1905 - AMATEUR ERA OVER
In May, Montreal A.A.A. announced that they would pay their players,
ending the last holdout to professionalism. In both the N.L.U. and
C.L.A., Senior amateur lacrosse was no more. The immediate result for
the Winged Wheels was their first winning season since 1889. Bringing
Frank Nolan out of retirement and attracting Rod Finlayson from
Shamrocks boosted their cause. So did a young newcomer named Henry
Scott. With 5 wins and 3 losses the Triple A's placed second, two
games back of Shamrocks.
The irish still dominated. Their only defeat came in the fourth match,
a wild 12-9 loss to Ottawa. Shamrocks were without Paddy Brennan.
Capitals took advantage as Ed Murphy and Horace Gaul both scored four.
The titleholders other hiccup came a month later. Nationals held them
to a 3-3 draw. The green shirts were without Harry Hoobin but it was
the goaltending of Happy L'Heureux which saved the frenchmen from
defeat. On the positive side, both Jack Brennan and Jim Hogan scored
21 to lead Shamrocks and the league.
A disappointing year in Ottawa. They received plenty of production
from their Cornwall players: Shiner Eastwood(12 goals) and Bones
Allen(11), however their goaltending was a nightmare. No Bouse Hutton
for the second year in a row and it showed. Capitals' 69 goals for
were only two behind Shamrocks but they gave up a league high 55! Ed
MacDonald and long time defender Bowery Robertson struggled throughout
the season. Ottawa settled for a 4-4 record, ending four consecutive
winning seasons.
Nationals were losers again with only three wins but Cornwall suffered
terribly. Another one win season for Colts. They only had John
Broderick for three games, dooming their cause. The one bright spot
was rookie netminder Edouard 'Newsy' Lalonde.
Another lively summer of senior lacrosse in Ontario. Toronto returned
to the C.L.A. and picked up Bert Henry, Hugh Lambe and John Powers to
lead their challenge. It was not a successful challenge as they placed
fourth out of five.
There would be a new champion in 1905 as Brantford lacrosse had shot
its bolt. Tack Hendry remained but he was the only big name player
left. Two early losses to St.Catharines, followed by three more to
Toronto, meant a weak third place effort. 5 wins was all the
pennantholders could manage, against 9 losses.
Toronto Chippewas owned the basement. Their solo win was a 6-4 victory
over Toronto. Mickey Connor led them with a deuce. The season
concluded with a record loss of 27-0 to Athletics. That was the final
match Chippewas would ever play.
That left the Double Blues and Tecumsehs to fight for the pennant.
First blood to the Indians on June 17th. They doubled St.Catharines
6-3. Fergus' Harry Murton led the Toronto side with a pair. The next
week it was 11-2, for Athletics. Four from George Kalls and three more
from Pete Barnett settled the issue early. Tecumsehs never recovered
from that unsettling loss. On July 3rd Brantford upset them 5-2 on the
strength of Lawson Whitehead's hattrick. The killer blow fell at the
end of the month. Once again St.Catharines romped over the indians.
15-3 was the score as Kalls added five more to his totals. In the end
the Double Blues cruised home with a 12-2 record. Tecumsehs at 9-4
were second best.
Only the Minto Cup remained. On September 16th Shamrocks travelled to
the Garden City for the opening encounter. Jim Hogan scored three, as
singles were credited to Harry Hoobin and Brennan(don't know which
one). The home side answered the irish's five goals with only three of
their own. A brace from Forester and one for Barnett. The next week
in Montreal it wasn't even close. 8-1 green shirts. Three scored by
Jack Brennan, two from Paddy and Hogan, with Hoobin counting the last.
Eddie Hagan was the only Athletic to beat Shamrock goalie M.Kenney.
Montreal Shamrocks were Minto Cup champions for the fifth time in
succession. Top marks to the men who had played on all five teams:
Jack and Paddy Brennan, John Currie, Harry Hoobin, John Howard and Ed Robinson.
