1935 MHL Offseason: Off the Ice

Two teams leave MHL, including one on hiatus

The story of the Locomotives’ drive to survive has been well-documented. But unfortunately, despite their late success, the market was just too small to support a professional team for any longer. The city’s population of 78,000 is barely half as big as the next-smallest market. While their time in the MHL is over, there are already talks of a new ownership group “resurrecting” them to play in the minor leagues.

One thing that got a little swept under the Locomotives story was the fact that Quebec also was unable to field a team for the 1935-36 season. However, their financial situation was a little better than London’s, so like Peoria 5-ish years ago, the league allowed them to take a one-year hiatus before attempting a return for 1936-37. Commissioner Holland made it very clear that any financial struggles after would result in the loss of the team, so they needed to make this year off count. Like the Foxes before, all Quebecois players would be free agents for teams to sign for the 1935-36 season, and the team would have to pick from the free agent pool for the 1936-37 season.

1934-35 Hackatt Trophy Winner unveiled

William Smith took home the MHL’s MVP award for the 1934-35 season, and it’s surprising that this is only his first. He’s lead the league in points 3 of the last 4 years, but hadn’t been first place in voting until now. His 39 assists were a personal career high, and were the third-highest total the league had seen. Smith is widely regarded as the best player in the league at the moment, and he finally has the recognition for his great play.



10 teams make branding changes

Aesthetically, it was a BUSY summer for the league, with 10 different teams changing some aspect of their brand, whether logo, jerseys, or both.

In Boston, the Harpers changed the arched name above their harp to a cursive script. Neither script is officially considered a logo, just an extra jersey element.

Next, in Brooklyn, the Kings did an old switcheroo of their colors. The black jersey with white stripes is now a white jersey with black stripes, but still the exact same design otherwise.

In Chicago, the Wildcats continued their tradition of not staying with a jersey set, as they came up with another new design, this one similar to their inaugural set. The away jersey remains with a blue base, an odd choice considering many teams in the league have blue home jerseys.

In Detroit, the Guardians made one of the most unnecessary tweaks, changing the blue lettering on their road jersey to green. This is despite the fact that green appears nowhere else in their branding. The reasoning for this was that their new ownership “likes the color green”. Alright then.

Speaking of random color changes, the Montreal Barons decided to match the flag of Montreal more, by removing the blue from their brand entirely, now being red and white only. Everything stays the same otherwise.

The new champion Montreal Greys continued the trend of random tweaks, by making the top of their socks grey instead of black. 

One of the more exciting brand changes came from Nassau County, where the Scouts changed their jersey design for the first time ever. No longer an orange base, they now wear navy at home, with a new striping pattern incorporating orange and the yellow. The away is a color swap, with a yellow base. They also ever so slightly changed their logo, lengthening the left leg of the N.

In New York, the Blue Birds unveiled a new set as well, similar to their old with the chest stripe, but new in terms of the actual stripes themselves. They also added an yoke to both their jerseys, and switched the cream color back to white, as it was originally.

Toronto updated their logo for the first time, simply adding an outline to their T. They also removed some stripes from their home jersey, and actually used their logo on a jersey for the first time. The “Toronto” script is no more.

Lastly, the Washington Bats apparently decided to copy Toronto, as they also added an outline to their logo. Their jersey set stays the same otherwise.

1935-36 MHL Season: First Half

The 1935-36 season may end up being the one with the most parity the league has seen. Every team in the league from top to bottom is separated by only 9 points at the halfway mark, and everyone is still easily in the playoff race. As well, after a shocking offseason trade, we saw another big trade that only added to the drama.

Atop the Western Division and currently the #1 seed are the Toronto Lakers. Their play at home has been the biggest reason for their position, as they’ve gone a crazy 11-1-3 at the Toronto Garden. On the other hand, their road play has left a lot to desire, being the worst of any team in a playoff position. For individual players, Ajax Sorensen has been one of the best players in the league, being tied for the point lead with New York’s Jack Lilly. Quebec pickup Matthew Young has been great for them as well. Toronto sits at 17-12-3.

