1929 MHL Playoffs: Abbott Cup Final

(W1) Chicago Wildcats (40-22) vs (E1) Montreal Greys (40-21-1)

An Abbott Cup debutant vs the defending champs? That’s a tale of two very different sides. Montreal was in Chicago’s position just one year before, but they got the job done. Could the Wildcats do the same in 1930?

Game 1 at Victoria Square Stadium started off very slow and boring. The crowd was hyped to start, but with no major chances the buzz died down quickly in the first. The biggest chance came from Chicago’s Dan Vanderbeken, who drove in on Alan Clercius, and got a shot away. Immediately after, Montreal’s Joseph Gill hit him hard into the end boards, drawing a scrum. Vanderbeken was slow to get up, but stayed in the game. The period ended with the teams still scoreless.

The hit on Vanderbeken energized Chicago in the second, as they controlled play after an even first period. They got good looks on multiple power plays, but Clercius remained tall in the Montreal net. The Greys got a great look of their own, with Chris Clark making a strong dash toward the Chicago net, but his work was stopped by Ted Harvey. Both teams had more looks, but still, neither goalie was letting anything go. The second period came to a close, and it was still scoreless.

In the third, the game opened up and there was chance after chance. Montreal hit the post early on, and got some more chances on Ted Harvey, who didn’t want to budge. Finally, with 5 minutes to go, Luc Knevel found a loose puck behind the Chicago net, went in front, and beat Harvey, getting the home team the icebreaker and igniting the building. It was loud again, and the fans were loving it. Chicago pressed hard for an equalizer, but 5 minutes wasn’t a lot of time. They got good shots on Clercius, but he stood tall. James Urban added a dagger in the dying seconds, and Montreal took game 1, shutting out Chicago’s #1 offense.

Game 1: Montreal 2, Chicago 0 (Montreal leads series 1-0)

Game 2 was a rowdy atmosphere. Some Barons supporters tried to enter to cheer for the Wildcats, but police stopped them, causing small riots. The crowd was loud as the game started, a pivotal one for Chicago.

Unlike the previous game, scoring started early. Chicago’s Roy Parent got things going with a top-corner snipe less than 5 minutes in. A minute later, Montreal tied it back up, as Luc Knevel put home a loose puck in front of Harvey. Both teams had more grade-A chances as the period progressed, but nothing resulted in a goal until the dying minutes when a Chicago d-zone pass deflected off the referee and right to James Urban, who gave Montreal their first lead. They led 2-1 through 20 minutes.

The second saws fewer shots but more true grade-A chances. Chicago had 4 or 5 very good looks on Clercius, but the best goalie in the league was looking like his regular self and not budging. The defense did a good job to clear pucks out as well, preventing any rebound opportunities. The lone goal of the period came in the dying minutes, with James Pasztor cleaning out a rebound in front, giving Montreal a 3-1 lead. With the way Clercius was playing, it seemed like they were on their way to another win.

Early in the third, Chicago broke through again. A beautiful passing play left Trevor Alrick all alone in front, and he did not waste that opportunity, cleanly beating Clercius and getting Chicago within 1. Montreal would get some chances to try and extend, but Ted Harvey stood tall now, not letting it get any worse. Time ticked and Montreal looked to play out the clock, but a terrible turnover by Ken Lalonde in the final minute led to an Alrick breakaway, and he made no mistake, beating Clercius clean and tying it up with 42 seconds to play. The home crowd was stunned, and the few Barons fans that managed to sneak in were loving it. The two teams headed to overtime for the first time in the championship series.

Overtime did not start well for the Greys. Less than a minute in, Luc Knevel was called for a hook on Parent, putting the Wildcats on the power play. After a couple minutes of passing around and having their shots saved by Clercius, Robert Nicholson found Trevor Alrick at the side of the net, and all he had to do was have his stick deflect the pass into the net, giving Clercius no chance. The Wildcats came back from a 3-1 deficit to win their first ever Abbott Cup game, and tie the series at 1 apiece.

Game 2: Chicago 4, Montreal 3 (OT) (Series tied 1-1)

The series shifted to Chicago’s Lovely Arena for Games 3 and 4. The old arena with lots of personality finally got to play host to some Abbott Cup action. The home Chicago crowd was hoping for a win and 2-1 series lead, and they were loud.

The first period started off very slow. After Chicago’s fast-paced comeback in game 2, Montreal’s goal was to slow them down and get back to their dominating defensive play. It worked for the most part, though Chicago did open the scoring via the power play goal from Dan Vanderbeken. Despite the low-event game so far, the crowd was loving the fact that their team had the lead. Chicago kept that 1-0 lead through 20 minutes.

The second period saw the home Wildcats get some more action. A couple of power plays saw good looks, but Alan Clercius looked locked in again. On the other end, Montreal was generally lackluster offensively. They got shots, but none dangerous enough for the crowd to hold its breath. Ted Harvey was doing well when he needed to be too. After the high-scoring game 2, it was looking like another defensive stalemate. The 1-0 scoreline held through 40.

