At the first annual meeting of the newly born Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, held in Winnipeg in December of 1915, the challenge system of determining the Allan Cup winner was discarded in favour of a playoff system of East versus West Champions. One of the last Manitoban teams to capture the Allan Cup under the old challenge system was the 1914-15 Winnipeg Monarchs. Dick Irvin (inducted in 1983) and Fred “Steamer" Maxwell (inducted in 1998) would become Hall of Famers.
After winning the league championship in 1914, the Monarchs defeated Kenora on March 11th, 6-2, but lost out to the Regina Victorias on March 13th, 5-4. The Monarchs won the Pattison Trophy (Winnipeg League) again the next year, and defeated both Fort William and Edmonton. The Melville Millionaires won the Saskatchewan championship and the right to defend the Allan Cup. They defeated the Toronto Victorias in a 2 game series. On March 10th, the Monarchs defeated Melville 4-2 to claim the title. As would be the case for the generation affected by World War II, service teams supplied most of the senior hockey of the day. The Monarchs’ team photo shows both Walter Robertson and Frank Cadham in their military uniforms.
ROSTER: Top Row L-R: Carl Stewart-Treas., R.A.C. Manning-Exec., F.P.H. Marples-Pres., F.B. Ferguson-Sec’y. Middle Row L-R: Tommy Murray-Goal, Reg Hay-Right Wing, Fred Maxwell-Rover, Alex Irvin-Captain & Point, Dick Irvin-Centre, Stan Marples-Left Wing, Clem Loughlin-Cover Point. Bottom Row L-R: Del Irvine-Cover Point, Walter Robertson-Trainer, Frank Cadham-Rover, and Harry Stewart-Goal.