Second in the West at 0.500 are the Detroit Guardians. Based on their expectations it’s a little disappointing they aren’t above even, but they’re still playing a whole lot better than their extremely disappointing 1934-35 season. Their offseason moves have all been good, with the exception of struggling centre Will Breton. There is some concern the Detroit may regress, as their goal differential is negative. It’s ultimately up to them to decide their fate and try to make the playoffs for the first time. The Guardians sit at 14-14-6.

In Third and the final playoff spot are the Chicago Wildcats, but they’re only third because of fewer games played. They’ve played like the #2 in the West, but their defense and goaltending have cost them multiple games. Starting goalie Claude Kepkay has a woeful 0.854 save percentage, and the team’s 92 goals allowed are 2nd-worst in the entire league. On the bright side, 21-year-old Patrick Quinn is breaking out and starting to become an offensive star. He’s 2nd in the league in goals and 4th in points. Chicago sits at 14-13-4.

In fourth are the Philadelphia Minutemen, who shocked the entire league by starting off 6-1-2. It was looking like they wouldn’t only make the playoffs, but have home-ice advantage. However, they’ve cooled down after that start, and are just outside the playoffs at the moment. There’s definitive improvement throughout the roster, with goalie Richard Parent being an upgrade over Lawrence Turner, and rookie Jack Alexander being the consensus top rookie of the year so far. Philly absolutely can make the playoffs this year. They sit at 14-14-4.

In fifth and at the bottom of the West are the Washington Bats. They’ve been the opposite of Philly, with an awful start and better run after. Unfortunately, for them a “better” run is playing around 0.500, so they’re still 4 games below even. Their defense has allowed 97 goals, worst in the league. Having their defense fixed should see them battle for a playoff spot with the rest of the division. There’s still time for them to make a run, but it needs to be soon. Washington sita t 12-16-6, 2nd-worst in the league on points%.

In the East, an unexpected team leads the way halfway through. The Brooklyn Kings have been light-years better than their league-worst 1934-35 campaign, and already have more wins than they did for the entirety of last year. Players like offensive defenseman John Laurence and quickly-rising forward Martin Ferre have them looking like a legitimate contender. That’s not even mentioning defenseman George Patchian, who is currently having the best all-around defensive season in the league. The Kings sit at 15-11-5, one of the best turnarounds the league has seen.

In second are the New York Blue Birds, who are enjoying some great individual talent. London pickup Jack Lilly is looking like a Hackatt Trophy front-runner, being first in the league in both goals and points. another free agent signing in James Whaley is also leading the league in assists, so the team is on pace for a triple crown of sorts. The depth needs some work, but the Blue Birds are on track to make the playoffs for the first time since 1927. New York sits at 14-13-4 at the halfway point.

Sitting third are the Boston Harpers. They’ve actually been a little unlucky results-wise, as their defense has been best in the league, and they have the 2nd-best goal differential, behind Brooklyn. Bernard Simard has been an amazing pickup for Boston, and he’s on pace for his best all-around season. Jack Roy is also enjoying a great year offensively, being top 5 in goals and points. Boston hasn’t made the playoffs since being runner-up in 1932-33, but they’re on track to challenge for the Abbott Cup once again. They sit at 14-13-4.

In fourth are the Nassau Scouts, who were best in the league one season ago. They had a bit of controversy with the William Smith trade in the offseason, and it took another turn early in the year. Smith was doing decent, with 28 points in 27 games. However, with the team outside of the playoffs, owner Henry Peters publicly blamed the team’s struggles all on Smith, who in return refused to play until the statement was walked back or he was traded. The next day, Smith was traded back to the Greys in exchange for James Urban and Richard Nichols, two solid pieces. It’s still fresh since that whole saga, so we will see how it plays out for the rest of the year. Nassau sits at 13-14-5, on the outside looking in.

In 5th are the Montreal Greys, who were the last unbeaten team, but have struggled mightily since then. Their return for the first William Smith trade have been decent, but not as good as expected. As well, it appears as though Alan Clercius used up the remained of his good play for their Abbott Cup last year, as he’s struggling mightly at the age of 36. When the news of Smith refusing to play for Nassau reached them, it felt like a perfect scenario to welcome him back, even if it meant parting with two other solid pieces. The Greys will look to rebound in the second half with Smith back in tow, as they sit at 9-13-11.

