Latest news with #FrankCalder
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
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
Vancouver Sun
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
What you need to know about the Abbotsford Canucks' Calder Cup chase
Here's your Calder Cup cheat sheet. The Abbotsford Canucks and the Charlotte Checkers square off in the AHL's version of the Stanley Cup Finals starting Friday at Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, N.C. The best-of-seven set shifts to the Abbotsford Centre on Tuesday, starting with Game 3. Here's all you need to know about the match-up between the top farm teams of the Vancouver Canucks and Florida Panthers. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Game 1 goes Friday at Bojangles (affectionately known as The BOplex) with a 4 p.m. Pacific time start. Game 2 is there Sunday (1 p.m.), before the series moves to Abbotsford for Game 3 on Tuesday (7 p.m.), Game 4 on Thursday (7 p.m.), and then, if necessary, Game 5 on Saturday (6 p.m.). If required, Games 6 and 7 would be June 23 (4 p.m.) and June 25 (4 p.m.) back in North Carolina. The Checkers' announced attendance average in the regular season was 6,964. Abbotsford was 4,152. The Canucks had an announced crowd of 6,983 for the 4-2 win over the visiting Texas Stars on Sunday that advanced Abbotsford to the final. How we're stacking up against the Checkers in the Finals ⬇️ The trophy was first handed out at the end of the AHL's inaugural season in 1936-37, and went to the Syracuse Stars after they beat the Philadelphia Ramblers in four games in a best-of-five finals. The league was eight teams back then. It's 32 now. The trophy is named after Frank Calder. He's best known as the first president of the NHL — the league's Calder Memorial Trophy for top rookie is named in his honour — but he was also instrumental in the formation of the AHL. The Hershey Bears have won 13 Calder Cups, including claiming top spot the past two seasons prior to this one. They've been to 25 finals, with the first coming in 1941. The Bears are in the midst of their second stint as a Washington Capitals' affiliate. It began in 2005-06. For those scoring at home, the Stanley Cup was first presented in 1893. Florida and Charlotte advancing to their respective league championship series marks the first time since 2008 that a single organization played it out for both trophies. That year, the Pittsburgh Penguins lost in six games to the Detroit Red Wings for the Stanley Cup and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins fell in six games to the Chicago Wolves in for the Calder Cup. Fun fact? Canucks skills coach Jason Krog led the way for those Wolves, and was voted the playoff's most valuable player. He had 12 goals and 38 points in just 24 postseason games. The Panthers and Checkers are trying to make Florida the first franchise to be double champions since 1995, when the New Jersey Devils and Albany River Rats were both successful. Another fun fact? Charlotte coach Geordie Kinnear was a defenceman on that Albany team. Calder Cup Finals Game 1 Friday 7 PM ET @CheckersHockey vs @abbycanucks Watch for FREE on Facebook, X and YouTube! DETAILS: @FlaPanthers | @Canucks #AHL #CalderCup #TimeToHunt #ProudlyAbbotsford #Canucks The Checkers feature one-time Edmonton Oilers top prospect Jesse Puljujärvi, former Canuck Will Lockwood and Vancouver Giants alum Justin Sourdif. Charlotte (44-22-3-3) finished second in the Atlantic Division and fourth in the league overall in the regular season. Abbotsford (44-24-2-2) was second in the Pacific Division and fifth in the league overall, two points behind Charlotte. Charlotte and Abbotsford never met in the regular season. Charlotte had a bye in the opening round and they have had back-to-back sweeps. With that, Charlotte has played 12 games (10-2) in these playoffs while Abbotsford is at 18 (12-6). CHECK OUT THIS SCHEDULE ⬇️ The Abbotsford Canucks will host the Charlotte Checkers at home on June 17, 19 and 21 if necessary in their battle for the Calder Cup! LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE | On Wednesday morning, Ticketmaster had a handful of seats available for Game 3. It had Game 4 as sold out, and the if-necessary Game 5 with just two single seats available. StubHub had a handful of tickets for Game 3 available, with $123 per ticket as the lowest price. If you can't get there live, games are streamed on FloHockey. FloHockey announced Wednesday morning that they are streaming Game 1 on Friday for free on YouTube, as well as Facebook and X. You'll need to subscribe to FloHockey to stream the reminder of the series . They list a monthly subscription for $39.99. Check out their website for more details, though. Sportsnet 650 has also been carrying the series on the radio. The Canadian Brewhouse in Abbotsford (3122 Mount Lehman ) hosted watch parties in the last round for the away games and plans to do the same again. There is bound to be other spots willing to put the game on the big screen. Check with your favourite establishment. The AHL Store online has a full selection of Western Conference and Calder Cup. There's also a team store at the Abbotsford Centre . @SteveEwen sewen@
