Ottawa Senators (Original)
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| Ottawa Senators | |
| Image:Ottawasenatorsoldl.gif | |
| Founded | 1893 |
| Based in | Ottawa |
| Home ice | Dey's Arena (1907-1920) </br>Ottawa Arena (1920-1934) |
| Colours | red, black, white |
| Leagues | AHA, CAHL, NHA, NHL |
| Stanley Cups | 9 |
- This article discusses the original Ottawa Senators franchise. For the modern-day (1992-current) franchise, see Ottawa Senators.
The Ottawa Senators (a/k/a Ottawa Silver Seven) were a professional ice hockey team operating between 1893 and 1934, and competed in the National Hockey League from 1917 until the termination of the franchise.
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Team History
Generally acknowledged by hockey historians as the greatest team of the early days of the sport, the original Ottawa Senators franchise were based in Ottawa from 1893 to 1934. They competed in the Amateur Hockey Association, the Canadian Amateur Hockey League, the National Hockey Association, and the National Hockey League, competed in the very first Stanley Cup game (which they lost 3-1 to the Montreal AAA in March of 1893) and won a total of nine Stanley Cups, starting back in the days where the Cup was still a challenge trophy. The team had several nicknames -- most famously, the Silver Seven of early hockey legend -- but was generally known throughout its history as the "Ottawas" or the Senators. Many of the team's players have been elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame, and through to their final Stanley Cup in 1927, had won more Cups, more games, more league championships and had more Hall of Famers than any team to date in organised hockey.
The Senators were a founding team of both the NHA and the NHL, and won four more Cups in their NHL days, three against western league teams. The last in 1927 against the Boston Bruins was after the NHL had secured sole ownership of the trophy. However, the term "small-market franchise" is by no means a new one, and as the NHL's smallest market by far, even as early as 1927, Ottawa sought financial relief from the league. The team slowly sold its stars to other clubs, and with the Great Depression striking, peddled superstar defenseman King Clancy for an unprecedented $35,000 in 1930. Even that was not enough, and the franchise suspended operations for the 1932 season.
The Senators returned the season thereafter, but depleted of talent, finished with poor records its two remaining seasons in Ottawa. The once-proud franchise relocated to St. Louis and played its final season 1934-35 as the St. Louis Eagles.
This franchise has no relation to the modern-day Senators franchise, except for a certificate that was issued by the NHL with the new Senators franchise, proclaiming re-instatement to the league.
Career Leaders
- Games: Frank Finnigan, 368
- Goals: Cy Denneny, 245
- Assists: Denneny, 67
- Points: Denneny, 312
- Penalty Minutes: George Boucher, 604
- Goaltending Games: Alec Connell, 293
- Goaltending Wins: Connell, 158
- Shutouts: Connell, 70
List of Stanley Cup final appearances
- 1903- Ottawa Silver Seven defeat the Montreal Victorias March 7 & 8 (1-1, 8-0) and they defeat the Rat Portage Thistles March 12 & 14).
- 1904- Ottawa Silver Seven defeat the Winnipeg Rowing Club December 30, 1903, January 1, & 4 (9-1, 2-6, 2-0) they defeat the Toronto Marlboros February 23 & 25 (6-3, 11-2) they defeat the Montreal Wanderers March 2 (5-5- Montreal loses by default) and they defeat the Brandon Wheat Kings March 9 & 11 (6-3, 9-3).
- 1905- Ottawa Silver Seven defeat Dawson City January 13 & 16 (9-2, 23-2) and the Rat Portage Thistles March 7, 9, & 11 (3-9, 4-2, 5-4)
- 1906- Ottawa Silver Seven defeat Queen's University February 27, & 28 (16-7, 12-7) and Smiths Falls March 6 & 8 (6-5, 8-2).
- 1906- Montreal Wanderers defeat the Ottawa Silver Seven March 14, & 17 (9-1, 9-3).
- 1909- Ottawa Senators go unchallenged
- 1910- Ottawa Senators defeat Galt January 5, & 7 (12-3, 3-1) and the Edmonton Eskimos January 18, & 20 (8-4, 13-7).
- 1911- Ottawa Senators defeat Galt March 13 7-4, and Port Arthur March 16 13-4.
- 1915- Vancouver Millionaires defeat the Ottawa Senators March 22, 24, & 26 (6-2, 8-3, 12-3).
- 1920- Ottawa Senators defeat the Seattle Metropolitans March 22, 24, 27, 30, & April 1 (3-2, 3-0, 1-3, 2-5, 6-1).
