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Toronto Team Loses Manager Murphy With Season's Opening at Hand
The difficulties of the promoters of professional hockey in Toronto, where the game - largely because of reasons inherent in the local representation - has always had a precarious hold on the public, looked to have been largely overcome by the announcement that Mr. Jas. A. Murphy had undertaken the management of the team for this season. That was too promising a condition to last, though, and now it appears that such an arrangement was never consummated.
At any rate, Mr. Murphy has withdrawn, and the whole thing is in the air again, with the opening of the season due two weeks from to-morrow. About the only thing that is clear to the public, in spite of the studied mystery about the ownership of the club, is that it is located in Montreal and that the intention is to retain the management there, a state of affairs which makes a real manager in Toronto unnecessary or impossible. And there is naturally a suspicion that it was this rock that caused the wreck of the announced arrangement. With some sort of appeal to local pride professional hockey has a good prospect here, but it must have at least half a chance to be considered a local affair.
Appointed to Pilot the Toronto Team in the Pro. League / Has Absolute Authority / First Practice of the Team Will be Held To-day -- Most of Players Here
"I've got a new job," said Charles Lawrence Querrie last night to The Globe, and he said it as though he were plated by the prospect. Querrie concluded negotiations with A.C. Claxton of Montreal, representing the new owners of the Toronto team in the National Hockey League, to assume the management of the team immediately. The negotiations between the club and Jimmy Murphy were not consummated and Mr. Claxton then turned to the former manager of the Techumsehs in the National Lacrosse Union.
After the deal had been concluded between the Torontos and Querrie the latter suggested the appointment of an assistant manager named "Dick" Carroll, the trainer of the team. The suggestion was acceptable to Mr. Claxton, who left at mid-night for Montreal.
Manager Querrie is losing no time. The first practice of the Torontos will be held this afternoon at the Arena at 5 o'clock. Most of the players who are candidates for spots on the team are now in town, Brooks, Hebert, Randall, Coughlin, Cameron, Kyle, Corbett Denneny, Noble, Skinner and Harry Meeking. It is expected that Mummery and Johnson, secured from Quebec, will be here within a day or two.
Mr. Querrie would not say so, but it is likely that the Toronto club will shortly open negotiations with the Ottawa club for the services of Nighbor, the former Toronto and Ottawa player, who is now in the Royal Flying Corps here.
The announcement that "Charley" Querrie is to have charge of the team will occasion general satisfaction, especially as he has stipulated that he must have absolute authority in the handling of the men and no interference from outside sources. His experience in handling professional lacrosse players augurs well for his future in hockey, especially should he be given a free hand, as has been promised.
Threat Doesn't Excite Remaining N.H.L. Clubs
Montreal, Dec 10. - A mild sensation developed in hockey circles this morning when it was announced on behalf of the Wanderers that unless the other clubs of the new pro-league immediately handed over their surplus players, the red bands would suspend for the season.
Art Ross, manager of the Wanderers, in the course of a statement published to-day, states that Carey and Ritchie, the two men awarded them from Quebec, are not holdouts, and that it is extremely doubtful if they will play this winter. Jack Marks, who is now at Toronto, advises that he does not care to play in Montreal. Sprauge Cleghorn is out of the game with his sprained ankle, and Odie Cleghorn does not expect to be allowed to play. The Wanderers want Malone and Hall from the Canadiens, Crawford from Ottawa and Johnson and Mummery from Toronto.
No Regrets From Canadiens
In regard to the announcement Geo. Kennedy of the Canadiens says: -"Let Wanderers get out. Who cares? I have friends in Quebec who will be happy to jump right in now and furnish a good team in Wanderers' place. The time to complain about scarcity of players was before the schedule was made up, not now."
President Frank Calder of the National Hockey League is non-committal.
"I have not recieved any official notification from the Wanderers." he says. "At the same time I do not believe the rumours that have come to my ears. The president and owner of the Wanderers is not a quitter."
Wanderers Will Quit Unless Players Are Produced by Saturday
(Staff Correspondence of The Globe)
New York, Dec. 11 - "You may say for me, and make it as emphatic
as you can, that unless the Wanderers get some players from some
of the other clubs of the National Hockey League the Red Bands
will not have a team this season." said President Lichtenhein of
the Montreal team to The Globe to-night. Lichtenhein is here to
attend the annual meeting of the International League.
