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51-774: The original Victoria franchise of the PCHA, the Victoria Senators , were formed in 1911, and became the Victoria Aristocrats in 1915. The Aristocrats challenged the Toronto Blueshirts for the Stanley Cup the following year, but lost. In 1916 the team was forced to move to Spokane, Washington , after having their arena ( Patrick Arena ) commandeered by the Canadian military . The club folded

102-464: A concert at the Arena in 1952. The city's first boat show was held in 1954. The Melody Fair theatre-in-the-round operated at the Arena in 1954. Dickson bought the building in 1945 and it remained in the family for the next 43 years. The arena was renovated for $ 3 million in 1962, adding 18 curling sheets, year-round roller skating, a parking garage and a new facade. The Arena was renamed "The Terrace",

153-633: A franchise from O'Brien, paying CA$ 500 cash and promissory notes for CA$ 2,000 Although the NHA franchise was bought from O'Brien, who had operated a team with it, no other assets came with the franchise. According to Coleman , the franchise for the Torontos was that used by the Les Canadiens. Other books quote O'Brien as selling the Canadiens to George Kennedy , leaving the case of which franchise

204-469: A letter arrived from the Stanley Cup trustees on March 17, that the trustees would not let the Stanley Cup travel west, as they did not consider Victoria a proper challenger because they had not formally notified the trustees. However, on March 18, Trustee William Foran stated that it was a misunderstanding. PCHA president Frank Patrick had not filed a challenge, because he had expected Emmett Quinn of

255-731: A memorial service for Sir Arthur Currie , commander of the Canadian Corps in World War I. On October 9, 1936, it was the site of a mass assembly by the Communist Party of Canada . After the Maple Leafs left in 1931, the building no longer was a venue for professional ice hockey but remained open as a venue for sports and entertainment. Some of the other sports included bicycle racing, professional boxing and tennis. By 1934, revenues did not keep up with interest on bonds on

306-414: A name it kept until it was sold in 1988. It closed its doors on April 30, 1989, and was demolished a few months later. The site was converted into a residential development with some of the site reserved for a city park. The Terrace name was retained for one of the residential buildings. In May 2011, the name of the city park on the site was changed from Cathedral Square Park to Arena Gardens . This list

357-621: A one-team league. The NHA owners made this move as a work-around the NHA constitution, which barred them from expelling the Blueshirts even though they had long since lost patience with him. Despite having rid themselves of Livingstone, the other teams wished to keep a team in Toronto. They also needed a fourth team to balance the schedule due to the Quebec Bulldogs ' decision to sit out the season. Accordingly, Livingstone's landlord,

408-530: A recreation facility offering ice skating in winter and roller skating in summer. The name was changed that year to the Mutual Street Arena. The Glenn Miller big band played at the Arena in January 1942, Miller's only appearance in Toronto. Frank Sinatra made his first appearance in Toronto here in 1949. Roller hockey was introduced to the Arena in the late 1940s. Hank Williams Sr played

459-552: The 1915–16 NHA season , finishing in last place in the five-team league. Livingstone was frequently at odds with his fellow owners, particularly Sam Lichtenhein of the Montreal Wanderers . Tempers boiled over when the NHA added a second Toronto team in 1916–17 , representing the 228th Battalion of the Canadian army. The 228th was forced to withdraw its team in mid-season when the unit was called overseas. That left

510-828: The Arena , was an ice hockey arena and sports and entertainment venue in Toronto , Ontario , Canada. From 1912 until 1931, with the opening of Maple Leaf Gardens , it was the premier site of ice hockey in Toronto, being home to teams from the National Hockey Association (NHA), the National Hockey League (NHL), the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) and the International Hockey League (IHL). It

561-718: The Mutual Street Rink , used primarily for curling and ice skating between Dundas Street East and Shuter Street. At the time, it was billed as the largest indoor arena in Canada and held about 7,500 for hockey. The rink was owned by the Toronto Arena Company, organized September 19, 1911, with Sir Henry Pellatt as president, Lol Solman as managing director, and directors Aemilius Jarvis , Joseph Kilgour, T.W. Horn, R.A. Smith, and Col. Carlson. There were two other directors from Montreal. W. J. Bellingham