In the third, Montreal finally got on the board. Ken Lalonde deflected a shot past Harvey on the power play, and under 3 minutes in, it was all tied up. In an instant, it was as if all defensive play ceased to exist. The teams went back and forth trading chance after chance. The goalies made good saves, but the tie got broken at the halfway mark. Luc Knevel’s 3rd goal of the series came off of a rebound from Harvey, and the Greys were up 2-1 with 10 minutes to play. The chaotic pace of play continued, but despite the chaos the only other goal was a dagger by James Urban in the dying seconds. Montreal scored 3 in the final frame to win 3-1, and take a 2-1 series lead.

Game 3: Montreal 3, Chicago 1 (Montreal leads series 2-1)

Game 4 saw lots of nervous energy. The Wildcats needed to win at home to keep themselves alive, while the Greys were a win away from back-to-back Abbott Cups. You could cut the tension with a knife.

Chicago was the better team possession-wise in the first, but they weren’t the ones who struck first. An early turnover led to a Montreal odd-man rush, and they made no mistake, taking the lead less than 3 minutes in. At the halfway point, that lead increased. William Smith took a slap shot from the blue line and Harvey didn’t see it. Despite Chicago outshooting Montreal 9-5 in the opening frame, it was 2-0 for the Greys after 20 minutes. Alan Clercius was standing tall in net.

In the second, it was high-octane action on both sides, like the final period of game 3. However, both goalies were absolutely dialed in. Ted Harvey had a great bounceback period, while Alan Clercius continued his flawless night. Multiple posts were hit as well, Chicago easily could have tied it up but the iron said no. It was unfortunate, because they only had 20 minutes left to score 2 goals and save their season. Montreal on the other hand needed to do anything but collapse and the Abbott Cup was theirs once more.

The third period did not start how Chicago wanted it to. They took a tripping penalty, and Ken Lalonde made them pay with his second of the game. A shot from Smith was partially saved by Harvey, and Lalonde tapped the loose puck home. Now up 3-0, the Greys shifted to full defense, and it worked. Chicago was suffocated in the offensive zone, and virtually nothing got through to Clercius. The 3 shots on net he dealed with quite easily. Time ran out for the Wildcats, and the Greys celebrated. They became the 2nd team to win back-to-back Abbott Cups, after the New York Blue Birds in 1926-27.

Unlike last year’s debacle in Toronto, the Chicago crowd was generally civil afterwards. Obviously they were unhappy about the loss, but many stayed and applauded as the Greys were awarded the trophy by commissioner James Burris. 

Game 4: Montreal 3, Chicago 0 (Montreal wins series 3-1)



And just like that, the first decade of the MHL is complete! This offseason's posts will be a little more special, as I'll recap the decade, with player stats, team stats and more! Hopefully the next 10 years don't take quite this long lmao

With the first 10 seasons of the MHL complete, it's time for some graphics! These go through each year's Abbott Cup Winner, and single-season and career records for major stats. If there's anything obvious I've missed or anything you want to see, let me know! I'd like to do posts like this after every decade, so there's plenty of time to improve these.

I like the recap, interesting to see that every final except 1930 had either Toronto or New York involved. Also, I’m not sure Mr. Stratford is gonna be around for much longer, but I like the new jerseys for Detroit.

Glad you like the branding updates! I'm looking forward to having more and more teams move away from the canvas pants.

1930 MHL Offseason: On the Ice

the MHL increased its roster size from 14 to 16 for the start of 1930-31, so teams made sure to utilize these two new spots very effectively. Lots of re-signings, lots of new entries into the league, and some released players found new homes as well. 

In Boston, The Harpers were generally quiet. Their two re-signings were Bob Murray and Robert Turner, who combined for 13 points in 84 games in 1930. They also signed rookie Clifford Allison, but traded him to Detroit for cash on the insistence of their owner, Hank Stratford.

In Brooklyn, the Kings re-signed trade addition Hugh Mathieu to a relatively cheap deal. Mathieu scored 25 goals and 43 points for Boston and Brooklyn in 1929-30, and though he is getting older, he should still be a key piece for them. They also signed young winger Matthew Tabor from Detroit, and re-signed John Martin, a depth offensive piece. 

In Chicago, the Wildcats had two of the ten biggest signings by AAV. Henry Baumgartner is one of the league’s best pure snipers, and he’s now retained for 7 more years. On the backend, Lawrence Tabor is their defensive anchor. While not super offensive, his huge frame is very intimidating for oncoming players. Other signings include Kent Trudel, rookie Michel Trudeau, and defenseman Douglas Stewart. 

In Detroit, the Guardians made a big move re-signing young center Mark Alexander. Though his second MHL season was a sophomore slump, he’s still seen as a key piece for the future. Defenseman Donald Lisle was re-signed as well, and they made a splash, acquiring rookie Clifford Allison from Boston for cash. Owner Hank Stratford was convinced Allison will be a star and aggresivelly pressured Boston to trade him to Detroit. Rookie C Arthur Haley will join Allison in the rookie club. In net, they re-signed starter James Davis, but also signed former Indy goalie Leon Campbell, to create a competition for the #1 job. 

