival.
Montreal HC: W. Hutchison, J. Stewart, A. Cameron, J. Findlay, A. Hodgson, J. Virtue, W. Hodgson.
Montreal Victorias: T. Arnton, J. Muir, J. Campbell, A. Shearer, J. Arnton, J. Craven, E. Barlow.