At the bottom of the East are the Montreal Barons. It’s been inexplicable how a team that has consistently been one of the best in the league just suddenly plays like they have this year. Their goaltending and defense haven’t been the issue, it’s been the offense that has seemingly dried up. In a move to address this, management fired Abbott Cup-winning coach Orville St. James and replaced him with recently-retired Thaddeus Morgan. We will see how this move pays off in the second half. The Barons sit at 11-14-6.



Season Leaders (so far)

Come on, New York! I'd love to see the Blue Birds back on top!

Glad to see the Bluebirds back in the playoffs! Even if they have a .500 record, but one can hope.

Also, what happened to Hank Strafford? Who owns the Detroit Guardians now? Do you have a list of all the owners in the MHL by chance?

1936 MHL Playoffs: First Round

(W2) Philadelphia Minutemen (30-25-9) vs (W3) Toronto Lakers (26-23-15)

It was the first ever playoff game for the Minutemen, and it was at home, something few expansion MHL teams could say. In their way were the Toronto Lakers, who had never lost in the opening round of a 6-team playoff. It wasn’t going to be easy, but it was possible.

The first period started well for Philly, as a defensive zone turnover led to Neil James outwaiting Trevor Walker and slotting a puck home less than 5 minutes in. However, just 50 seconds later, Toronto also took advantage of a turnover, and John Mitchell put home his own rebound. Before the halfway point, Philly took the lead again, with Alfred Basil scoring on a rebound created by Clarence Leonard. The shots were all in Philly’s favour, but the Lakers would capitalize on their few chances. Benoit Cyr would score on a shorthanded breakaway, his second point of the period. Then, in the literal dying seconds of the opening frame, Patrick Stone collected a loose puck and beat Richard Parent, who had conceded all of the three shots he faced. Toronto led 3-2 after 1.

The second period saw Toronto with all the momentum. They went from being heavily outshot to not only tying, but overtaking Philly in shots over the course of the second. However, Parent played much better, as he seemed to recollect himself during the first intermission. He turned away all the Laker shots he faced in the second frame, and Philly wasn’t able to do much on their end. Toronto continued leading after 40, with the same 3-2 scoreline.

Toronto started the third period with a power play goal from Matthew Daubney, giving them some insurance. Philly overall played much better, but Trevor Walker was doing his best to turn them away. Philly had a netfront scramble partway through, but he stood tall and turned it away. On the other end, Parent stopped a breakaway, giving them a chance. James would score his second of the game with 3 minutes to go, and there was hope. They tried, but got nothing. Then, in the dying seconds, Claude Brown would score on a netfront scramble, giving Toronto the dagger.

It wasn’t a bad effort for Philly’s first time in the postseason, but ultimately, they would fall 5-3. The Minutemen had a ton to build off of, and have a bright future.

(E2) Montreal Greys (24-24-16) vs (E3) New York Blue Birds (26-26-12)

In the East, it was the reigning champs up against a team that hadn’t played in the postseason since winning the Abbott Cup 9 years ago. it was the first time two 0.500 teams faced off in the playoffs, with the winner going on to face upstart Brooklyn in the semifinals.

Victoria Square Stadium was pumping as the game started, and the home Greys felt the energy. Anthony Wilson, who played a key part in their run in 1935, scored of a loose puck in front to give Montreal the early lead. Soon after, New York thought they had scored a goal bar-down, but the referee was adamant that the puck never crossed the line, and thus no goal was given. New York would get on the board later in the frame, off a nice shot from Thomas Wilson. Soon after, Bouse Rogers got a piece of a point shot, giving the Birds a 2-1 lead. This lead held to the end of the period.

In the second, The Greys had good looks early, but 36-year-old ageless wonder Moses Addison make multiple key saves to keep his team in front. The pressure would eventually get through though, and Kenneth Lalonde potted home a loose puck in front of Addison to tie the game back up. New York had few chances, but good chances nonetheless. However, the other ageless wonder at the other end, Alan Clercius, did well to fight those off. Montreal was outshooting New York 19-12 through 40 minutes, and it was tied 2-2.

