A Very Early Hockey Game

      In the very early days of the 20th Century, the holder of Hockeys' Stanley Cup was subjected to challenges for its right to retain the cup. Any Hockey club could issue a challenge to the current holder.
       On December 19, 1904 The Dawson City Nuggets left their home in the Yukon Territory of Canada to travel to Ottawa to challenge the current holders of the Cup, the Ottawa Silver Seven. The Nuggets traveled 4000 miles using dog sled, ship and train to reach the Canadian capital. The journey took almost a month. After taking a 9-2 beating in the opening game of the best two out three series, the Nuggets returned to O'Dey Arena for game 2 on January 16, 1905. What they did not expect was a record beating. At the time hockey games were played in two halves. At the end of the first half the visitors were down by a score of 10-1. When all was said and done, the final score was 23-2. Frank McGee the center for the Silver Seven had scored an amazing 14 goals!! His teammate Harry Westwick scored 5 goals.
     Yet six weeks later the Silver Seven accepted yet an other challenge for the Cup, this one came from the Rat Portage Thistles, who were denied in three games. I would like to hear from anyone who can tell me when hockey games began to be played as three periods rather then two halves.
    Tomorrow we look at two high scoring events.