It happened in hockey: One strike and you’re out

By Brian McFarlane

In the spring of 1925, the Hamilton Tigers yes, fans, the City of Hamilton once supported a big league team enjoyed the best record of any team in the six-team NHL, which had expanded that season to include franchises in Boston and Montreal (the Maroons). As league champions, having jumped from last place to first, the Tigers drew a bye in the first round of the playoffs and sat back to await the winners of the Toronto-Montreal series.

However, all was not happy in the Hamilton camp. The dissension, as you might expect, was over money. Red Green, a star player, noted that he and his mates had played in six more regular season games than they had bargained for because the schedule had been lengthened from 24 to 30 games. "We’d like $200 extra per player," Green told Hamilton management, "before we take part in the playoffs."

It seemed like a reasonable request. After all, Green and some of the other Tigers had signed two-year contracts in 1924 when Hamilton played a 24-game schedule. They were certainly owed something. But management didn’t see it that way and Green’s request for extra pay was turned down.

When management said no, Green and his mates were furious and a team meeting was called during which the entire team voted to go on strike. They vowed there would be no playoff games involving Hamilton if their demands weren’t met. NHL President Frank Calder sided with the Hamilton management. He angrily claimed the players’ demands were "outrageous" and promptly slapped a suspension on the rebellious Tigers. "You can all go home," he told them. "Ottawa will replace you in the Stanley Cup playoffs." The Ottawa club was ordered to sit back and await the results of the Toronto-Montreal series. That decision infuriated Montreal and Toronto as well as members of the media. "Why should Ottawa get a bye," everyone whined. "The Senators finished in fourth place."

Calder had second thoughts and decided that Ottawa would not take part in the playoffs after all. "The winner of the Toronto-Montreal series will compete against the West for the Stanley Cup," he announced.

The player strike marked the end of big league hockey in Hamilton. Following the 1924-25 season, the franchise was sold to New York interests for $75,000. They became the New York Americans. In the off season, the striking players, even though they were never told they were reinstated, were ordered to Broadway to join their new club. But there was a proviso. Before donning skates for the new campaign, the Hamilton "strikers" were ordered to apologize to the league for their mercenary attitude. Frank Calder did everything but turn the players over his knee and administer a spanking.

Still, the Tigers took some satisfaction from their record of 19 wins in their final season. Prior to that, they had two seasons of three wins, then seasons of 6, 7 and 9 victories—never quite enough W’s to get them out of the NHL basement.

In 1925, Hamilton’s only chance to win the Stanley Cup went by the boards because of a squabble over a few hundred dollars. That spring, the Victoria Cougars, coached by Lester Patrick and playing at home, defeated Montreal for the Cup.

For over a decade, Hamilton has been willing to shell out millions for another opportunity at big league play. That day may never come. If not, Hamilton fans can savor the memory of the 1987 Canada Cup, and the Gretzky to Lemieux goal that won it. Many call Lemieux’s goal with 1:24 to play in the third period of a 6-5 win the greatest goal ever scored on Canadian soil.

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