"And that is not all either," continued the bustling little Montreal promoter, "unless I have favorable replies from the other clubs by the time I arrive home on Saturday night next I will immediately withdraw from the pro. league. The time is too short to permit of any haggling over players now. Under existing conditions I don't care whether the Wanderers play or not."
Lichtenhein was notified yesterday that Carey, one of the players turned over to Wanderers by Quebec, will not play hockey this winter, having been told by his commanding officer at the Dominion Arsenal that no leave of absence will be granted him. Ritchie, another of the Bull Dogs who was expected to come from Quebec to the Red Bands, is also loathe to report to the latter team. Jack Marks, according to Lichtenhein, has outlived his usefulness, so the Wanderers, who were thought to have been greatly benefited by the diversion of the players of the Ancient Capitol have benefitted little, if any.
"I have Hyland, Bell and Lindsay who can be counted upon for the team," says Lichtenhein, "but Sprague Cleghorn's broken leg will prevent his playing at all this season, and Odie Cleghorn is exempted from military service on condition that he plays no hockey. The new and untried material which is available does not promise much so I am forced to call upon Toronto, Ottawa and Canadiens, all of whom have more men than they can use. If we don't get some assistance we will have to quit, and that is just what we propose to do unless assistance is forthcoming by the end of the week." Concluded the owner of the Wanderers.
Montreal, Dec. 11. - President Frank Calder of the National Hockey League announced this morning that he had submitted a proposition to the Wanderers relative to the strengthening of their team, and that he had given them twenty-four hours in which to accept or reject it. George Kennedy of the Canadiens states that he is willing to lend Wanderers two of his players. "I can get all the men I want to," he declared, "because I am willing to pay them to come, and so can Ross."
Small Crowd, About 700, See Wanderers Beat Torontos by 7 to 4 / Goalkeeping Very Poor / Hebert and Brooker Have Off Night - Querrie's Players, However, Have Shadee on Red Bands.
Montreal, Dec. 19. - About seven hundred people witnessed the initial professional hockey game of the season at the Arena in this city to-night, when the Wanderers won from the Torontos by a score of 10 to 9. The play was somewhat ragged at times, and the visiting team was weak in its goalkeepers.
Toronto had the better of the argument most of the game, but neither Hebert, who was the Toronto goalkeeper in the early part of the game, nor Brooke, in the second session, stopped the Wanderers' shots as they might have done. Wanderers used Lindsay throughout and he proved more serviceable to the home team than either Hebert or Brooks. Toronto's team was practically the same as played last year.
The visitors' forwards, Skinner, Denneny, and Noble, were fast and good shots, and Randall and Cameron made an excellent defence. For the Wanderers, Ritchie and McDonald, from the Quebec club, showed to good advantage. Geran, a new man on the local team, did not make a favorable impression. He played with Boston a year ago.
The teams:
Wanderers - Goal, Lindsay; defence, Ritchie and Stephens; wing, Bell;
centre, Hyland; wing, McDonald. Subs - Geran, Ross and O'Grady.
Toronto - Goal, Hebert; defence, Randall and Cameron; wing, Skinner; centre, Denneny; wing, Noble. Subs - Meeking, Coughlin and Brooks.
Referee - Lt. Tom Melville; judge of play Jack Marshall.
Source: The Globe (Toronto) - Thur. Dec. 20, 1917
Shore and Darragh Cause Emergency Meeting of Directors
Ottawa, Dec. 19. - In the opening game of the National Hockey League season Canadiens defeated Ottawa by a score of 7 to 4. The ice was sticky, and it helped the heavier Canadiens. Eddie Gerard and his Ottawa team seldom cutting loose with the speed their patrons expected. Canadiens had a lead of 3 to 0 at the end of the first session, and the only time Ottawa were dangerous was in the second, when they scored two and drew within a couple of goals of the champions. They had a chance to pull it out in the third period, but failed to do so, as the Canadiens' defence was too strong and the visitors played an extra man back.
