United States Amateur Hockey Association

USAHA president William S. Haddock.

The United States Amateur Hockey Association (USAHA) was founded on October 25, 1920 in Philadelphia. The International Skating Union of America which had governed ice hockey until then, resolved to turn over control of the sport with the approval of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). The USAHA also inherited the existing affiliation agreement with the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA), which allowed teams from the USAHA to play against teams in either the AAU or the CAHA.[1]

William Samuel Haddock from Pittsburgh was elected the first president of the USAHA. The original eight teams in the USAHA included the Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets, and teams from Boston, Cleveland, New York City, Philadelphia, and three from Minnesota including Duluth, Eveleth, and Saint Paul. Later additions were the Boston Athletic Association, the Fort Pitt Hornets, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and three transfers from the American Amateur Hockey Association which included teams from Calumet, Houghton and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.[1]

The USAHA divided its team into three divisions for the first two seasons, with teams grouped in the east, the mid-west and northwest. From 1922 onward, the association was grouped into eastern and western divisions.[1] Persistent disagreements between the USAHA and the CAHA led Silver Quilty to cancel the agreement in 1925.[2] The USAHA disbanded partway through the 1924–25 season. The Pittsburgh Yellow Jackets joined the National Hockey League, and the western teams were reorganized as the Central Hockey League in 1925, which later became the American Hockey Association in 1926.[1]

The association had faced difficulties with consistent refereeing, and the lack of suitable ice for the whole season since most teams played on natural outdoor ice surfaces instead of arenas. The Minneapolis Arena, and the Duquesne Gardens in Pittsburgh were the largest rinks at the time. The association also struggled with attendance figures due to the varying arena capacities.[1]

Boston Athletic Association team in 1920–21.

Boston Pere Marquette team in 1921–22. Top row left to right: E. Anderson, Jim Healy, Frank Storey, Billy Roach, Alec Campbell, Bernie Healy, J. Collins (trainer), Spike Doran. Bottom row left to right: Johnny Murphy, Frank Synott, Arthur Donahue, Farrell Conley, Eddie Enright.

• Boston A.A. (1920–1925)
• Boston Hockey Club (1922–1925)
• Boston Maples (1923–1925)
• Boston Pere Marquette Knights of Columbus (1921–22)
• Boston Shoe Trades (1920–21)
• Boston Victorias (1922–23)
• Boston Westminsters (1921–22)
  • New Haven Westminsters (1922–1924)
• Calumet H/C (1920–1922)
• Canadian Soo Greyhounds (1920–1922)
• Cleveland Hockey Club (a.k.a. "Indians" or "Blues") (1920–1925)
• Duluth Hornets (1920–1925)
• Eveleth Rangers (1920–1924)
  • Eveleth Arrowheads (1924–25)
• Fort Pitt Hornets (1924–25)
• Michigan Soo Wildcats (1920–1922)
• Milwaukee AC (1922–23)
• Minneapolis Millers (1923–24)
  • Minneapolis Rockets (1924–25)
• New York Canadian Club (1922–23)
• New York St. Nicholas (1920–1923)
• Philadelphia Quaker City (1920–1922)
• Pittsburgh Yellowjackets (1921–1925)
• Portage Lakes H/C (1920–1922)
• St. Paul Athletic Club/Saints (1920–1925)

USAHA players were predominantly Canadians, with the St. Paul and Duluth teams being the exceptions. Rosters were typically small and ranged from nine to twelve players, and teams did not usually have an alternate goaltender.[1]

Notable players from the USAHA include:[1]

• 
  Raymie Skilton with the Boston Shoe Trades (1920–21)
• 
  Jim Cree with the Cleveland Hockey Club (1920–21)
• 
  Herb Rhéaume with the Boston Westminsters (1921–22)
• 
  Nels Stewart with the Cleveland Hockey Club (1922–23)
• 
  Shorty & Wilfred Veno with the Boston Westminsters (1921–22)

United States Amateur Hockey Association regular season and playoff champions.[1]

• United States Amateur Hockey Association and statistics