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612-507: The National Hockey League (NHL). The Blueshirts were replaced in the NHL by a new Toronto Hockey Club under the ownership of the Toronto Arena Company, the Blueshirts' former landlord. The Torontos' players were leased to the Arena ownership temporarily and competed in the NHL in 1917–18, winning the Stanley Cup. The Arena Company was then granted a permanent franchise for the 1918–19 season that evolved into today's Toronto Maple Leafs . The NHA

663-505: The Toronto Maple Leafs midway through the 1926–27 season . The NHA/NHL claimed the $ 5000 franchise fee from the 1919 St. Patricks was to 'buy' Livingstone's hockey club. By all accounts, however, the money instead went into Calder's pocket. Despite the ties to the Torontos, the Maple Leafs do not claim the Blueshirts' history as their own (unlike the Canadiens, the other NHL franchise with NHA roots). They do, however, claim

714-720: The Toronto Shamrocks . Livingstone was from Toronto and offered more, and Robinson accepted his bid. At the same time, the Pacific Coast Hockey Association —upset over the NHA's efforts to bring Cyclone Taylor back east—broke all ties with the NHA and conducted a player raid. The PCHA created a new team in Seattle and stocked it with the Torontos' two leading scorers in Wilson and Foyston, their goaltender, Hap Holmes, and two other key members of

765-464: The Torontos and the Toronto Blueshirts , were a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto . They were a member of the National Hockey Association (NHA). The club was founded in 1911 and began operations in 1912. The club won its sole Stanley Cup championship in 1914. The club became the centre of a controversy among NHA owners leading to the NHA suspending operations and the owners forming

816-417: The Arena until 1938. Promoter Ivan Mickailof began promoting weekly shows in 1929. Some of the names that Mickailof presented at the Arena included Strangler Lewis and Toots Mondt , as well as reigning world champions Gus Sonnenberg , Ed Don George , Henri Deglane , Jim Londos , Ali Baba, Vic Christie, Everett Marshall and Billy Weidner, who all defended their titles at the Arena. On February 8, 1923,

867-490: The NHA to make all of the arrangements in his role as hockey commissioner, whereas the trustees thought they were being deliberately ignored. In any case, all arrangements had been ironed out and the Victoria challenge was accepted. Nevertheless, the Torontos defeated Victoria in a best-of-five series played in Toronto in three straight games. Quinn left the team after the Stanley Cup win to return to business and his absence

918-414: The NHA with an odd number of teams. On February 12, the team owners—at a meeting that did not include Livingstone—decided to even-up the number of teams by suspending operations of the Torontos for the rest of the season. All players were given to other NHA teams for the rest of the season. At the time, the plan was to return the players to the Toronto franchise, but the other owners wanted Livingstone out. At

969-551: The PCHA and never did. According to authors Morey Holzman and Joseph Nieforth, this strongly suggested a deal had been made between Livingstone, Robinson and the Patricks. To make up for the players lost in the raid, Livingstone transferred Shamrocks players to the Blueshirts and allowed the Shamrock franchise to go dormant. The Torontos, composed mostly of former Shamrock players, skated to a record of 9 wins, 14 losses and 1 tie in

1020-482: The Toronto Arena Company, was given a temporary Toronto franchise in the NHL and leased Livingstone's Torontos players for the inaugural 1917–18 NHL season . At the time, Frank Calder , the NHL president, was demanding that the Arena Company and Livingstone come to an agreement to transfer the franchise. To Toronto fans, it looked like little had changed on the ice. Although the team had no official name, it

1071-557: The Toronto team in Jack Walker and Eddie Carpenter . The only regular Blueshirts' players to remain in Toronto were Cameron and Roy McGiffin . Livingstone announced he planned to sell the Shamrocks. After the dust settled, the Patricks had stocked their new team, conducted a raid on the NHA, Robinson was able to sell his team and Livingstone had the Toronto market to himself. Despite the raid, Livingstone did not retaliate against

