1923 MEMORIAL CUP
University of Manitoba Bisons vs. Kitchener Greenshirts
at Toronto (Arena Gardens)
The 1923 Memorial Cup would be contested between the University of Manitoba Bisons and Kitchener Greenshirts.
But before it came to that there was an incident on the Prairies that would throw fuel on the rivalry between Saskatoon and Regina.
It's a rivalry that is long and bitter, and one that encompasses all of life, from sports to politics to entertainment.
In the spring of 1923, the Regina Pats and Saskatoon juniors met in the Saskatchewan junior final. Saskatoon emerged victorious -- the teams played to a 2-2 tie on Feb. 27; Saskatoon won 2-1 on March 1.
But hold your horses -- a protest was filed.
And, on March 5, 1923, a decision was handed down.
As reported by the Regina Leader: "When the Pats' protest was discussed at the meeting of the committee, it was found that the Saskatoon team had never been properly organized. It was neither affiliated nor registered with the provincial body, and three of the players, Wilson, Phillips and Sillers, have played with the University team in the northern division of the senior league. Wilson, Saskatoon Phoenix files showed, has played five senior games this winter, and Phillips three.
"The protest was sustained by a unanimous vote, even C.H. Bolton, of Saskatoon, voting against his own club.”
Saskatoon counter-protested, claiming two Regina players, Howie Milne and Harry Naismith, were too old. But proof of age was offered and the protest was thrown out.
Needless to say, this news was not taken quietly in Saskatoon.
"Regina won't get away with its latest, that of disqualifying the Saskatoon Junior Hockey Club, which action cost the locals the Saskatchewan championship,” read an editorial in the Saskatoon Star. "Records at Division 1, of the SAHA headquarters, showed that these three players were properly registered and transferred as junior players and that only neglect on the part of Murray Thomson, of Moose Jaw, retiring secretary of the SAHA, allowed the protest committee to be misinformed and the arbitrary action taken ...
"The action of the Regina members of the protest committee in allowing the Pats' complaint to be upheld deserves severe censure.”
To which The Leader responded: "The Saskatoon Star doesn't think very much of Regina. To be more specific, the Saskatoon Star doesn't think very much.”
The decision, however, had been made and it was final. The Pats went on to meet the Calgary Canadians in a Western Canadian playoff series.
On March 7, Regina, playing at home in Exhibition Stadium, won the first game 3-1 over a Calgary team that had been in Saskatoon preparing to play there. The Canadians went virtually from the Regina train station to the Stadium for the game.
That same night, in Toronto, the University of Toronto and Kitchener played to a 3-3 tie in the first game of a home-and-home battle for the OHA's junior title. Kitchener led 3-1 until Sandy Somerville scored twice within 10 seconds during the last minute of the third period.
Kitchener would win that series at home three nights later.
The next night, in Winnipeg, the University of Manitoba, coached by Hal Moulden and captained by Murray Murdoch, qualified for the Abbott Cup final with an 8-1 victory over Brandon.
In Regina on March 9, Calgary roared back to defeat the Pats 6-2 and win the total-goal series 7-5. Calgary got a big game out of future Hockey Hall of Famer Herbie Lewis, who figured in four goals, scoring one and setting up three others.
Calgary traveled on to Winnipeg to meet the University of Manitoba.
On March 12, in the Amphitheatre, the university team won 5-4, the same night that Kitchener edged Iroquois Falls 3-2 in a one-game eastern Canadian semifinal.
According to one report from Toronto: "Near the close of the game, Dewar, Iroquois Falls defenceman, charged Maurice Schnarr and was given a match foul. Later he hit inspector Bond of the Toronto police force and was taken to the police station.”
Kitchener would later whip Montreal A.A.A. 10-4 in a sudden-death game to advance to the Memorial Cup final.
The University of Manitoba won the Abbott Cup on March 14, thanks to a 5-3 victory over Calgary. That gave the university boys a 10-7 advantage in the series.
And so it was on to Fort William to meet the Cubs, with the winners to meet Kitchener for the Memorial Cup.
The Cubs and Manitoba played to a 3-3 tie on March 18 in a physical game. "Clark Whyte, captain and star right winger of the Cubs, was laid out twice,” according to one report.
On March 19, Manitoba posted a 6-1 victory, winning the series 9-4.
The Memorial Cup opened in Toronto on March 22 with Manitoba, showing what was called "superior speed, and courage, uncanny checking and resourcefulness,” whipping Kitchener 7-3 in Game 1. The referee was Lionel Conacher.
The teams were tied 2-2 after one period, but the varsity boys banged in five straight goals in the second period to put it away.
Murdoch scored four straight second-period goals for Manitoba, with singles coming from Blake Watson, Nip Johnson and Jack Mitchell. Babe Siebert, Maurice Schnarr and W. Schnarr replied for Kitchener.
Four nights later, Manitoba wrapped up the Memorial Cup with a second consecutive 7-3 victory that gave it the round by a 14-6 aggregate. Murdoch's last goal in the first game, with 2:30 left in the second period, was the Cup-winning score.
"The westerners were superior in all departments and Siebert was the only Kitchener player to hold his opponents in check,” read one report.
Albert Charles (Babe) Siebert would go on to play in the NHL with the Montreal Maroons, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens. His life would come to an untimely end when he drowned on Aug. 25, 1939.
"In Murdoch, the University of Manitoba has one of the best players in the amateur ranks. He has ability to star in senior company next year,” stated one report.
Murdoch followed up his four-goal opening game by scoring five times and setting up another in Game 2. All told, he scored nine of Manitoba's 14 goals in the two games.
Watson and Mitchell also scored for the winners. Molson, W. Schnarr and Gross replied for Kitchener.
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