Edmonton's Stanley Cup Challenge in 1908

Team photograph of the Edmonton Hockey Club. L - R: Back: A. M. Stewart - man. com.; J. A. McKinnon (president); W. Branford - point (captain); W. Crowley - cover point; A. J. Kemp - man. com. Centre: Jack Miller - right wing; F. Whitcroft - rover (Manager), H. Deeton - centre, Bert Boulton - left Front: Shorty W. Campbell - spare; A. Parr - goalie, R. Holly - spare

Over 100 years ago a hockey club in Edmonton first challenged for the ultimate prize in hockey, Lord Stanley's cup. The Edmonton professional team played the famed Montreal Wanderers in a two game total goals series in Montreal. The series based on games won ended 1-1 but the total goals 13-10 for Montreal allowed them to retain possession of the cup.

Game 1 - December 28, 1908 - Montreal Arena 

Wanderers 7 - Edmonton HC 3

Reporters from The Globe and Mail note that it was a very chipy affair featuring tight checking and physical play and by the half way mark of the game the challengers held a slim 3-2 lead but during the second half the Wanders took complete control. It is noted that in the "...second half and they completely played out western challengers..".  They note that individually the Edmonton team featured a team on paper nearly as skilled individually as the Wanderers but the Wanderers held a distinct edge in terms of team play and chemistry, "Every man took a run practically whenever he felt like it.."

The lack of chemistry is attributed to Edmonton bringing 6 ringers in for their challenge including Tommy Phillips (Stanley Cup champion in 1907 with Kenora).

The Lineups for the game are given below Edmonton's players are in blue while the Wanderers are given in red

Goaltenders 
Bert Lindsay - Riley Hern

Point
Lester Patrick - Art Ross

Cover Point 
Didier Pitre - Walter Small

Rover
Fred Whitcroft - Harry Smith

Center
Steve Vair - Frank "Pud" Glass

Left Wing
Harold McNamara* - Jimmy Gardner

Right Wing
Tommy Phillips - Moose Johnson

*McNamara is typically considered a defenseman and was playing left wing for the Edmonton Hockey Club. 

Bolded players are confirmed ringers brought in by Edmonton for the matchup, it would appear that in game 1, Fred Whitcroft was the only regular to play for Edmonton in the regular season and in the first game. 

After the first game Phillips and McNamara suffered injuries and were replaced by other non ringer players on the Edmonton roster. 

Game 2- December, 30, 1908 - Montreal Arena 

Wanderers 6 - Edmonton HC 7

The Globe and Mail reporter notes that his second game was all Edmonton, setting a fast pace early and only relented for 10 minutes in the second half allowing the Wanderers to draw even before pulling away again. Lindsay played an excellent game save a few instances where he fell to the ice causing a few untimely goals. But ultimately he was solid in game 2. Moved to rover in this game Steve Vair had a star game and "has speed to burn". This reconfigured line up brought better team play and the Edmonton team utilized their teammates more rather than going on solo rushes.

Patrick made one of his characteristic end to end rushes through the entire Wanderer team scoring and was apparently one of the best plays seen in this arena in a long time notes the reporter. Gardner asserts that the only reason the Wanderers managed to win this series and defend the cup was due to their play the other night because Edmonton dominated this game. 

The Lineups for the game are given below Edmonton's players are in blue while the Wanderers are given in red

Goaltenders 
Bert Lindsay - Riley Hern

Point
Lester Patrick - Art Ross

Cover Point 
Didier Pitre - Walter Small

Rover
Steve Vair - Harry Smith

Center
Harold Deeton - Frank "Pud" Glass

Left Wing
Fred Whitcroft - Jimmy Gardner

Right Wing
Jack Miller - Moose Johnson 

Bolded are still the ringers for the Edmonton HC