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1122-526: The artificial ice was installed improperly and had to be reinstalled in December 1912. The first professional ice hockey game in the building was on December 21, 1912, an exhibition between the Montreal Canadiens and Montreal Wanderers . Sprague Cleghorn was suspended for four weeks and fined $ 65 by the NHA for assaulting the Canadiens' Newsy Lalonde in the game. The first official game

1173-578: The completion of Maple Leaf Gardens in 1931. Until 1923, the Arena was the only facility east of Manitoba with artificial ice-making capability. With this in mind, the St. Pats often let other teams use the Arena as a neutral site during the early and late months of the season, when it was usually too warm for proper ice. The year 1922 saw the first professional wrestling bout at the Arena, between former world champion Stanislaus Zbyszko and Canadian champion George Walker. Professional wrestling would continue at

1224-506: The end of the season, Toronto was reinstated, with the condition that Livingstone sell the club within 60 days. However, Livingstone obtained a court order to prevent the sale. On November 22, the NHA owners announced that the league would suspend operations for the 1917–18 season. About two weeks later, all of the owners except Livingstone announced that they were creating a new league, the National Hockey League . However, they did not invite Livingstone to join them, effectively leaving him in

1275-562: The first radio broadcast of an ice hockey game was made from the Arena by the Toronto Daily Star 's CFCA radio station. Norman Albert did the play-by-play of the third period of a game between North Toronto and Midland , won by North Toronto 16–4. Later that season, Foster Hewitt made his first radio broadcasts from the Arena, also on CFCA. A game on February 14, 1923, between the Toronto St. Pats and Ottawa Senators

1326-446: The first radio broadcast of an ice hockey game, the first radio broadcast of an NHL game, and the first broadcast of an ice hockey game by long-time broadcaster Foster Hewitt . The Arena was also used for musical concerts, gatherings and other sporting events, including professional boxing , cycling , wrestling , and tennis . In 1962, it was converted into a curling club and roller skating rink known as The Terrace . The building

1377-591: The following year as the Spokane Canaries . A new team was formed in 1918 and again were dubbed the Victoria Aristocrats , with players from the folded Portland Rosebuds . In 1922 they changed their name to the Victoria Cougars . Led by coach Lester Patrick , the Cougars would win the Stanley Cup in 1925 against the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Cougars were

1428-655: The franchises from O'Brien, and the final two were sold to interests who planned to relocate the teams to Toronto. Toronto had not previously had an arena with artificial ice that would be large enough for an NHA team, but in 1911 work had begun on constructing the Arena Gardens . The arena was owned by the Toronto Arena Company, organized on September 19, 1911, with Sir Henry Pellatt as president, Lol Solman as managing director, and directors Aemilius Jarvis , Joseph Kilgour, T.W. Horn, R.A. Smith, and Col. Carlson. There were two other directors from Montreal. W. J. Bellingham

1479-600: The history of the "temporary" Toronto NHL franchise of 1917–18. These players were the property of the Toronto Hockey Club in 1916–17 and returned to play for the Torontos of 1917–18. For the full season-by-season history of the Toronto Hockey Club, see List of Toronto Hockey Club seasons . The following former Torontos have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame : Arena Gardens Mutual Street Arena, initially called Arena Gardens or just

1530-470: The last non-NHL team to hoist the Stanley Cup as well as the last west coast team to win it until the Anaheim Ducks did so in 2007. They would attempt to repeat as champions in 1926 but they were unsuccessful as they lost the final series to the NHL's Montreal Maroons . The WHL dissolved after the season. That spring, a group of businessmen from Detroit won an NHL expansion franchise and bought

1581-409: The outside of the building. It was followed the next day by a recital by Johanna Gadski with Franko's orchestra. The festival continued all week, concluding on October 12 with a variety show headlined by Canadian theatre and film actress Marie Dressler . Americans Yvonne de Tréville , Charlotte Maconda and Rosa Olitzka sang arias from several operas while Dressler performed a comedic reading of

