1900 - THE MINTO CUP
After several years of teams coming and going the N.L.U. regained
stability to start the new century. Quebec City and Sherbrooke were
gone, however Montreal A.A.A. returned. The six team league would
remain unchanged for the next four years.
With the base firmly set, Shamrocks entered the new century poised to
become the greatest dynasty in the sport's history. With talented
youths like Jack Brennan, Harry Hoobin, John Currie and Ed Robinson
their immediate future was well secured. Yet something went terribly
wrong in 1900. They entered the season missing three key players as
Bery Henry and Albert Dade defected to other teams(Orangeville and
Nationals) while veteran John Tucker retired. With those losses and a
0-2 start, Shamrocks season never got off the ground. They did tie for
second place but with a 5-5 record.
Toronto also split their ten games. The arrival of Charles Querrie
from Markham kept them respectable. Querrie scored 7 goals while
leading the league in assists and points. His first of two scoring
championships, putting him in a select group along with Tom Paton, Alex
Black, Joe O'Meara and Bob Wall. Jack Brennan would soon join them.
They would all be topped first by Jim Hogan with three title, then
Newsy Lalonde with four.
Towards the bottom of the league was Cornwall(4-6) Nationals(4-6) and
M.A.A.A.(3-7). Angus 'Bones' Allen led Colts offence with 8 goals.
Edouard 'Happy' L'Heureux became the frenchmen's new netminder. He
improved on his 1-8 record with Sherbrooke by going 4-4. A modest
start for someone who would become the winningest goaltender in field
lacrosse history. The Winged Wheels enjoyed early successes over
Cornwall, 3-2, and Shamrocks, 5-4. Their best result was a 5-1 triumph
over the defending champs. Unfortunately the Triple A's lost their
last five contests.
The first notable event of the summer was New Westminster's tour of the
east. Their best performance was against Capitals. Captain Archie
McNaughton's side landed in Ottawa on Labour Day Saturday and humbled
their hosts 4-1.
Most notable of all was the Minto Cup. Lord Minto's trophy would be
symbolic of canadian lacrosse supremacy. In 1900 there was only one
big league, the N.L.U.. Thus the Cup would go to that league's
champion. Ottawa Capitals would be first to claim it.
This was Ottawa's year. They regained the pennant by an enormous four
game margin. With a third match 3-2 loss to Cornwall their start was
ordinary. In July they quietly grabbed top spot, then pulled away from
the pack. August was no different. A 9-3 win over Colts, on the
strength of Harry Westwick's trio, preceded a 4-0 shutout of Shamrocks.
Toronto was next to fall, 3-1, as Pat Murphy scored a pair. A week
later Nationals lost and the championship was settled. The loss to New
Westminster did not look good, however it was an exhibition match.
There would be more at stake when Ottawa met the C.L.A. Senior champs
later in September.
The C.L.A. Senior circuit was in a sad state. Orangeville Dufferins
and Toronto Tecumsehs were the only clubs in the league. Orangeville
proved their ability by taking four out of five league games from the
indians. They also played Montreal Shamrocks to a 7-7 draw in July.
The two game final in August decided the Senior crown. Dufferins won
twice with ease, 5-0 and 3-0. Billy Irvine scored a pair in the opener
and all three in the rematch.
A trip to Ottawa to challenge for the Minto Cup would not be such a
picnic. 7-3 for the Cupholders. Ed Murphy scored five as Ottawa
easily outclassed Orangeville.
