Episode 3
Empires on Ice
Feature Stories
Steeltown's team takes on the NHL
True to the image of their rugged town, Hamilton's hockey stars were loath to back down from a fight - even one against a powerful opponent.Hamilton landed its first (and to date only) NHL franchise in 1920, when the owners of the Quebec Bulldogs moved their team to the Steel City. After a few dreadful seasons, the Hamilton Tigers completed a stunning turnaround in 1924-25, finishing first in the league thanks largely to the sturdy play of their captain, a small but aggressive war veteran named Wilfred "Shorty" Green.
The Tigers' right-winger showed a left-wing side when he led his teammates in a protest against the NHL's playoff salary structure. Noting that the league's recent expansion had required them to play an additional six regular-season games, the Tigers argued they were entitled to a raise. Under Green's leadership, the NHL's top team said it would not participate in the playoffs unless each of its players received a $200 bonus.
In a response typical of the hard-line approach to worker activism taken by many business owners of the era, NHL president Frank Calder threatened to suspend the players and fine them $200 apiece if they didn't take to the ice. When the Tigers refused to relent, Calder took drastic action. In addition to handing down the promised fines and suspensions, he cancelled the final and awarded the league title to the Montreal Canadiens, who had defeated the Toronto St. Pats in the semifinal for the right to play Hamilton for the championship.
The episode marked the end for NHL hockey in Hamilton, as a U.S. businessman bought the team and turned it into the New York Americans. The players got a raise from "Big Bill" Dwyer, the man who brought the erstwhile Tigers to the Big Apple, and in December 1925 Shorty Green became the first player to score a goal at brand-new Madison Square Garden.
Hamilton Tigers, Hockey Hall Of Fame
