1904–05 Ottawa Hockey Club season

Frank McGee scored five goals against the Montagnards on February 4.

The first interest in a challenge from Dawson City was indicated in a letter from Weldy Young to the Ottawa Citizen, in 1900. The Stanley Cup trustees received a letter from G. T. Kirkson and C. Shannon of Dawson on June 7, 1901, challenging the then-champion Winnipeg Victorias. After P. D. Ross wrote back to Dawson, nothing further was heard from the Dawson club until September 9, 1904, when Ross received a challenge from Young for a Dawson City All-Star team to challenge the Silver Seven. Ross authorized the challenge in December 1904.[4]

In January 1905, the Dawson City Nuggets travelled 4,000 miles (6,400 km) from the Yukon to Ottawa for a best-of-three Cup challenge series. The Nuggets actually left Dawson City on December 19, 1904, and travelled on a month-long journey by dog sled (Dawson to Whitehorse), ship (Skagway to Vancouver), and train (Whitehorse to Skagway, and Vancouver to Ottawa). They were no match for the Silver Seven. Ottawa defeated them in the first game, 9–2. Numerous Stanley Cup records were then set in game two, including Frank McGee's 14 goals, which included eight consecutive goals scored in less than nine minutes,[5] and a 23–2 rout, the largest margin of victory for any challenge game or Stanley Cup Final game to date.

Several players playing for Dawson were from the Ottawa area. Jim Johnstone was from Ottawa. Norman Watt was from Aylmer, Quebec. Randy McLennan was from Glengarry County, Ontario[6] and had played in a Stanley Cup challenge for Queen's University of Kingston, Ontario. Another player had Stanley Cup challenge experience: Lorne Hanna, "formerly of the Yukon", had played for Brandon Wheat Cities in their 1904 challenge of Ottawa.[7]

Sources:

• The Globe[9]
• Fischler & Resnick[10]

Sources:

• The Globe[11]
• Fischler & Resnick[10]

After the series, Ottawa held a banquet for Dawson City at the Ottawa Amateur Athletic Association (OAAA) clubhouse. After the banquet, the Stanley Cup was drop kicked into the frozen Rideau Canal nearby. It was retrieved the next day.

In March 1905, the Rat Portage Thistles issued another challenge to the Senators. McGee did not play in the first game and the Thistles crushed Ottawa, 9–3. However, he returned to lead the Senators to 4–2 and 5–4 victories in games two and three, respectively. McGee returned in game two, with his good forearm wrapped in a cast, and only a light bandage on his broken wrist, to decoy the Thistles. Alf Smith scored three goals in game two on slow ice, which the Thistles claimed was salted to slow down the Thistles. There was hard ice in game three, and the lead exchanged hands several times. The Thistles led 2–1 at halftime and 3–2 midway through the second half. Ottawa took a 4–3 lead, before Tommy Phillips scored his third of the game to tie the score. However, McGee came through with the winning score late in the game to win it for Ottawa.[4] Nearly 11,000 attended the series, and sell-outs left spectators outside of Dey's Arena.[12]

Ottawa played game one without two of its top players: Frank McGee and Billy Gilmour. In the Montreal Gazette report, the Thistles' speed was praised, saying that "once one of the Thistle players had broken away he was hardly in any danger of being caught by an Ottawa forward." Rat Portage scored first but Ottawa scored twice to gain the lead. Si Griffis then scored three consecutive goals to put the Thistles ahead 4–2 at the half. In the second half, the Thistles continued their dominance, scoring four straight before Ottawa replied. Phillips scored his final goal to make it 9–3 for the Thistles. The game was played with two referees and the game was described as the "cleanest game played in Ottawa this season."[13]

The second game was played on heavy, wet, ice. This was considered a disadvantage to the Thistles, who were unable to play their style of game, having only skates suited to fast ice. Bolstered by the return of McGee and Gilmour, Ottawa played a game of "trickery and rough tactics" that they were known for. Griffis opened the scoring at 16 minutes of the first half. A minute later, Smith responded, tying the score. Hooper scored for Rat Portage two minutes later to put the Thistles again into the lead, but this was countered by two goals from Ottawa's Smith and Gilmour to put Ottawa ahead 3–2 at the half. In the second half, only Ottawa was able to score, as Ottawa's Smith completed his hat trick at 18:45 to cement the game for Ottawa. McGee did not score, but did his part to intimidate the Thistles with stick work, drawing four penalties. Dey's Rink was jammed, filled with 3,500 spectators, leaving approximately 1,000 outside on Gladstone Avenue.[14]

The third game was played on hard, fast ice unlike game two. McGee came to the fore in scoring, scoring a hat trick, including the game and Cup winner with two minutes to play. In the first half, Phillips of Rat Portage scored twice to put the Thistles ahead 2–1 at the half. Smith of Ottawa opened the scoring in the second, matched by Hooper eight minutes later. McGee and Westwick scored to put Ottawa ahead 4–3 but Phillips tied it at 4 with four minutes to play. McGee won the game with his third goal, converting a pass from Pulford with two and a half minutes to go. The Montreal Gazette report praised the quality of the game and Harvey Pulford in particular.[15]

Weldy Young, a former member of the Ottawa team in the 1890s, and the captain of the Dawson City team, engraved his name on the Cup with a pen knife. He had missed playing for Dawson as he was working in the federal election, although he did arrive in Ottawa during the series.[16]