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1632-407: The players and the Stanley Cup revenues (fixed later by court at $ 20,000). Additionally, it could exist separately from any legal action filed by Livingstone. On paper, the club was owned by Arena Company secretary-treasurer Hubert Vearncombe and Querrie, with Vearncombe as team president. The NHL readily admitted this new team as a member in good standing. Querrie remained as general manager. However,

1683-577: The poem "The Glove" by Edward Bulwer-Lytton , singing "burlesque opera solos" to the accompaniment of Nathan Franko's Orchestra. Arena Gardens was initially home to two new teams in the National Hockey Association (NHA): the Toronto Hockey Club and the Tecumseh Hockey Club . Delays in construction meant that the teams could not play in the 1911–12 season, as was originally scheduled. The 12 miles (19 km) of piping for

1734-476: The property, property taxes and the expenses of operating the arena. The bondholders made it known that the building was for sale. By 1937, with $ 200,000 of bonds in default, and the Arena in default of 1933 and 1934 taxes of nearly $ 16,000, and a similar amount estimated for 1936 and 1937, the Arena was listed for sale by the City of Toronto. In 1938, the Arena was leased to Edward "Ted" Dickson who turned it into

1785-759: The rights to many of the players from the Stanley Cup finalist Cougars. The new NHL franchise would retain the nickname "Cougars" in tribute. The Detroit Cougars would later be renamed the Detroit Falcons, and would ultimately be renamed the Detroit Red Wings . Among the notable players who played for the Cougars were Hall of Famers Hec Fowler (goaltender), Frank Foyston , Frank Fredrickson , Hap Holmes (goaltender), Clem Loughlin , Harry Meeking and Jack Walker . Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against Toronto Blueshirts The Toronto Hockey Club , known as

1836-462: The team had a dismal five-win season and was forced to suspend operations in February, and blamed Livingstone for interference. By 1919, the NHA owners had established that there would be no revival of the NHA. However, the dispute with Livingstone forced the Arena Company into bankruptcy. The Arenas were sold to a group headed by Querrie, who renamed them the Toronto St. Patricks . This team became

1887-844: Was also used for mass assemblies. An assembly was held for Sir Wilfrid Laurier in 1913 by the Liberal Party of Canada . On June 10, 1925, this building was used as the venue for the inaugural service of the United Church of Canada , which united four existing denominations: the Presbyterians , the Methodist Church of Canada, the Congregational Union of Canada , and the Association of Local Union Churches. On December 3, 1933, 7,000 persons attended

1938-467: Was demolished in 1989 and the Cathedral Square residential complex and Arena Gardens municipal park now occupy the site. It was located on Mutual Street, just south of Dundas Street East and two blocks east of Church Street in downtown Toronto. It was constructed for a reported cost of CA$ 500,000 (equivalent to $ 12,407,987 in 2023) and opened in 1912. It was built on the site of

1989-553: Was drawn up with two Toronto teams. As the Arena was not finished, no games were scheduled to be played in Toronto until the end of January, when the new arena was supposed to be ready. It soon became clear that construction of Arena Gardens would not be finished in time, and in mid-December it was announced that the two Toronto teams had been dropped from the schedule and the league would play with only four teams that season. The Torontos played their first game on December 25, 1912, before 4,000 fans at Arena Gardens. The Toronto Hockey Club

2040-566: Was engraved on the Stanley Cup. However, in 1947, the NHL added the name of the Toronto Arenas for 1918. The Arena Company had originally promised to return the Toronto players to Livingstone if no transfer could be arranged. Instead, before the 1918–19 season , it formed a new club, the Toronto Arena Hockey Club . This new franchise was separated from the Arena Company because it was due money to Livingstone from

2091-494: Was felt. The next season, the team fell to fourth place in the six-team NHA with a record of 8 wins and 12 losses (down from 13 wins and 7 losses). Before the 1915–16 season, several events occurred that changed the NHA and the Blueshirts specifically. Robinson joined the Canadian military in 1915 and put the Blueshirts up for sale. Robinson received two offers for the club; the McNamara brothers and Eddie Livingstone , owner of

