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CBC
6 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Labour advocates demand NHL apologize for relocating Hamilton Tigers when they went on strike in 1925
Social Sharing Local labour advocates are asking the National Hockey League (NHL) to right what they call a historic wrong when the league punished the city's NHL team for going on strike in 1925. "This is an injustice no one has taken accountability for 100 years," said Anthony Marco, president of the Hamilton and District Labour Council on Wednesday, as he helped launch a campaign that calls on the NHL to apologize for moving the Hamilton Tigers to New York City as a result of the strike. The Tigers were expected to play six additional games for no additional pay, and refused, demanding an extra $200 in addition to their $3,000 contract. The five-year-old NHL team was in first place in the league that year and a strong contender for the Stanley Cup, which was then a contest between the NHL winner and that of the Western Canadian Hockey League. The league responded by moving the team to New York City and making the players write formal apology letters to then-president Frank Calder and pay a $200 fine if they wanted to play in the NHL again. The campaign launched Wednesday, titled 100 Year Misconduct, includes an online petition asking the NHL to say sorry. Organizers are hoping to get signatures from residents of Hamilton and beyond, hockey fans and professional athletes whose current rights and contracts came after early labour fights such as the stance taken by the Tigers, said Marco. "Labour stands on the back of people who fought," he said. "If you're a hockey fan, this should matter to you." 'I'd do the same tomorrow,' said striking player decades later The team's move had emotional and financial impacts on the city of Hamilton that reverberated for many years, says Myer Siemiatycki, a Toronto Metropolitan University politics professor who has researched the Tigers' strike. He said the campaign "calls the NHL to account on the travesty they committed to a terrific hockey team and against the city of Hamilton." CBC Hamilton sought comment from the NHL but did not hear back on Wednesday. According to Siemiatycki, Hamilton Tigers captain Shorty Green said at the time that if league owners were going to profit from the extra games, so should the players. Siemiatycki quoted Green on Wednesday: "Professional hockey is a money-making affair. The promoters are in the game for what they can make out of it, and the players wouldn't be in the game if they didn't look at matters in the same light. Why, then, should we be asked to play two more playoff games for the sake of sweetening the league's finances?" Green said on the eve of the strike. "That's a common refrain that runs through labour history," Siemiatycki noted. "Workers having to do more work, with the profits and revenues coming to ownership." Green went on to play with the New York Americans. He scored the first goal at Madison Square Garden and is an inductee in the Hockey Hall of Fame, alongside fellow Tiger Billy Burch. Decades after the strike, Green still felt the players did the right thing, said Siemiatycki, who has researched the event. "I never regretted my part in the strike, even though it cost me a chance in the Stanley Cup," Siemiatycki quoted Green as saying in a post-retirement interview. "All we asked was that players be given some share of revenue. I'd do the same tomorrow."
CTV News
6 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Hamilton Labour Council wants NHL to apologize for suspending players 100 years ago
The Hamilton and District Labour Council is hoping to right a century-old grievance between the city it represents and the NHL. The labour council demanded the NHL apologize on Wednesday for its treatment of players on the now-defunct Hamilton Tigers when they tried to engage in collective action during the 1924-25 season. Anthony Marco, the council's president, said that when the Tigers went on strike to get better pay, they were engaging in a struggle that resonates to this day. 'We've got labour strife happening at a provincial level, at a federal level, at an international level, and this is a good reminder of the fact that 100 years ago, some of the basic things that these players were fighting for still exist today,' said Marco. 'It's a reflection, in my mind, on how gig work is going these days, that people are being expected to work without pay, our people are being expected to work with very little pay.' The Tigers played in Hamilton from 1920 to 1925 and were atop the NHL's standings that final year. The league expanded its season by six games in 1924-25 but players' pay was not increased. Hamilton players demanded an extra $200 each or they would not lace up for the NHL's playoffs. Then-league president Frank Calder suspended the striking Tigers players and fined them $200 each. Calder then declared the Montreal Canadiens the league champions and representatives in the Stanley Cup final. Montreal lost the cup to the Western Canada Hockey League's Victoria Cougars three games to one in the best-of-five series. The Tigers were then moved to New York City and renamed the Americans. 'The team stuck by their guns, and they said 'this is what it's going to be,' and they probably didn't end with the result that they would have liked, but it certainly was an affront not to just those players, but to the city as a whole, who had for several years gotten behind that team, and for the first time ever saw them finish in first place at the end of the regular season,' Marco said. Marco believes enough time has passed for the NHL — which ratified a new collective agreement with the NHL Players' Association on July 8 — to admit that Calder's treatment of the striking players was too harsh. 'It really speaks to the fact that Hamilton, which has always been known as a union town, had the first basic attempt from the NHL players to start a collective action, it was the first players strike, and it happened at least a full generation before the NHLPA (founded in 1967) ever got into place,' said Marco. 'A hundred years is a good reminder. 'I think we're at the point now where you can say that if the NHL has any moral objection to issuing an apology for this, you can say it's been a century, I think you might be able to get past it.' Requests for comment made to the NHL, NHLPA, and the minor-league Professional Hockey Players' Association by The Canadian Press were not immediately returned. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 16, 2025. John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press
