Port Arthur Seniors (1924–25)
Port Arthur Seniors (1924–25) was a senior men's hockey team from Port Arthur that won the Allan Cup in 1925. The team was inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1982.[1]
Overview
Season
The 1924-25 Port Arthur Seniors began their campaign for the Allan Cup by competing against various clubs from Northwestern Ontario and Manitoba. During the regular season, the team achieved a record of 12 wins and 8 losses, which secured them a second-place finish behind the squad from Selkirk. This ranking led to a best-of-three series against Selkirk for the Northwestern Ontario title. The Seniors won the opening game at home with a 3-2 score, decided by a late goal from Wilf L’Heureux. They secured the regional championship with a subsequent 3-2 victory in Winnipeg.[1]
Continuing their postseason run in Winnipeg, the team, nicknamed the Tricolours, defeated the Manitoba intermediate champions from Foxwarren and Birtle by a score of 11-3. The margin of victory was large enough that the second scheduled game was bypassed, and the Seniors were named inter-provincial champions. They then returned to Port Arthur to face Fort Frances, winning 10-3 in a game where Danny Cox recorded four goals. In the next round against the Regina Vics, the Seniors played to a 1-1 draw in the first match before using their mobility to defeat the physically larger Regina squad 10-3 in the second game.[1]
The Western Canadian final pitted the Seniors against the Coleman Tigers. After suffering a 4-2 loss in the first game, the Port Arthur team adjusted their offensive tactics to win the second game 5-1. By winning the series on total goals, the Seniors were crowned Western Champions. They advanced to the Allan Cup final in Winnipeg to face the Eastern Champions, the University of Toronto Collegiates. In the first game on March 23, 1925, goaltender Lorne Chabot recorded a 19-save shutout to lead the Seniors to a 4-0 win.[1]
The championship was decided in the second game of the series. Despite Lorne Chabot playing with a broken hand that required his stick to be tied to his glove, the Seniors held a 1-0 lead entering the third period. The University of Toronto scored twice to take the lead, but Bill Brydge tied the game late in the frame. In the final minutes, Wilf L’Heureux assisted Gordon Wilson for the winning goal, resulting in a 3-2 victory. Upon their return to Port Arthur on March 26, 1925, the team was met by thousands of supporters as local businesses and schools closed to celebrate the city's first national Hockey title.[1]
Roster
The names below come from the Hall of Fame profile and its team photograph caption.[1]
| Name | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wilf L'Heureux | player | |
| E.C. Whalen ("Ted") | player | |
| Alex Gray | player | |
| Albert Pudas | player | |
| Bill Brydge | player | |
| Lorne Chabot | goaltender | |
| Gordon Wilson | player | |
| Bennie Ward | player | |
| Danny Cox | player | |
| Bobbie Connors | player | |
| Ed Carpenter | coach |
Honours and achievements
- 1924-25 Allan Cup Champions
- 1924-25 Western Canadian Champions
- 1924-25 Northwestern Ontario Champions
- 1924-25 Inter-provincial Champions[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Port Arthur Senior Hockey", team profile, Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, https://www.nwosportshalloffame.com/team-profile/88485e13-5b05-4cd6-aa55-2f6410a4794f (accessed 31 October 2026). Archived copy on datum.locker.