In Indy, the Chauffeurs are strapped for cash, and weren’t able to have any huge deals. They were able to sign rookie Matthew Daubney to a decent deal, but that was their biggest. They re-upped winger Jack Lilly, who has improved every year he’s been in the league. Aside from that, they signed two rookie goalies to small deals, hoping to find a diamond in the rough. The departure of Leon Campbell to Detroit means they have a hole to fill, and James Valley and Paul Archibald are hoping they can be the one to replace him.

In Montreal, the Barons made big moves. With their crosstown rival Greys being back-to-back champs, ownership was looking to make a statement to keep interest in the French population’s team high. Their big move was re-signing G Frank Pangos to an 8-year deal. Pangos is only 23, and he’s projected to be even better than Alan Clercius, the de facto #1 goalie in the MHL. They also re-signed Thaddeus Morgan, who has been with the club since the league’s inaugural season. Aside from those, they signed two true free agents, Getting Timothy Maclean from New York and John Windsorton from the Greys. Lastly, they acquired defenseman Ernest Haslem from Ottawa for cash. The Barons are loading up.

Staying in Montreal, the Greys res-signed both of their goalies. Alan Clercius has been the best goalie in the league over the past few years, but he is aging. The younger Lawrence Turner was re-upped, who won every game he played in 1930. He is still the backup, but is a great option to turn to if Clercius falls off or gets injured. Championship pieces David Williams and Joseph Gill were also re-signed, keeping some stability and talent within the organization. Lastly, they signed rookies Rick Nichols and Norman Reid, to fill out their final two spots.

In Nassau County, the Scouts made solid moves. Reigning goal/point scoring leader Kenneth Paquette was re-signed to a big deal, as well as his centreman, Harold Henderson. Rookie Vincent Shaw was given a nice deal as well. Depth defenseman Christophe Boudreau re-signed, and one more rookie joined the fold in Michel Pelletier. 

In Manhattan, the Blue Birds re-signed Chris Paquet. The 32-year-old isn’t quite the same as his prime, but is still a solid blueliner for the club. Backup goalie Richard Plourde and young forwards Rodney Tebow and Jean-Pierre Gauthier also re-signed for the club. Their other two moves were the signing of journeyman winger James Kennedy and rookie Vincent Ryan. 

In Ottawa, the Lumberjacks are also struggling with money, so they didn’t have any major moves. They re-signed veteran defenseman John Lavigne, signed former Baron Jean Leclerc, and managed to snag promising rookie James Young. Their other move was trading defenseman Ernest Haslem to the Barons for cash. Haslem is a promising young blueliner who they would have rather kept, but financial uncertainty means he’s now on one of the most promising teams in the MHL.

In Quebec, “Les Bleus”, as they are beginning to be known, went all-in on rookie signings. Each of the three biggest rookie contracts were signed by them, adding more youth to their mix of players. Centre Lloyd Gardiner of Halifax, NS is a solid all-around offensive player who can use some defensive work. Bernard Simard is the opposite, a solid, physical defender without a real transition game. They also signed wingers Lionel Hansen and Phillip Lawley to their first MHL deals. As for their re-signings, D James Judge and W Nathan Mercer, both secondary players, were re-upped.

In St. Louis, the Centurions’ “big” move was re-signing G David Gagnon. While he only has 16 goals in 58 career games, he’s still their best option in net, and it’s going to stay that was for at least one more year. They also re-signed Gary Martin, a solid defenseman for a team that struggles in that end. They signed Tim MacKay from Brooklyn. MacKay was very solid for the Kings, and should have a larger offensive role in St. Louis. Lastly, they signed rookie Ronald Johnson, a potential offensive dynamo.

Lastly, the Toronto Lakers made only 3 offseason moves, but all were notable. First, they signed centre Gregory Bekkering to the largest AAV in league history. The young centre has improved immensely each year in the league, and now he’s staying in Toronto for 7 more years. A quick and strong playmaker, the sky is the limit for him. They also re-signed another core piece, Mathieu Lafleur. A big, tough defenseman, he will be a big part of a deep Toronto blueline. Lastly, they signed rookie defenseman Earl King to a deal. With their blueline being so deep, King will have plenty of leeway to help develop into a top defenseman. 

TOP 10 SIGNINGS/ACQUISITIONS OF 1927:



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1930-31 MHL Preseason

The MHL moved the number of games per season up once again, now having a 64-game regular season. The round-robin format remains from 1929-30, and The playoffs will remain in the same format, the top 2 teams in each division facing off in a best-of-3, then a best-of-5 Abbott Cup final.

The Lakers just won’t die will they? Nice to see the Barons lead the East. Shame Indy and St. Louis are the brink of collapse, they’re both two of my favorite brands in the league. Of course, if both teams want to stay alive, there’s a little city that is the capital of the US that I’m sure would be more than happy to have a team…