Ad for the first game between the Tigers and the Patricias. Courtesy of the Spectator.

Hockey History

The 1946 OHA Playoffs – Chapter 1
Two Hamilton clubs start their quest to claim the Allan Cup

World War II was over, life was starting to get back to normal, and Hamilton hockey fans had two senior OHA teams in the playoffs.

Starting February 6, the division’s first-place club, the Hamilton Tigers, was to meet with the Hamilton Patricias, who placed third, for their best-of-seven series. The Stratford Indians were ready to tangle with the Toronto Staffords in their match-up.

A report at the time was enthusiastic about the playing of two local teams:

“For Hamilton hockey fans, happy days are here again!” starts a February 5, 1946 Hamilton Spectator piece. “It is many years since this city has been fortunate enough to have two teams in the senior OHA play-offs and, strangely enough, history in that Tigers and Patricias take up where the old teams of those names left off years ago.”

Pre-play-off shot of the Pats’ center Hugh Barlow with sons Hubert (left) and Robert (right). Courtesy of the Spectator.

With the solid Jack Eley in the Pats’ goal, the new addition of defenseman Eddie Young, along with players like Hugh Barlow, it was thought the Pats would give the Tigers a run for the money.

But the Tigers had a lot of depth on its lineup, with Dillon Brady leading the league with the most points in the OHA for the season. It was the left-winger’s third time to win the Moose Ecclestone memorial trophy, this time with 22 goals and 18 assists for 40 points, beating out second-place finisher, and team mate Clair Shillington, with 15 goals, 18 assists, for 36 points. Interestingly, third was the Pats’ Barlow with 31 points, and fourth was John Conick of the Tigers with 29 points.

But Pats’ coach Louis Pellssier said he was confident of his team’s play against the Tigers, noting a recent 6-2 decision in favor of his team in regular season play.

“We play better hockey against Tigers than against any other outfit,” he said.

Tigers’ left-winger and 1946 OHA scoring champ Dillon Brady with sons Darcy (right) and Dillon Jr. in the front. Courtesy of the Spectator.

Well, Pellssier and his squad would be getting the chance with the dropping of the puck for the first game at the Hamilton “igloo” with some interesting pre-game observations in the pages of the Spec:

“Most interest, of course, is in the game here (as opposed to the Stratford-Toronto game), and with both teams at top strength for the crucial series local fandom should witness some of the best pastiming served up around these parts in many a moon.”

The article also offered this comment in regards to the two teams getting set for the first contest:

“It would be foolish to try and make followers of the winter sport believe that Pats and Tigers have signed the Mutual Admiration Treaty, for such is not the case. In four starts this campaign (season) they have gone at each other like cars and dogs and there is every reason to assert that tonight will find no change.”

Next chapter: The Pats and the Tigers give “followers of the winter sport” a great fill of hockey, but it’s over too soon for the Pats.

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