1906–07[]
In December 1906, the New Glasgow Cubs, an amateur team from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, and champions of the 1906 Nova Scotia Hockey League, issued a challenge to the Montreal Wanderers. In a two-game total goals series, Montreal easily defeated New Glasgow in both matches, 10–3 and 7–2. This was the first series in which professional players played for the Stanley Cup, as the Wanderers and other teams in the ECAHA were starting to mix amateurs with pros in their squads.
| Date | Winning Team | Score | Losing Team | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 27, 1906 | Montreal Wanderers | 10–3 | New Glasgow Cubs | Montreal Arena |
| December 29, 1906 | Montreal Wanderers | 7–2 | New Glasgow Cubs | |
| Montreal wins total goals series 17 goals to 5 | ||||
The Kenora Thistles (formerly the Rat Portage Thistles before the city changed its name to Kenora in 1904) challenged the Montreal Wanderers for the Cup in January 1907. Aided by future Hockey Hall of Famers Tom Hooper, Tommy Phillips, and Art Ross, the Thistles came away with 4–2 and 8–6 victories for a combined score of 12–8 to win a two-game total goals series. A "ringer", Ross was a member of the Brandon Wheat Kings and was borrowed by Kenora for just the challenge games.
| Date | Winning Team | Score | Losing Team | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 17, 1907 | Kenora Thistles | 4–2 | Montreal Wanderers | Montreal Arena |
| January 21, 1907 | Kenora Thistles | 8–6 | Montreal Wanderers | |
| Kenora wins total goals series 12 goals to 8 | ||||
In March, Kenora would play and win the Manitoba Professional Hockey League (MPHL) playoffs against Brandon to successfully defend the Cup. In a best-of-three, Kenora won 2–0.
| Date | Winning Team | Score | Losing Team | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 16, 1907 | Kenora Thistles | 8–6 | Brandon Wheat City | Winnipeg Auditorium |
| March 18, 1907 | Kenora Thistles | 4–1 | Brandon Wheat City | |
| Kenora wins series 2–0 | ||||
In March, the Wanderers won the 1907 ECAHA title by finishing the season undefeated with a 10–0 record. Montreal then requested a rematch with Kenora for the Cup. However, there were disagreements between both teams. The Wanderers did not want the Thistles to use their "ringers", Harry Westwick and Alf Smith from the Ottawa Senators. Kenora responded by refusing to play, citing the fact that Montreal used "ringers" in the earlier series. Eventually, the Wanderers withdrew their protest after the Thistles agreed to play the two-game total goals series in Winnipeg; Winnipeg Arena was much larger and thus guaranteed more ticket sales for the clubs to share. In the end, Montreal overcame Westwick and Smith as they compiled a combined score of 12–8 to win the series. Most of the Wanderers' margin-of-victory came in Game 1 as they defeated the Thistles, 7–2. Kenora won Game 2, 6–5, but the one-goal victory was not enough.
| Date | Winning Team | Score | Losing Team | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 23, 1907 | Montreal Wanderers | 7–2 | Kenora Thistles | Winnipeg Arena |
| March 25, 1907 | Kenora Thistles | 6–5 | Montreal Wanderers | |
| Montreal wins total goals series 12 goals to 8 | ||||
Team Photos[]
