1909–10 Montreal Canadiens season

The 1909–10 Montreal Canadiens season was the team's inaugural season and also the first season of the National Hockey Association (NHA). The 1910 Montreal Canadiens operated as 'Les Canadiens' and were owned by Ambrose O'Brien of Renfrew, Ontario, as one of four franchises he owned in the NHA. After the season, the franchise was suspended and a NHA franchise was sold to George Kennedy. All of the players of 'Les Canadiens' went to Kennedy's organization.

1909–10 Montreal Canadiens
League7th NHA
1909–10 record2–10–0
Home record2–4–0
Road record0–6–0
Goals for59
Goals against100
Team information
General ManagerJack Laviolette
CoachJoseph Cattarinich and Jack Laviolette
CaptainNewsy Lalonde
ArenaJubilee Rink
Team leaders
GoalsNewsy Lalonde (38)
Goals against averageJoseph Cattarinich (7.7)

Founding
The first team picture

After the Canadian Hockey Association (CHA) turned down Ambrose O'Brien's Renfrew Creamery Kings application for membership on November 25, 1909, O'Brien, along with Jimmy Gardner of the (also rejected) Montreal Wanderers organized the new National Hockey Association. The Wanderers desired a competitor team based in Montreal and Gardner suggested a team of francophone players to O'Brien to play on the rivalry between francophones and anglophones in Montreal. Gardner suggested that it be named 'Les Canadiens.'[1]

The new team was founded at the new NHA's meeting on December 4, 1909. O'Brien put up $5000 security for the new franchise[2] on the "condition that it would be transferred to Montreal French sportsmen as soon as practicable."[3] Jack Laviolette was hired to organize the new team, its official name Le Club de Hockey Le Canadien.[2]

Laviolette was given free rein by the NHA owners to sign all francophone players. The others would not sign any until the Canadien team was set. His first signing was his old friend Didier "Cannonball" Pitre. Pitre was working in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, when he received a telegram from Laviolette outlining the team and to come to Montreal. At the train in North Bay, Ontario Pitre was met by an official of the CHA's Montreal Le National, who signed him on the spot for $1100, however Pitre had thought he was signing a contract with Laviolette. When Pitre arrived in Ottawa, Laviolette was there to meet him. Laviolette explained that it was the other French-Canadien team that Laviolette was managing. Pitre signed with Laviolette for a guaranteed $1700. Before the first game, legal action was initiated by the Nationals and an injunction was only lifted on the day of the first Canadien game.[4] Laviolette's other signings went much easier. Newsy Lalonde signed on December 14 and he reported the next day to complete the roster.

When the CHA folded in January 1910, the franchise was offered by O'Brien to Le National but they declined to purchase the franchise.[5] The Nationals turned down the offer, not willing to take on the contract to play in the Jubilee Rink, the cost of the player contracts of $6200 and debts of $1400.[6] Le National, an established organization of some 14 years, instead folded their team.[7]

Regular season

The team had a record of 2–10–0 to finish last in the league. The team's first game was a win against Cobalt at home 7–6 in overtime, on January 5, 1910. The result was nullified when the NHA absorbed the CHA teams and created a new schedule. Cobalt later defeated Les Canadiens at Montreal 6–4. The team's first official win took place on February 7, 1910, against the Haileybury Hockey Club. The team did not win a game away from its home rink.

Final standings
National Hockey Association
GP W L T GF GA
Montreal Wanderers1211109141
Ottawa Hockey Club129308966
Renfrew Creamery Kings128319654
Cobalt Silver Kings1248079104
Haileybury Hockey Club124807783
Montreal Shamrocks123815295
Les Canadiens12210059100

[8]

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against

Schedule and results
Month Day Visitor Score Home Score
Jan. 5Cobalt6Canadiens7 (5'35" over.)†
19Canadiens4Renfrew9
22Canadiens4Ottawa6
26Ottawa8Canadiens4
Feb. 2Canadiens3Shamrocks8
7Haileybury5Canadiens9
12Wanderers9Canadiens4
15Renfrew8Canadiens6
24Canadiens7Cobalt11
26Canadiens3Haileybury15
Mar. 5Cobalt6Canadiens4
9Canadiens6Wanderers11
11Shamrocks4Canadiens5 (12' over.)

† Games played before January 15, which were played before the CHA teams joined were not counted against the final standings.

Source: Coleman, Charles L. (1966). The Trail of the Stanley Cup, vol.1 1893–1926 inc.

Playoffs

The team did not qualify for playoffs.

Roster

Source:

  • Coleman, Charles L. (1966). The Trail of the Stanley Cup, vol.1 1893–1926 inc.
  • Mouton, Claude (1987). The Montreal Canadiens. Key Porter Books. p. 149.
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See also

Notes
  1. Jenish, p. 10
  2. Jenish, p. 11
  3. Coleman, p. 179
  4. Jenish, pp. 15–16
  5. McFarlane(1996), pg. 6
  6. Jenish, p. 19-20
  7. Coleman, p. 180
  8. Standings: Coleman, Charles (1966). Trail of the Stanley Cup, vol. 1, 1893-1926 inc. National Hockey League. p. 190.

References
  • Coleman, Charles L. (1966). The Trail of the Stanley Cup, vol.1 1893–1926 inc.
  • Jenish, D'Arcy (2008). The Montreal Canadiens: 100 Years of Glory. Toronto, Ontario: Doubleday Canada. ISBN 978-0-385-66324-3.
  • McFarlane, Brian (1996). The Habs. Toronto: Stoddart Publishing. ISBN 0-7737-2981-X.
  • O'Brien, Andy (1971). Les Canadiens: the story of the Montreal Canadiens. Toronto, New York: McGrawHill-Ryerson. ISBN 0-07-092950-5.
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