MERRY CHRISTMAS!

THE BARTESVILLE DAILY - OKLAHOMA - DEC. 24, 1920

1920: THE FIRST NHL GAME PLAYED ON CHRISTMAS

During the first three years of play in the National Hockey League, which was formed in time for the 1917-18 season, a game wasn't scheduled on Christmas Day/Night until December 25, 1920.

In a far different NHL than we know now, the league was composed of only four teams - Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton and Montreal - and the 1920-21 regular season didn't start until December 22.

On that date, all four clubs took to the ice with the Ottawa Senators hosting the Toronto St. Patricks, and the Montreal Canadiens on the road to face the Hamilton Tigers.

In Ottawa, the defending Stanley Cup champion Senators, hoped home ice would give them an edge over the visitors. But it would be the St. Patricks that got the early jump. An article in the Ottawa Citizen noted of Toronto's first tally: Harry Cameron broke away on one of his spectacular end to end rushes, completely fooling the Ottawa defence and slipping the puck into the nets [sic] behind Benedict.

In Hamilton, the newly minted Tigers, blanked the Montreal Canadiens with a 5-0. While Hamilton goalie, Howard Lockhart earned the shutout, it was Georges Vezina who garnered the praise for Montreal between the pipes. As The Gazette reported, "Vezina proved a saving grace, and saved his team from an ignominious defeat." 

The star for Hamilton was Joe Matte. He set up two-first period goals by Babe Dye, and scored Hamilton's fourth tally. The Gazette noted he "was the best player on the ice."

Next on the agenda for Montreal and Toronto was the Christmas Night game at Arena Gardens on Mutual Street in downtown Toronto.

To cut down on their travel, the Canadiens remained in Hamilton, Ontario, after the loss to the Tigers.  They used the time to practice prior to heading to Toronto.

On Christmas Eve, the St. Pats recalled forward Babe Dye from the Hamilton Tigers. As noted above, Dye scored two goals for Hamilton in their NHL debut. Toronto had lent Dye to Hamilton on December 4, 1920. At the end of the year, Dye led all goal scorers with 35 goals in 24 games.

During Christmas of 1920, Torontonians celebrated the holiday in the usual manner. 

Christmas morning was spent unwrapping gifts. A new Victorola for the entire family was "priced from $40 to $720.00 - sold on easy payments if desired." Trousers for dad went for $4.95. A satin frock for mom was reduced to $22.50. For the young hockey player in the family, C. C. M. offered blades made of "Special Automobile Steels," that added strength and reduced rusting.The department store, T. Eaton Co. Limited, sold a variety of dolls "from squawking and walking dolls."

A bounty of goodies were enjoyed at the Christmas feast. Smoked ham cost .44 cents per pound. Christmas plum pudding ranged from .45 cents to .70 cents per pound. For those with a sweet-tooth, "Fancy baskets, nicely packed with the very best grade of chocolates," could bought at Diana Sweets Shops.

After opening their presents and enjoying a big Christmas dinner, a crowd of about 4,000 hockey fans were ready to watch some hockey. 

For the locals, they couldn't have been thrilled with the start of their heroes.

Early in the second period, the St. Pats trailed the Canadiens 3-1, but Toronto wasn't about to disappoint their faithful in this holiday tilt.

As detailed in a newspaper account, "The St. Pats, led by Wilson ("Cully") and Randall (Ken), were not dismayed, and for the balance of the session they played rings around the fast fading Frenchmen, and scored three goals in succession."

Toronto and Montreal exchanged goals in the final frame, with Babe Dye scoring the game-winning goal against Georges Vezina. His goal gave Toronto a 5-3 lead. Bert Corbeau pulled the Canadiens one goal closer, but the equalizer was out of their reach, and St. Pats won by a score of 5-4. "The visitors made a determined effort to pull the game from the fire in the last ten minutes, but their condition (physical) was against them, and they wilted."

Thus, the grand tradition of watching/listening to NHL games on Christmas was born.