HAMILTON TIGERS HOCKEY 1935

Hamilton's first and only foray into the NHL was away back in 1920 when the Quebec Bulldogs moved to Hamilton and the team was christened the Hamilton Tigers. They played in the Barton Street Arena located on Barton Street east of Wentworth St. This building was later renovated and called the Hamilton Forum before being demolished in 1960 and replaced by housing. The team did poorly in the first few years until the 1924-25 season when they were the top team in a 6-team league. However a salary dispute led to a player revolt with the team eventually being moved to New York without competing in the playoffs or trying to win a Stanley Cup.

This event did not, however, end hockey for the Tigers in Hamilton. They later resurfaced in the Ontario Senior A League. One of the best Hamilton Tigers teams was the 1935 Senior A team which was invited to represent Canada in the Britsh Empire Hockey Championships in April, 1935. This team was featured in a recent article in the Hamilton Spectator (Dec 2009). See team photo below. Some of the players were unable to go because their employers would not give them the time off. But Red Dunn, Tigers defenceman, would have none of this - he gave up his job to travel with the team. As he told a Spectator reporter in an interview before the trip, " I've got my toothbrush and I'm ready to go!!"

After a warm-up game in New York with a local team, they headed overseas. The ship they travelled on, the M. V. Britannic is pictured at left. The trip over was a difficult one and they arrived late and were only able to participate in 6 of the 8 games scheduled. Despite this setback, they still won the tournament and the British Empire hockey trophy (in picture below). The whereabouts of this trophy remains a mystery. If anyone knows anything about the trophy, contact this website using the contact us link above or phone John Zablocki at 905-525-2895.

Some of the Tigers tournament games were held up as Red Dunn's relatives from Scotland were all trying to talk to him and ended up delaying the game. It is also interesting to note that the Hamilton Tigers Football team were also a championship team in 1935, winning the Eastern Canadian Football title. This same Red Dunn also played for this team. His position was "snap" or "centre" as they call it today. He was a two way player also playing defensive tackle. Very few players in Canadian sports history were able to play two professional sports at such a high level, not to mention winning two championships in the same year.

Tigers players on ship returning home

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