Hockey History

City loses its NHL club for less than $2000
Tiger owners, players, feud over payments, Hamilton’s only NHL club dissolves

While politics and money have been the main concerns about Hamilton acquiring an NHL franchise in the past few decades, the same holds true for the time that the city did indeed have a major professional hockey club.

In 1920, the Quebec Bulldogs moved to Hamilton, and as the Tigers, were part of the six-team NHL in the league’s early years. Although the team struggled at first, by the 1924-25 season it was a contender for the Stanley Cup sitting in first place.

But the players wanted more money to continue in the post-season, and the owners would not accommodate them. The players wouldn’t play. The players were suspended, the owners pulled the team, and Hamilton lost its one and only NHL club.

And the price of losing the club?

Less than $2,000 or $200 per player.

Tiger Management holds fast

The players, who included some early greats such as the Green Brothers, Red and Shorty, and Billy Burch, demanded $200 each for playing in the post season on top of their season salary. Team Manager Percy Thompson would not meet these demands, citing that the players are paid for the duration of the season from December 1 of 1924 until March 31 of 1925. The post-season games were to start the second week of March.

In a statement issued March 14, 1925, Thompson responded:

“I think the public will realize the owners are not to blame for the trouble. Each and every contract signed by the National Hockey League players calls for a season ending on or about March 31. This in itself is sufficient to prove that we were not asking the players to do something that their contract didn’t call for.”

When asked if the players would be suspended, Thompson left that up to the NHL. “I don’t know,” he stated. “That’s up to President Calder. There will be a meeting of the league shortly, and the matter will be dealt with. Meanwhile, Hamilton, the leading club in the league, sits back and allows Canadiens (Montreal) to go west. I’m very sorry that such a situation has arisen.”

NHL’s President Calder sides with Tiger owners

Making front page news March 16 was the NHL’s official statement:

“Because of the many conflicting reports and statements being circulated with the recent impasse between the Hamilton Hockey club and its players, the following authentic facts may be of interest to the hockey fans:

“In the first place it is not – and never was – a question of bonuses to the Hamilton players. It was – and still is – a question of contracts. Each of the players of the Hamilton club is bound under a contract to play hockey for the Hamilton club for a certain period, expiring on or about March 30 next.

“The Hamilton club, on its side, is bound to pay certain sums of money for the services of the players contracted with.”

The Calder statement continues with the binding clauses in player contracts, along with the obligations of both the players and management. It also mentioned the players were not treated unfairly, and suggested the whole team suffered due to “an ill-advised compact, entered into with the ringleaders.”

Summing up, Calder said he had no choice.

“…the only alternative was to declare them to have defaulted in their series with the Canadiens and to declare the latter club champions of the league for the season 1924-25, and inglorious ending to an otherwise brilliant season.”

Interesting, reported on the same day as Calder’s words was an article that stated the owners of the Tigers were not only ready to break up the club’s existing line-up, it was being courted by a group in New York City wishing to get into major league hockey.

“The club is determined to break up the team,” stated the article, “and sell it to the highest bidder, but they will not let the franchise go, and will build up for a start next year.”

That did not happen. By September of 1925 the NHL revoked the Hamilton franchise, which went to New York for $75,000, to be known as the New York Americans, and playing in the new Madison Square Gardens.

The Players respond

The Tiger players also issued their own statement in during this time. It did not mention anything about sharing the revenues of post season with the Tiger owners, the reason for the strike initially, but was sympathetic to the fans.

“Be it known to the public of Hamilton that we the playing members of the Hamilton professional hockey playing club regret the fact that they who so earnestly and whole-heartedly supported us through the regular playing season must be denied a chance to see their team in the finals. We have enjoyed being here with you and to a man would rather play to a Hamilton audience than any other on the circuit.”

Near the end of the statement, signed by Wilfred (Shorty) Green, Tiger Captain, the players would return, but were adamant about their present situation:

“We would be more than pleased to represent Hamilton again in the NHL for the benefit of the fans who have so generously patronized our games, but this is final:

WE DO NOT INTEND TO EVER PLAY AGAIN FOR THE PRESENT MANAGEMENT.

“In conclusion, we desire to thank the sporting public of Hamilton and trust that unbiased fans will see our side of the argument.”

The fans are the big losers

But it was Hamilton hockey fans who took it on the chin, as it has for more than 80 years, having to leave the city to watch regular NHL contests.

In a Hamilton Spectator editorial of March 14, 1925, entitled “The Public Be Damned,” the writer noted that the loss of the professional Tigers was a blow to the city.

“The dear old public is the goat again!

“Never was a sporting organization given the loyal support which the NHL team has received from the people of Hamilton this season.

“For the last few weeks the fans have been looking forward to seeing on of the play-off games and of having a Hamilton sextet compete for the Stanley Cup for the first time in history.

“It has been a bad blow for hockey in Hamilton, and it is doubtful if the games for some seasons to come will be patronized in the same manner that they sere this season.”

While Hamilton has embraced its hockey since 1925, it has yet to do so with an NHL team it could call its own.

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