Toronto Sun
7 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Hamilton Labour Council wants NHL to apologize for suspending players 100 years ago
Published Jul 16, 2025 • 2 minute read NHL commissioner Gary Bettman speaks to the media prior to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers. Getty Images The Hamilton and District Labour Council is hoping to right a century-old grievance between the city it represents and the NHL. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The labour council demanded the NHL apologize on Wednesday for its treatment of players on the now-defunct Hamilton Tigers when they tried to engage in collective action during the 1924-25 season. Anthony Marco, the council's president, said that when the Tigers went on strike to get better pay, they were engaging in a struggle that resonates to this day. 'We've got labour strife happening at a provincial level, at a federal level, at an international level, and this is a good reminder of the fact that 100 years ago, some of the basic things that these players were fighting for still exist today,' Marco said. 'It's a reflection, in my mind, on how gig work is going these days, that people are being expected to work without pay, our people are being expected to work with very little pay.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Tigers played in Hamilton from 1920 to 1925 and were atop the NHL's standings that final year. The league expanded its season by six games in 1924-25 but players' pay was not increased. Hamilton players demanded an extra $200 each or they would not lace up for the NHL's playoffs. Then-league president Frank Calder suspended the striking Tigers players and fined them $200 each. Calder then declared the Montreal Canadiens the league champions and representatives in the Stanley Cup final. Montreal lost the cup to the Western Canada Hockey League's Victoria Cougars three games to one in the best-of-five series. The Tigers were then moved to New York City and renamed the Americans. 'The team stuck by their guns, and they said 'this is what it's going to be,' and they probably didn't end with the result that they would have liked, but it certainly was an affront not to just those players, but to the city as a whole, who had for several years gotten behind that team, and for the first time ever saw them finish in first place at the end of the regular season,' Marco said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Marco believes enough time has passed for the NHL — which ratified a new collective agreement with the NHL Players' Association on July 8 — to admit that Calder's treatment of the striking players was too harsh. 'It really speaks to the fact that Hamilton, which has always been known as a union town, had the first basic attempt from the NHL players to start a collective action, it was the first players strike, and it happened at least a full generation before the NHLPA (founded in 1967) ever got into place,' said Marco. 'A hundred years is a good reminder. 'I think we're at the point now where you can say that if the NHL has any moral objection to issuing an apology for this, you can say it's been a century, I think you might be able to get past it.' Requests for comment made to the NHL, NHLPA, and the minor-league Professional Hockey Players' Association by The Canadian Press were not immediately returned. Celebrity Crime Entertainment Toronto Maple Leafs Editorial Cartoons
National Post
7 days ago
- Politics
- National Post
Hamilton Labour Council wants NHL to apologize for suspending players 100 years ago
The Hamilton and District Labour Council is hoping to right a century-old grievance between the city it represents and the NHL. Article content The labour council demanded the NHL apologize on Wednesday for its treatment of players on the now-defunct Hamilton Tigers when they tried to engage in collective action during the 1924-25 season. Article content Article content Anthony Marco, the council's president, said that when the Tigers went on strike to get better pay, they were engaging in a struggle that resonates to this day. Article content Article content 'We've got labour strife happening at a provincial level, at a federal level, at an international level, and this is a good reminder of the fact that 100 years ago, some of the basic things that these players were fighting for still exist today,' Marco said. 'It's a reflection, in my mind, on how gig work is going these days, that people are being expected to work without pay, our people are being expected to work with very little pay.' Article content The Tigers played in Hamilton from 1920 to 1925 and were atop the NHL's standings that final year. The league expanded its season by six games in 1924-25 but players' pay was not increased. Article content Hamilton players demanded an extra $200 each or they would not lace up for the NHL's playoffs. Then-league president Frank Calder suspended the striking Tigers players and fined them $200 each. Article content Calder then declared the Montreal Canadiens the league champions and representatives in the Stanley Cup final. Montreal lost the cup to the Western Canada Hockey League's Victoria Cougars three games to one in the best-of-five series. Article content The Tigers were then moved to New York City and renamed the Americans. Article content 'The team stuck by their guns, and they said 'this is what it's going to be,' and they probably didn't end with the result that they would have liked, but it certainly was an affront not to just those players, but to the city as a whole, who had for several years gotten behind that team, and for the first time ever saw them finish in first place at the end of the regular season,' Marco said. Article content Marco believes enough time has passed for the NHL — which ratified a new collective agreement with the NHL Players' Association on July 8 — to admit that Calder's treatment of the striking players was too harsh. Article content 'It really speaks to the fact that Hamilton, which has always been known as a union town, had the first basic attempt from the NHL players to start a collective action, it was the first players strike, and it happened at least a full generation before the NHLPA (founded in 1967) ever got into place,' said Marco. 'A hundred years is a good reminder. Article content 'I think we're at the point now where you can say that if the NHL has any moral objection to issuing an apology for this, you can say it's been a century, I think you might be able to get past it.' Article content