The third had some more good looks, mainly for the hosts. William Smith had a shot of his pop up and over the net, and a few minutes later, Montreal’s Harold Henderson had a breakaway turned away by Addison. The Greys advocated for a penalty shot, but none was given. The two goalies ended spotless during the final period, which meant that for the first time this postseason, overtime was needed.

It took less than a minute for the game to be decided in an extra frame. Montreal, on a transition play into the zone, gave the puck to William Smith, who proceeded to deke around a helpless defender in front before beating Addison on the backhand. The home fans erupted for what was another amazing play by the reigning MVP, who was becoming a household name across all sports.

It was a bitter loss for the Blue Birds, who ended up being outshot 29-17. However, making the playoffs is a positive for them, and they will look to be right back in the mix for 1936-37.



Semifinals

(W1) Chicago Wildcats (30-25-9) vs (W3) Toronto Lakers (26-23-15)

Surprise surprise, it’s another playoff matchup between these two. Their meeting last year wasn’t friendly, and it wasn’t gonna be friendly this year either. This is their seventh meeting in the postseason and 4th consecutive year where they have faced off. No other matchup has happened more than three times. In other words, these teams have seen a lot of each other, and don’t like each other one bit.

Game 1 was held at Chicago’s Adrianson Arena, and liked expected, the visitors were welcomed to an absolute symphony of boos. On the other end, they were cheering on their Wildcats like it was their last game. The stage was set.

The game started quickly. Just 47 seconds in, Trevor Alrick stole a puck, moved in alone, deked Walker, and beat him high. The home crowd got a treat, and they were electric. It didn’t last too long, as less than two minutes later, Benoit Cyr quieted the crowd with a goal scored as he was falling down in front. Chicago would find another lead with 8 minutes to go, with Christophe Jacques receiving a nice feed and beating Walker in alone. Despite all these goals, there were a total of 6 shots in the opening period. The goalies weren’t off to a great start, as Chicago held the 2-1 lead through 20.

The second period also started off quickly, with Dan Vanderbeken potting home a beautiful pass from Patrick Quinn, making it 3-1. 32 seconds later, Walker would give up a massive rebound to a wide open Alexander Klassen, and he made no mistake. All of a sudden, the Wildcats were up 4-1, and the Adrianson Arena crowd was loving every second. Toronto would come back with a couple of chances, but none tested Claude Kepkay too much. The period ended with a Chicago powerplay goal, off a forced turnover by Toronto. It was now 5-1, and looking like a blowout.

In the third, Chicago continued to be the better team, and weren’t letting their foot off the gas. 10 minutes in, Quinn scored his 2nd goal and 3rd point of the game, with an absolutely beautiful shot into the top right corner. The game was basically over, but Toronto would get a chance to get something back with a powerplay. On the man advantage, Matthew Daubney beat Kepkay to make it 6-2, but that was really all the Lakers mustered. In the end, the Wildcats took game 1 6-2, and were looking soundly in control.

Game 2 was back in Toronto, and although they got dominated in game 1, the home fans were still very lively. The Toronto Garden had never been an easy place for visitors to play, and the crowd was hoping that would remain true.

Just like in Game 1, the first period started off hot. However, this time it was Toronto who opened the scoring. A super quick release from Gordon Dubé cleanly beat Kepkay, and the home fans were bringing the energy. Chicago would have the better hand shots-wise for the remainder of the period, though couldn’t do anything with it. It was a quiet period aside from the quick goal, and the Lakers had their first lead after a period in the series.

The theme of this series appeared to be fast goals, because there was yet another goal in the opening two minutes in the second period. On an odd-man rush with Quinn, Bill Athans made no mistake off the feed, beating Walker cleanly and tying the game. Less than three minutes after, Toronto would respond, with Matthew Daubney’s 3rd of the postseason coming from a tight angle. The building was back to being electric, but Chicago would tie it before the frame ended. Dan Vanderbeken took a hard shot on the power play, and the puck sat behind Addison unknowingly for a few seconds. Quinn was the first to see it, and he shoveled it in. It was a lot closer than game 1, Tied at 2 through 40.


