Back in the early part of the 1900's, ice hockey teams were being formed in western Canada and the sport was booming. These early teams were the beginnings of the modern era Vancouvewr Canucks. These roots provide an interesting heritage for today's current league and team.
A professional team called the Vancouver Millionaires was formed in 1911. They were one of three initial teams to make up the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA). This league was formed independently of the National Hockey Association (NHA). At first, PCHA teams tried to lure players from the NHA and from this effort, Vancouver acquired one of its earliest stars, Cyclone Taylor.
Many people wonder how the franchise selected its unique name. An even earlier team in the area was called the Creamery Kings and when they became the new franchise, several players were paid exorbitant salaries up to $5,200, or at least they were excessive at the time. These high numbers led to the team being called the Millionaires.
The two leagues later entered into an arrangement where their respective champions each year would play for the Stanley Cup. Within the first year of this agreement, the Millionaires won their league and went on to defeat the Ottawa Senators in the final Cup series.
Two stars of this championship team were Cyclone Taylor and PCHA entrepreneur Frank Patrick who led their team to a rout. They swept the Senators in three games and the games were hardly close. At the time, the Cup had never traveled that far west. To date, this is the only Cup residing in Vancouver even considering the current Canucks franchise.
The Millionaires competed for the Stanley Cup three more times but were defeated in each series. The team changed their name to the Maroons in 1922 and won the PCHA championship in the league's final two years. However, a new league called the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL) had been formed by this time and the PCHA winner was then required to beat the WCHL champion to get to the Cup final. In these last two years, the Maroons were not able to advance past the Western League winners.
When the PCHA later became extinct, Vancouver played in the WCHL for its final few years though without the previous level of winning success. Although these leagues and the Maroons eventually folded, the city still honors its history and only Stanley Cup winning team. The original Millionaires jerseys have been commemorated in a sportswear line of clothing and also as a throwback jersey for the current day Canucks.
Fans in the early days of hockey in western Canada were crazy for their teams, and the fan base remains strong today. It must have been wild in their home Denman Arena when the team was in its heyday and winning championships. The Vancouvewr Canucks can draw on their early history as a foundation for their team today. It is an exciting and inspiring legacy.
Author Resource:
Mayhar Manninghansburger is a fitness trainer She likes SportsFanTreasures.com and recommends you check out their info on New York Rangers Blanket and Toronto Maple Leafs Watch
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/rss.jpg "XML Feed For RSS")