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2142-763: Was founded in 1909 without any teams based in Toronto . National Hockey Association (NHA) founder Ambrose O'Brien operated four franchises in the NHA: the Cobalt Silver Kings , Haileybury Comets , Les Canadiens and the Renfrew Creamery Kings . In 1910, O'Brien suspended the Cobalt, Haileybury and Canadiens clubs and sold one franchise to form the Montreal Canadiens , who took the Les Canadiens' players. In 1911, O'Brien decided to leave professional ice hockey entirely. Quebec interests bought one of

2193-409: Was made up mostly of former Blueshirts. As a result, the newspapers still called the team "the Blueshirts" or "the Torontos," as they always had. Additionally, the team wore a white sweater with a blue "T," the same uniform worn by the Blueshirts in the previous season. Led by general manager Charlie Querrie and coach Dick Carroll , the team won the Stanley Cup in 1918. In fitting fashion, no winner

2244-497: Was on December 25, 1912, a game between the Canadiens and the Torontos. Upon the suspension of the NHA in 1917, the professional franchise of the new National Hockey League (NHL) for Toronto was operated by the Toronto Arena itself. The franchise was operated by the Arena for two years before being sold to become the Toronto St. Patricks . The St. Pats became the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1927 and played at Arena Gardens until

2295-502: Was owned by Quinn, managed by Ridpath, and initially coached by Tom Humphrey who was soon replaced by player-coach Jack Marshall . The team Ridpath put on the ice included Cully Wilson and future hall-of-famers Hap Holmes , Harry Cameron , Frank Foyston , and Frank Nighbor . The Torontos finished the year in a tie for third place. Before the 1913–14 season, the club faced some upheaval. Ridpath resigned as manager in October 1913 and

2346-487: Was replaced by Marshall. Ridpath would try out as a player but gave up his comeback attempt before the season started. Despite the changes, the Torontos won the Stanley Cup in 1914, defeating the Montreal Canadiens in a playoff to decide the NHA champion. After the season, the team then played a series with the Victoria Aristocrats of the Pacific Coast Hockey League . A controversy erupted when

2397-416: Was sold to Robinson unresolved. In any case, the Toronto team was built from scratch and did not include any players from Les Canadiens. The first manager was Toronto native and former Ottawa Senators player Bruce Ridpath , who had intended to be a playing-coach but was no longer able to play due to an injury suffered when he was struck by an automobile the previous year. The schedule for the 1911–12 season

2448-665: Was the first NHL game broadcast on radio. The Stanley Cup Finals was played at Arena Gardens four times: 1914 , 1918 , 1920 and 1922 . Arena Gardens also hosted the Memorial Cup finals nine times from 1919 to 1931. The Gardens also hosted the Allan Cup final series. A 1931 game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Maple Leafs was filmed by the National Film Board of Canada . The building

2499-399: Was the first home of the Toronto Maple Leafs , who played at the arena under various names for their first 13½ seasons. The Arena Gardens was the third rink in Canada to feature a mechanically frozen or 'artificial' ice surface ( Shea's Amphitheatre opened in 1909 and Patrick Arena opened in 1911), and for eleven years was the only such facility in eastern Canada. In 1923, it was the site of

2550-686: Was the initial manager. The Arena opened with a performance by Nathan Franko's Orchestra on October 7, 1912, supporting a recital by Alice Neville, soprano of the Metropolitan Opera , tenor Orville Harold and a company of opera singers from the Boston Opera Company organized by Neville. It was the first of a series called the Toronto Music Festival. Entrances to the various blue and red seating sections were indicated by corresponding blue and red lights on

2601-592: Was the initial manager. The franchise which became the Toronto Hockey Club was bought by Frank Robinson , Percy Quinn and other investors for CA$ 2,000 . Quinn was president of the Dominion Lacrosse Association , a Canadian professional lacrosse league that had patterned itself after the NHA. The second Toronto franchise was awarded to a group affiliated with the Tecumseh Lacrosse Club of Toronto. The Tecumsehs bought

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