The third period had few shots, but they were all grade-A chances. The two goalies both made saves, even though the netfront was a chaotic minefield at times. It felt like a miracle a goal wasn’t scored with how close the two teams came at times. This game came down to a goal in the final minutes, and it was Patrick Quinn’s 4th of the postseason that did it. Michel Bergeron passed him the puck in front, and he jammed away at the pads of Walker, until the puck went in. He and the Wildcats celebrated, as they closed out the remaining time to sweep their archrivals and make the Abbott Cup for the third time in four years.

The Toronto Garden crowd went home upset, as their team, despite making the semifinals in each of the past four seasons, had zero Abbott Cup appearance to show for it. 

(E1) Brooklyn Kings (29-24-11) vs (E2) Montreal Greys (24-24-12)

It was the battle of the greyscale teams in the Eastern semifinal. Brooklyn was looking to go from bottom of the league to top in one year, while the Greys were looking to go back-to-back champs for the second time. It was an intriguing matchup.

Game 1 was at the Brooklyn Auditorium, which had not hosted a postseason game since 1931. The home crowd was buzzing to see their team back in the postseason, as the Eastern #1. It would take a while for the game to get going, but when it did, it was constant action. Matthew Tabor would score on a breakaway with around 8 minutes to play, and 2 minutes later, he would score again, this time on the power play. Brooklyn wasn’t finished, as they’d score again in the final minutes, with a point shot deflecting off of Michael Sutherland and past Alan Clercius. Brooklyn was up big after 1.

The second period had more shots than the first, but goals were hard to come by. Randall Thomas continued to be picture-perfect on everything going his way, while Alan Clercius rebounded after his poor opening period and helped kill multiple Brooklyn power plays. In the end, the two teams ended the second the same way they started, with a 3-0 Brooklyn score.

The third period wasn’t as frantic as the second, but still neither team could get a goal. It felt like Montreal thought they couldn’t beat Thomas, as none of their shots lacked any urgency. However, they would get a power play in the final minutes, and on the man advantage, Anthony Wilson finally got the Greys’ breakthrough. It wouldn’t matter much though, as they took a penalty soon after, putting the Kings on the power play. They iced the clock, and would score with 3 seconds to play, a meaningless goal to add salt in the wound. The Kings took game 1, 4-1.

Game 2 was in Montreal, where the Greys looked to keep their winning ways going. However, they got off to a tough start, giving up a power play goal early on, scored by Martin Ferre. It was almost 2-0 at the halfway point off an awful giveaway, but Clercius bailed out his defense with the save. Henry McDonald would tie it up late off a rocket of a shot, but Brooklyn’s Walter Tieide would take the lead back 90 seconds later on a breakaway. The Kings were outshot in the opening period, but were in control on the scoreboard.

In the second, Michael Sutherland would absolutely fire a puck past Clercius to make it 3-1 for the Kings. It was Montreal’s turn to fire right back though, as George Powell made a nice cut to the inside before firing a rare goal past Thomas. The home crowd had hope again, but unfortunately for them, Brooklyn would restore their lead to two before the end of the period, courtesy of Lloyd Gerrard. Clercius got caught out of position as Gerrard had more net than usual to place the puck. After 2, it was 4-2 for Brooklyn.

In do-or-die mode now, Montreal got to work. 28 seconds into the final frame, Anthony Wilson’s 3rd of the postseason was a well-placed shot on a screened Thomas. around 5 minutes later, they would tie the game off a great play between Rodney Tebow and Michel Pelletier. There were still 14 minutes to find a winner, and Brooklyn was furiously looking for the winner. They would pout 16 shots on Clercius in the final frame, but he would stop every single one. The crowd showed their appreciation for him once regulation ended, as he stopped several sure goals.

The two teams needed overtime in game 2, and the period was mostly Montreal. Their defense was exceptional, and their forwards would get good looks, though none were the winner. After almost 20 minutes, it appeared as though the teams needed a second extra frame. However, with just 17 seconds to go, a no-look pass from William Smith behind the net found Henry McDonald, who quickly shot the puck into Thomas’s pads. It was hard to see, but the referee managed to spot the puck fully behind the goal line, and awarded Montreal the win. The Greys and their fans rejoiced, while Brooklyn was adamant there was no goal. Their arguments amounted to nothing however, and the Greys got the 5-4 victory in game 2.

