Hockey History

The Hamilton Tigers and the 1919 Allan Cup - Part 4
Tigers open Allan Cup final with 6-1 triumph over Selkirk

It was a full train that left Hamilton’s CPR station in the evening of March 15, 1919 to watch the first game of the Allan Cup finals between the Hamilton Tigers and the Winnipeg Selkirks.

The teams were to play a two-game, most-goals-win series. Both games were to be played in Toronto, the first under eastern rules, and the second under western rules, the main difference being three 20-minute periods for the east and two 30-minute periods for the west.

Both the Hamilton Herald and Hamilton Spectator newspapers said that the Selkirks were a speedier team on the ice. The Spectator noted that while the westerners were younger on the whole and played together for several seasons, the Tigers were an experienced group.

From the start of the game at the Queen City Arena, the Tigers roared to life, and outclassed the Selkirks 6-1 in the game.

Winnipeg opened the scoring in the first, and the Tigers responded with a marker from Joe Matte. But then the Bengals scored five more goals, four in the second and one in the third frame for good measure. Shorty Green had two goals in the second, and then Mickey Roach, who was having knee problems, took a goal before sidelining himself for the rest of the game. Tommy McCarthy scored the other second-period goal, and Leo Reise scored the only goal in the third.

Hamilton goalie Herbie Reaume had a bit of a workout in the opening minutes of the game, but by the middle of the first period the Tigers were skating around Selkirk, completely in control of the contest.

Before Roach benched himself, he had played a terrific game, according to reports.

“Mickey Roach was the outstanding star,” said the Herald. “He has turned in many a stellar performance for the Bengals, but nothing to equal what he showed against Selkirk.”

The Spectator’s “Backcheck” was a little more colorful:

“Mickey Roach, the sorrel-topped Bengal center ice worker, stood out as the shining star of the evening. Mickey never looked quite as good as he did last night, and he was good from every angle.”

The Spectator was also complimentary of several other Tigers.

“Scoring honors of the fray went to Shorty Green, the short person being the only stick handler to bulge the twine on two occasions. The Hamilton defense pair were on their good behavior, both Matte and Reise being at all times dangerous opponents to the invaders. The Flying Frenchman had a tough journey throughout, the Selkirk crew apparently being given strict instructions to keep close tabs on Joseph. Big Leo made many end to end rushes, and showed better stick-handling than in any previous start.”

Both newspapers said the only real effort shown by Winnipeg was from Rube Brandow, who scored the Manitoba team’s only goal, and was a Hamilton native, and Winnipeg center Harry Oliver.

While the Spec’s “Backcheck” offered some bon mots of the game, the Herald had its own pundits, courtesy of “On-Looker,” and he provided these insights after the Hamilton victory:

“A couple of red flags or lanterns on the Hamilton goal would have helped those Selkirk boys to find it.”

“The prairie province team faded as badly as the grand finale of a ‘close-up’ in a movie scene.”

The train ride home that night was a pleasant one for the Hamilton fans, and many would journey back to Toronto the next night to watch the final contest for the honor of the Allan Cup.

Next: Hamilton fans witness a nail-biter, but the Tigers show their stripes.

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