- 1921- Ottawa Senators defeat the Vancouver Millionaires March 21, 24, 28, 31, & April 4 (1-2, 4-3, 3-2, 2-3, 2-1).
- 1923- Ottawa Senators defeat the Vancouver Maroons March 16, 19, 23, & 26 (1-0, 1-4, 3-2, 5-1) and the Edmonton Eskimos March 29, & 31 (2-1, 1-0).
- 1927- Ottawa Senators defeat the Boston Bruins April 7, 9, 11, 13 (0-0, 3-1, 1-1, 3-1).
Season-by-season record (NHL only)
QF = Quarter Final, CD = Canadian Division
| Year | Team name | GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1917-18 | Ottawa Senators | 22 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 18 | 102 | 114 | -- | 3rd in NHL | Out of playoffs |
| 1918-19 | Ottawa Senators | 18 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 24 | 71 | 54 | 192 | 1st in NHL | Lost in finals |
| 1919-20 | Ottawa Senators | 24 | 19 | 5 | 0 | 38 | 121 | 64 | 237 | 2nd in NHL | Won Stanley Cup |
| 1920-21 | Ottawa Senators | 24 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 28 | 97 | 75 | 151 | 1st in NHL | Won Stanley Cup |
| 1921-22 | Ottawa Senators | 24 | 14 | 8 | 2 | 30 | 106 | 84 | 99 | 1st in NHL | Lost in finals |
| 1922-23 | Ottawa Senators | 24 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 29 | 77 | 54 | 188 | 1st in NHL | Won Stanley Cup |
| 1923-24 | Ottawa Senators | 24 | 16 | 8 | 0 | 32 | 74 | 54 | 154 | 1st in NHL | Lost in finals |
| 1924-25 | Ottawa Senators | 30 | 17 | 12 | 1 | 35 | 83 | 66 | 331 | 4th in NHL | Out of playoffs |
| 1925-26 | Ottawa Senators | 36 | 24 | 8 | 4 | 52 | 77 | 42 | 341 | 1st in NHL | Lost in finals |
| 1926-27 | Ottawa Senators | 44 | 30 | 10 | 4 | 64 | 86 | 69 | 607 | 1st in CD | Won Stanley Cup |
| 1927-28 | Ottawa Senators | 44 | 20 | 14 | 10 | 50 | 78 | 57 | 483 | 3rd in CD | Lost in QF |
| 1928-29 | Ottawa Senators | 44 | 14 | 17 | 13 | 41 | 54 | 67 | 461 | 4th in CD | Out of Playoffs |
| 1929-30 | Ottawa Senators | 44 | 21 | 15 | 8 | 50 | 138 | 118 | 536 | 5th in CD | Lost in QF |
| 1930-31 | Ottawa Senators | 44 | 10 | 30 | 4 | 24 | 91 | 142 | 486 | 5th in CD | Out of playoffs |
| 1931-32 | Ottawa Senators | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 1932-33 | Ottawa Senators | 48 | 11 | 27 | 10 | 32 | 88 | 131 | 398 | 5th in CD | Out of playoffs |
| 1933-34 | St. Louis Eagles | 48 | 13 | 29 | 6 | 32 | 115 | 143 | 344 | 5th in CD | Out of playoffs |
Modern Franchise
The NHL's planned 1992 expansion had several strong contenders, but businessman Bruce Firestone put together an energetic bid to bring the NHL back to Ottawa, using the last surviving original Senator, Frank Finnigan, as its public face. The new-look Senators won one of the two slots (along with the Tampa Bay Lightning) and began play in 1992. See Ottawa Senators.
Notable players
Hall of Famers
- Clint Benedict
- George Boucher
- Punch Broadbent
- King Clancy
- Sprague Cleghorn
- Alec Connell
- Jack Darragh
- Cy Denneny
- Eddie Gerard
- Billy Gilmour
- Percy Lesueur
- Frank McGee
- Frank Nighbor
- Harvey Pulford
- Alf Smith
- Hooley Smith
- Bruce Stuart
- Marty Walsh
- Harry Westwick
Team Captains
- Harvey Pulford 1902-1906
- Bruce Stuart 1908-1911
- Marty Walsh 1911-1912
- Jack Darragh 1916-1919
- Eddie Gerrard 1919-1923
- Cy Denneny 1924-1926
- George Boucher 1927-1928
- King Clancy 1929-1930
- Frank Finnigan 1931-1933
- Syd Howe 1933-1934
Not to be forgotten
See also
- List of Stanley Cup champions
- List of Ottawa Senators (Original) players
- Head Coaches of the Ottawa Senators (Original)