Ottawa went out without Shore, Darragh, Nighbor and Merrill of last year's team. Nighbor is at Toronto in the Royal Flying Corps, while Merrill is out of the game. There was some trouble over the contacts of Darragh and Shore and the players refused to go on until the directors had been brought into a conference. Shore and Darragh both got into the game in the second period, but it was then too late to repair the damage.
"Rusty" Crawford joined Ottawa to-day and gave a good account of himself, though he lacked condition. Canadiens were in great fettle and they appeared to have it over Ottawa in every department. Harvey Pulford and Charlie McKinley refereed and had but a few penalties to hand out.
The line-up:
Canadiens - Vezina, Hall, Corbeau, Lalonde, Pitre, Malone, Conture.
Subs - Burlinguette and Laviolette.
Ottawas - Benedict, Crawford, Gerard, Boucher, Denenny, Lowery, Bruce. Subs - Darragh. Scratch - Shore.
Querrie's Men Capture Opening Game of Local N.H.L. Season by 11-4 / Blue Shirts Formidable / Easily Defeat Easterners in Free-scoring Contest - Noble, Meeking, Brooke Play Improved Game.
Charles Querrie's Toronto professionals ushered in the 1917-18 N.H.L. Season locally with a victory at the Arena Saturday night, when they defeated Ottawa by a score of 11 to 4. The first two periods saw some fast, cleaver hockey, with both teams travelling at top speed. In the closing period the Blue Shirts had much the better of the play, and although the Ottawa forwards attempted to check back they were unable to stem the tide, Toronto scoring five goals to one lone tally registered by Ottawa.
A Much Improved Team
Hockey fans were agreeably surprised by the work of the reorganized Toronto team. Displaying speed and stamina which was of midseason calibre, they swept the Easterners before them in the sixty minutes of play, and were not at any time seriously threatened by defeat. Ottawa scored the first goal, while Meeking evened up for Toronto. Toronto then tallied five times in a row, and the period ended with Toronto leading by four goals. Ottawa had a shade the better of the play in the second period, but were completely overshadowed by Querrie's men in the final session.
Noble Much Better
Reg. Noble., who started at centre for Toronto, was probably the most effective man on the ice. Besides scoring many of the Toronto goals, he checked back so hard and fast that he really provided a third defence, giving Randall and Cameron great support. Noble's experience with Canadiens has improved him greatly, and he should be one of the shining stars of the Querrie sextette this season.
Brooke in Good Form
Harry Meeking, who succeeded Noble at centre when the former went to left wing, is another boy whose improvement was noticable. He has all his old-time speed, carries the puck better, and has improved greatly in his shooting. Ken Randall played his usual strong defensive game, and relieved nicely with effective rushing. He made three trips to the bench, however, which somewhat marred his effectiveness. Brooke, in goal, was another surprise. While he did not have very much to do, he took care of Ottawa's offerings in good style, and if his work Saturday night can be regarded as any criterion, he is a fixture in his position.
A Free Scoring Contest
While it was not a particulary good game as far as closeness of play and competition is concerned, it was one of those fast, free-scoring, hammer-and-tongs affairs that delight seventy-five per cent of the spectators. Ottawa has a good team, and in Crawford and Gerard have two cleaver men, both offensively and defensively. Cyril Denenny played a good game for Ottawa, but marred his efforts with considerable rough work. He was responsible for Randall's trip to the bench on a major foul when he mixed it with the latter down behind his own goal.
Benedict Not in Form
Shore played up to his usual good form, while Benedict appeared to be off color. He made many good stops, but some comparatively easy shots got away from him.
The teams:
Toronto (11) - Goal, Brooke; defence, Cameron and Randall; centre, Noble; left wing, Corbett Denenny; right wing, Skinner.
Ottawa (4) - Goal, Benedict; defence, Crawford and Shore; centre, Darragh; left wing Cyril Denenny, right wing, Gerard.
Substitutes - Toronto - Meeking and (?)
Ottawa - Lowery, Bruce and (?)
Referee: Marsh. Judge of play (?)
