The Ontario Professional Hockey League (OPHL), sometimes referred to as the Trolley League, and also known as the Canadian Hockey League in its time,[1] was a professional ice hockey league in Canada. It was a fully professional league and consisted of teams from Toronto and surrounding communities. The league's annual champion would challenge for the Stanley Cup, but none were successful.
The Ontario Professional Hockey League was organized in November 1907. The Toronto Professionals had been playing exhibition games against teams of the International Professional Hockey League and other teams with attendances of over 1,000 per game. In early November 1907, the International League had folded, reducing the number of opponents for Toronto, who could not play any amateur teams in Ontario. At the annual meeting of the Toronto team on November 7, the first discussions of a possible league were held.[2] A founding meeting was held in Berlin, Ontario (now Kitchener) on November 12 where a league was formed with Berlin, Brantford, Guelph, and Toronto. The league's initial name was the "Canadian Hockey League" and the officers were:
J. C. Palmer, Toronto, George Roehmer, Berlin, J. A. Fitzgerald, Guelph and Roy Brown, Brantford (executive)[1]
The league was organized at a meeting on November 22 in Guelph where the schedule was set. The rules would be based on the Ontario Hockey Association and the International League. Representatives of Galt had shown interest in being a part of the league but withdrew their application.[3]
The Toronto team became league champions in the OPHL's first season and challenged for the Stanley Cup in 1908, losing to the champion Montreal Wanderers from the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association (ECAHA). In the 1908 off-season, Brantford left the league and was replaced by Galt and St. Catharines. Galt would win the OPHL championship and Galt challenged for the Stanley Cup in January 1909, losing to Ottawa team of the ECAHA. After the 1909 season, Guelph, St. Catharines and Toronto left the league.
In 1910 the OPHL added the Waterloo Colts to become a four-team league. Berlin got off to such a strong start in the season, that the league decided to start a new season in later January. In March 1910, Berlin challenged the Wanderers for the Cup and were defeated. The league's final attempt to win the Cup came a year later in March 1911, with Galt again losing to Ottawa, which now played in the National Hockey Association (NHA) .
Coleman, Charles L. (1966). The Trail of the Stanley Cup, Vol. 1, 1893–1926 inc.
Notes
^ ab"New "Pro" League Ready". The Globe. November 13, 1907. p. 9.
^"Toronto's Strong "Pro" Team". The Globe. November 8, 1907. p. 7.
^"The "Pros" Are Ready"". The Globe. November 23, 1907. p. 16.
^"Galt will play for Stanley Cup – Waterloo swamped at Berlin" Ottawa Citizen, March 2, 1911.
External links
League History & Standings
January 06, 2023
ontario, professional, hockey, league, ophl, sometimes, referred, trolley, league, also, known, canadian, hockey, league, time, professional, hockey, league, canada, fully, professional, league, consisted, teams, from, toronto, surrounding, communities, league. The Ontario Professional Hockey League OPHL sometimes referred to as the Trolley League and also known as the Canadian Hockey League in its time 1 was a professional ice hockey league in Canada It was a fully professional league and consisted of teams from Toronto and surrounding communities The league s annual champion would challenge for the Stanley Cup but none were successful Ontario Professional Hockey LeagueSportIce hockeyFounded1907Inaugural season1908Ceased1911Country CanadaLastchampion s Galt OntarioMost titlesGalt Ontario 2 Contents 1 History 1 1 Founding 1 2 Seasons 2 Teams 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Notes 5 External linksHistory EditFounding Edit The Ontario Professional Hockey League was organized in November 1907 The Toronto Professionals had been playing exhibition games against teams of the International Professional Hockey League and other teams with attendances of over 1 000 per game In early November 1907 the International League had folded reducing the number of opponents for Toronto who could not play any amateur teams in Ontario At the annual meeting of the Toronto team on November 7 the first discussions of a possible league were held 2 A founding meeting was held in Berlin Ontario now Kitchener on November 12 where a league was formed with Berlin Brantford Guelph and Toronto The league s initial name was the Canadian Hockey League and the officers were J P Downey M P P Guelph Hon President Alex Miln Toronto President A B Burnley Brantford Vice President N E Irving Guelph Secretary Otto Vogelsang Berlin Treasurer J C Palmer Toronto George Roehmer Berlin J A Fitzgerald Guelph and Roy Brown Brantford executive 1 The league was organized at a meeting on November 22 in Guelph where the schedule was set The rules would be based on the Ontario Hockey Association and the International League Representatives of Galt had shown interest in being a part of the league but withdrew their application 3 Seasons Edit Berlin Dutchmen in 1909 10 The Toronto team became league champions in the OPHL s first season and challenged for the Stanley Cup in 1908 losing to the champion Montreal Wanderers from the Eastern Canada Amateur Hockey Association ECAHA In the 1908 off season Brantford left the league and was replaced by Galt and St Catharines Galt would win the OPHL championship and Galt challenged for the Stanley Cup in January 1909 losing to Ottawa team of the ECAHA After the 1909 season Guelph St Catharines and Toronto left the league In 1910 the OPHL added the Waterloo Colts to become a four team league Berlin got off to such a strong start in the season that the league decided to start a new season in later January In March 1910 Berlin challenged the Wanderers for the Cup and were defeated The league s final attempt to win the Cup came a year later in March 1911 with Galt again losing to Ottawa which now played in the National Hockey Association NHA The league disbanded after the 1911 season The OPHL teams were raided for players by the NHA after the NHA was itself raided for players by the Pacific Coast Hockey Association PCHA Players who left included Eddie Oatman Jack McDonald and Goldie Prodgers The Moncton Victorias of the Maritime Professional Hockey League MPHL signed nearly all of the champion Galt team s players The Victorias would win the MPHL championship and challenge NHA champion Quebec A namesake league would play for one season in 1930 31 with teams in Galt Guelph Kitchener Niagara Falls Oshawa and Stratford Teams Edit Fred Doherty with the Galt Professionals around 1911 Season Teams Champion1908 Berlin Dutchmen Brantford Indians Guelph Royals Toronto Pros Toronto best record 1909 Berlin Brantford Galt Professionals Guelph St Catharines Pros Toronto Pros Galt one game playoff against Brantford 1910 Berlin Brantford Galt Waterloo Colts Berlin best record 1911 Berlin Brantford Galt Waterloo Galt one game playoff against Waterloo 4 Guelph and St Catharines withdrew after six games of the schedule See also EditList of pre NHL seasons List of ice hockey leaguesReferences EditColeman Charles L 1966 The Trail of the Stanley Cup Vol 1 1893 1926 inc Notes Edit a b New Pro League Ready The Globe November 13 1907 p 9 Toronto s Strong Pro Team The Globe November 8 1907 p 7 The Pros Are Ready The Globe November 23 1907 p 16 Galt will play for Stanley Cup Waterloo swamped at Berlin Ottawa Citizen March 2 1911 External links EditLeague History amp Standings Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ontario Professional Hockey League amp oldid 1100748528, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
