Section30 wrote:

Philly looks great but I think I gotta pick Chicago as my team (for the time being) with their Minnesota ties and a classic look that stands out amongst the rest of the league.

yubay glaciers 🤝 yubay falcons
            chicago maroons

While I am working on finishing the write up and graphics for the first season, I'd like to introduce the Scouting Portal for the community. Please feel free to submit prospects. These early days of the league does not include a draft (that happened 1963 IRL) but teams will begin to assemble minor league rosters and recruit talent. With only one team using more than one goalie, please limit your goalie submissions. I will also accept a handful of international submissions provided they are era specific and have a good storyline. Also feel free to come up with a fun character for your scout, I just may include it in the story. Have at it!

Federal Scouting Portal

(first post also updated with link)

_ILKYIK_ wrote:

Excited to see how this goes, I love this stuff. And the Federal Hockey League name makes me think of the current FPHL (let's go Hat Tricks). 

Welcome to the boards and this new series! Glad to have you aboard.

ItDoesntMatter wrote:

always glad to see you back, steel! this looks like a banger already. I love the idea of a universe where the nhl still exists but us yanks have to do our own thing. can't wait to see boston win all the jaffe cups ;​)

well I didn't quite have the name or the purpose of the trophy correct but otherwise this prediction is looking spot on so far. go hibs! 🪉

1933-34 Playoffs

Semi-Finals (best-of-five)

1 Boston Hibernians vs 4 Chicago Maroons
The series didn't start out well for the Maroons with a 9-1 pummeling by the Hibs at the Garden in Boston compounded by some late-game heroics by Frost to steal Game 2 and grab a 2-0 series lead. Back in Chicago, the Maroons handily won Game 3 by a score of 5-1 to stay in the series. Game 4 looked promising but the Hibs shut down the Maroons in the third period to win 5-3 and advance to the inaugural Quinlan Cup.

2 New York Lions vs 3 Philadelphia Stars
The Stars scored the first two goals of the series but things went steadily downhill from there as the Lions jumped all over Philadelphia's struggling goalie tandem with 22 goals over three games for a solid sweep. Russ Hatley's best efforts couldn't do much against the swarming attack of Michael Prince & Company as New York will face Boston in the first Quinlan Cup.



1934 Quinlan Cup Championship

The inaugural matchup of the Quinlan Cup pits the two early stalwarts of the fledgling league against each other. The Boston Hibernians feature a deep lineup and excellent goaltending which catapulted them to the top of the standings in the second half of the season. They are led by center and team captain Johnie Frost, a 26-year-old Boston College graduate who took home the first Jaffe Trophy for the league's Most Valuable Player. Illustrating their depth, the Hibs had a total of eight All-Star selections along with their head coach Ned Donahue taking the top coaching prize. The Hibs have a team-first approach to defense with Mike Messer and Don Reed leading the way but their young goalie Billy Wibbenmeyer looks like an early league star. The Boston Garden has been an asset with full crowds of more than 13,000, especially in the second half. Meanwhile the New York Lions kept a steady pace all season, cruising in second place for much of it behind an excellent offense led by young center Michael Prince. Along with top wingers Eugene Dupuis and Frank Stratta, the New York power play has been especially good. Depth isn't quite as deep for the Lions but they have some speed and toughness on the wings. Team captain Hank Priest is a premier defenseman, especially with handling the puck, but blue line depth is a concern. Merlin Melancon proved himself to be more than capable in the net, despite having no collegiate experience, and earned All-Federal honors. The Lions feature the best arena in the league with Madison Square Garden which figures to be a packed, raucous house, having seen excellent attendance all season long.

1 Boston Hibernians vs 2 New York Lions

Game 1: NY 2 at BOS 11 – Disaster struck the Lions early in the first period as a diving save attempt by Merlin Melancon on a Johnie Frost shot sent the goaltender to the locker room with a groin injury. The Hibs wasted no time in peppering backup Jerry Espinosa with three quick goals in the first. The Lions struck back with a couple of goals but the eager Hibs pummeled Espinosa to the tune of 11 total goals as the Lions defense had no answers either.

Game 2: NY 2 at BOS 3 – After the helter-skelter feel of the first game, Game 2 was a different affair with a slow grinding pace as New York head coach Tony Burnette changed strategy to check the Hibs in the neutral zone to limit breakout chances against Espinosa. The frustrated boys in green did finally manage to break a 2-2 tie midway through the third period to protect home ice while the Lions looked to regroup and hope Melancon could return at home.

Game 3: BOS 7 at NY 5 – Melancon was not ready for Game 3 but the Lions still started strong, with a pair of early breakout goals against a flat-footed Hibs defense. Down 3-1 at the first intermission, the Hibs clawed back to tie it at four apiece by the second intermission. Espinosa did his best but the Boston attack was too fierce for the Lions to keep at bay for long as they won the game 7-5 to put New York on their heels.

Game 4: BOS 1 at NY 4 – MSG was roaring to full capacity as the return of Melancon ignited the fans and the Lions with a stifling effort against the Hibs' top lines. Frost managed a late goal but it was all orange and navy as Michael Prince showed why he was named Best Forward with several dazzling moves around Wibbenmeyer's crease for some exhilarating goals to keep New York in the series.

Game 5: NY 2 at BOS 1 (OT) – Back in Beantown, the Lions rode their momentum as Boston's faithful were stunned that the game was still scoreless after two periods. The excitement of a greasy goal by Joe Woodbury to break the tie was muted after a careless Connie DeMarco tripping penalty put the vaunted New York power play unit on the ice. Eugene Dupuis punched home a quick shot in the slot to retie the game just minutes later. A taut overtime period turned on a dime as a New York penalty on Hank Priest gave Boston a great chance to win the series but a shorthanded goal from Michael Law stole the game for the Lions.

Game 6: BOS 5 at NY 1 – An opening minute goal by the Lions' Hank Priest sent the home crowd into a frenzy but the Hibs answered back later in the period with two goals in succession from Frost and Woodbury to temper the excitement. Merlin Melancon was clearly hampered in the net and the adrenaline from the first period didn't carry over into the second as Boston poured it on with three more goals. Jerry Espinosa took over in the third and played a fine period keeping the Hibs at bay but the New York offensive attack was stymied by a stout Billy Wibbenmeyer. The Boston Hibernians would hold on to the 5-1 score and win the series 4-2 to take home the Quinlan Cup and become the inaugural champions of the Federal Hockey League. For his efforts, captain Johnie Frost was awarded the first Series MVP trophy.

1934 Quinlan Cup Champions: Boston Hibernians (1)