Blue Shirts Defeat Whirlwind Canadiens in Exciting Contest by 7-5 / Locals Finish Strong / Several Scraps Enliven Contest - Cameron's Stellar Work - Vezina's Marvellous Exhibition
The sensational offensive instituted by Manager Charles Querrie's Blue Shirts in the closing ten minutes of play against the Canadiens of Montreal at the Arena last night resulted in a victory for the local team by a score of 7 to 5. It was an exciting finish and the crowd in the well-filled Arena were keyed up to the highest pitch. Manager George Kennedy had his whole team, with the exception of the goalkeeper, up on the forward line in the closing moments of play but Toronto not only played a wonderful defensive game, but carried the battle to the visitors' territory and kept them so busy defending their own citadel that they had little opportunity to even the score.
To Harry Cameron, Querrie's sterling defense player, belongs the lion's share of the credit. Three of the goals were directly due to his clever skating, stickhandling and shooting, while he notched another on a pass from Meeking. On the defence he stopped Lalonde, Pitre and Malone time and again, while on several occasions he outskated the whirlwind "Newsy".
Noble In Fine Form
Reg. Noble, who started at left wing for Toronto, was another who was responsible to a great extent for the victory. From start to finish he was in the game, rushing, checking back strenuously, and relieving the defence. Denenny and Meeking are entitled to praise for their work, especially Denenny, who worked unceasingly, and who combined nicely with the other forwards.
Vezina in goal for Canadiens was a marvel of efficiency. He stopped shots that were seemingly impossible to reach, getting them inches from the ice, batting them down and clearing with his stick and slapping the high ones into the corner with his gloved hand. If it had not been for his remarkable work in goal it is very probable that the score would have been doubled against his team.
Querrie's Men Change Tactics
The Blue Shirts changed their style of attack in the last period, and it was this change that was responsible for the victory. In the opening periods of play the forwards started down the ice abreast at a slow pace, gaining speed as they progressed and coming into Canadiens defence at top speed, thus being forced to shoot at random. On the other hand, Canadiens started their rushes at bewildering speed, slowed up at the Toronto defence, and worked their way round to as advantageous position from which to shoot. Toronto adopted the same tactics in the closing period, and, drawing out Corbeau and Hall, beat Vezina in cleaver fashion.
Corbeau is undoubtedly the star of the Kennedy clan. He is a big, powerful boy, about twenty-three or twenty-four years of age, who has a wealth of speed and stick-handling ability, and a deadly shot. He scored the first three goals for his team, and his clean, cleaver work won him an ovation from the crowd. Pitre and Malone have apparently slowed up, and were not as effective as was expected. Lalonde, however, seems to improve with age. He was in every play, and his cleaver stick-handling was a feature of the game. In his position at centre, however, Lalonde had but little the better of Denenny.
Scrape Enlivened Game
Several scrapes enlivened the play, although none were of a serious nature. Lalonde and Noble exchanged punches. The local lad retailiated when the Canadiens' star attempted a little rough work. Both were banished for their display of temper. Cameron and Coutre came together in front of the latter's goal, and both rolled to the ice before they were separated by the officials. Meeking and Pitre mixed it up for a moment on the side, with honors even. In the first period Canadiens scored three to Toronto's two, and led by two goals at the end of the second period. It was Meeking who evened the count in the third period, and Cameron scored the goal which put the locals in front, and the same player who notched the final goal of the game.
The work of Brooke, the Toronto goaler, was of mediocre order. The first three goals for the visitors were scored from outside the defence and of the kind that Vezina stops without shifting from his position. This is one department in which Manager Querrie will have to make a change, but from the present showing it would seem that Canadiens will meet Toronto in the games that will decide the championship.
The teams: -
Toronto (7) - Goal, Brooke; defence, Cameron and Randall; centre, Denenny; left wing, Noble; right wing, Skinner.
Canadiens (5) - Goal, Vezina; defence, Hall and Corbeau; centre, Lalonde; left wing, Malone; right wing, Pitre.
Substitutes -
Toronto - Coughlin, Meeking.
Canadiens - Couture, Belanquette.
Officials -
Referee - Lou E. Marsh.
Judge of play - "Steve" Vair.