Game 3 was back at the Brooklyn Aud, and prior to puck drop, the home crowd let the referees hear it for their call in game 2’s overtime, even though it was a legitimate goal.

Brooklyn started the game on a mission, peppering Clercius with tons of shots early. Unfortunately for them, he did great at stopping them all. They had another chance to score late on a power play, but a tight-checking Montreal penalty kill would result in a shorthanded goal for the Greys, opening the score. Almost immediately after the goal, Brooklyn’s George Patchian took an undisciplined penalty, and on the ensuing power play, a defensive breakdown saw Henry McDonald score his second of the game just 2 minutes after his first. The shots were 11-5 for Brooklyn, but bad mistakes had them down by 2 after 20 minutes.

Just 3 minutes into the second period, McDonald would complete the fastest playoff hat trick in league history, by capitalizing on a pass from the point, beating Thomas near-side. 4 minutes after that, Anthony Wilson and William Smith capitalized off a turnover, with Wilson finishing the job. It was 4-0 Greys not even halfway through, and Brooklyn was stunned. They needed something to go their way. 90 seconds after the 4-0 goal, Lloyd Gerrard took a weak shot from the point that ended up beating Clercius, and it was 4-1. Needing more, Brooklyn started playing with more jump in their game. With 6 minutes to play, Matthew Tabor placed a beautiful shot past Clercius, and it was a 2-goal game. Montreal killed the remaining clock of the middle frame, and it was a game once again. 4-2 Greys after 40.

The third period was intense. Even though it was 4-2, it felt like whoever scored next would win. Montreal could ice it, or Brooklyn would have all the momentum for a tie. It was generally a free-flowing period with chances on both sides, which was a little surprising, as you’d feel the Greys would want to slow it down. Brooklyn couldn’t generate anything, but in the final minute of play, Raymond Mullins received a pass in front from Wallace Harper, and he beat Clercius five-hole. It was 4-3 with 58 seconds to play. Brooklyn needed to find a tie. Montreal tried to dump the puck out whenever they could, but with 21 seconds to play, on a rush into the zone, Michael Sutherland would beat Clercius with a shot that probably should have been saved. The Brooklyn Aud absolutely erupted. The Kings had come back from a 4-0 deficit to force overtime.

The extra frame was fast-paced, as it was do-or-die for both teams. The crowd oohed and aahed with each chance, hoping for a cherry on top. 6:20 into overtime, a bad pinch by Montreal lead to a 2-on-1 from centre. Sutherland, who scored the tying goal, surprisingly elected to shoot from just inside the blue line, and amazingly, it would beat Clercius, and send the home fans into a frenzy. The Kings completed the 4-goal comeback to advance to their first Abbott Cup Final in 5 years. 

While Brooklyn celebrated, Montreal let out some frustrations, not toward the Kings, but toward themselves. In particular, Montreal’s Alan Clercius was inconsolable, feeling he let his team down with the last couple of goals. He’s a legend of the game, but if this is the last of his career, it’s a cruel way to go out.



Abbott Cup Final Preview:

(W1) Chicago Wildcats vs (E1) Brooklyn Kings
Previous Meeting: 1924 First Round
Result: Brooklyn 2-0 Chicago
Series Record: Brooklyn 1-0 Chicago

For the first time since 1927, the Abbott Cup will be contested between two teams that have already won the special trophy. Brooklyn’s triumph came in 1928, while Chicago lifted it 3 years ago, in 1933. These teams have only met once in the playoffs before, 12 years ago in the first round. Brooklyn swept the Wildcats in that instance.

Chicago went 4-2-1 in the season series, including winning the last 3 by a combined 11 goals. It was a weird distribution of scores, as only 2 of the 7 matchups had a margin of a goal or less. It seems that whoever wins, will win big. From a stats standpoint, it’s the two best offenses in the league, and Brooklyn’s defense is noticeably better than Chicago’s. It’s an incredibly even matchup on paper, though the individual game scores seem to differ. This won’t be an easy one to predict, but I’ll do it anyway.

My Pick: Chicago proves too much for the Kings to handle, as they win in 6 games.