Source: The Globe (Toronto) - Thur. Dec. 27, 1917
Although Manager Charlie Querrie confidently expected to use Harry Holmes, former Toronto boy and Pacific Coast League goalkeeper, against Canadiens last night, it would appear as if the Blue Shirts manager will have to do business through President "Sammy" Lichtenhein of the Wanderers. Querrie was told by Holmes that the latter had been made a free agent by the Pacific Coast League magnates and agreed to terms proposed by the local club's manager.
In order to have everything clearly understood, however, Querrie wired to Frank Calder, President of the National Hockey League, advising him that he intended to sign Holmes. A telegram was received from Calder yesterday afternoon stating that Lichtenhein had been given first call on Holmes services by the Pacific Coast League moguls in consideration of the Wanderers owner granting them the privilege of negotiating for the services of "Gordie" Roberts, former Wanderers star, now residing in Phoenix, Arizona.
A telegram to Lichtenhein elicited the information that he would waive all claim on Holmes if Querrie would let him have Reg Noble, the Blue Shirts star forward. Naturally Querrie cannot begin to see any such proposition.
It is an involved affair and means that Toronto will, to all probability, be without the services of Holmes and that, although "Sammy" cannot use him, the star goalkeeper is not in position to sell his services without first consulting the eastern magnate. And Holmes is now wondering whether the term "free agent" is not a choice bit of satire.
Team Goes to Montreal in Charge of Trainer Dick Carroll
Trouble has broken out anew in the Toronto Hockey Club of the N.H.L.
The Blue Shirts left last night for Montreal to engage the Canadiens to-night, but they were not accompanied by Manager Charles L. Querrie. The team went in charge of Trainer Dick Carroll. According to a report which has reached The Globe from Montreal, Mr. Querrie's resignation is in the hands of the league having been received by President Frank Calder some days ago.
The Globe got into communication with Querrie late last night after the departure of the Torontos for Montreal. He would not affirm the Montreal story to the effect that he had resigned, nor would he deny it. As a matter of fact, he had very little to say concerning the new trend of affairs, but left the impression that he was being interfered with in his management of the team. "When I accepted the management of the Torontos it was with the understanding that I was to have absolute authority. I have not had a free hand to the extent that it was promised me." he said.
In the meantime the Torontos are without a manager, and it is quite apparent that unless Querrie is made the out-and-out "boss" of the outfit and assured beyond doubt that there will be no interference with his management from any source whatever his resignation will not be withdrawn.
Mummery, Randall and Cameron Chief Offenders - Canadiens Win by 9-2 / Brooke Weak In Goal / Tripping, Slashing and Fistic Encounters Detract From Game and Spectators Leave Arena Early
Montreal, Dec. 30 - In defeating Toronto here Saturday night by a score of 9-2, the Canadiens showed a glaring form reversal over their previous meeting with the Queen City aggregation, when they had been beaten by a score of 7 to 4. Never at any stage of the contest was the result in doubt as the locals outskated and outplayed their opponents throughout the match. The Frenchmen's defence was like a stone wall against the attack of the smaller and lighter Toronto players.
The play was rough at stages, but only one of the penalties incurred by the players came as a result of a melee on the ice, this being in the third period, when Randall and Pitre came to blows.
Mummery, who was making his initial appearance in a Toronto uniform, was of little service to his team through the frequent penalties drawn by him for tripping and slashing. Randall and Cameron were others who participated in roughing things up during the early stages of the game.
The play was too one-sided to be particularly interesting, and after Canadiens had secured a commanding lead many of those in attendance left the Arena.
Torontos are still suffering from the want of a goal tender, as the exhibition put up by Brooke was as weak as that furnished by him in the match against Wanderers, which gave the red bands their only victory of the season.
The teams:-
Canadiens - Goal, Vezina; defence, Hall and Corbeau; centre, Lalonde; wings, Pitre and Malone.
Torontos - Goal, Brooke; defence, Cameron and Randall; centre, Noble; wings, Skinner and Denneny.
Substitutes:-
Canadiens, Couture and Berlinquette.
Torontos, Mummery, Meeking and Coughlin.
Referee Tom Melville;
judge of play, Jack Marshall.
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