Might want to change my name to the Pittsburgh Chemistry.
Last round the Pittsburgh added Hamby Shore, a long time defensemen of the early Ottawa dynasty, under Pete Green who just happens to coach Pittsburgh here. Well, here's the other half of the defensive duo that helped Ottawa win multiple SC's under Pete Green. Not only did he and Shore play together in Ottawa for 4 years where their team dominated, they played together in Manitoba earlier in their careers as F's.
Pittsburgh is thrilled to add:
Fred Lake, D/F
Pulled some info from the great bio done by our very own VanIslander!
Fred Lake, the 'point' defenseman who replaced a retiring Harvey Pulford in 1909,
immediately helping Ottawa win two Stanley Cup championships (1909, 1911), re-united for four years with Hamby Shore at coverpoint, the two having played together back in Manitoba earlier in their careers. Lake was rough, gave big hits, worked hard, skated fast with a great shot. Both Lake and Shore had been forwards before (as had been all the Ottawa players, even goalie Lesueur, on a squad renowned for its puck handling), and each could surge on transition, though Shore played up ice more at coverpoint and appears to have rushed a lot more often.
Significantly, Fred Lake had twice been a 1st team all-star in the IHL, in 1906 and 1907, the first pro league with all-time greats Lalonde, Taylor, Hall, Pitre, Stuart, and xxxxxxxx. If Lake had been a forward in those days, as suspected, then it's even more impressive that he was twice a 1st team all star there given the level of competition! (Lake was almost certainly a winger when playing for Pittsburgh in 1903 and winning the championship against Houghton).
After the IHL, he went to the WPHL, where he was thrown out of the league after only three games for "rough play". The very next season (1909) he was a 1st team all-star once again, with the cup-winning Senators in the ECAHA, 3rd in scoring among defensemen in the league. The year after he won his second Stanley Cup, Lake was 5th in NHA scoring among defensemen. He played thirteen seasons and is mentioned numerous times as one of the stars of the teams he played for. He certainly was paid as well as the top couple of players (see below quotes).
Win said:
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The O'Briens were prepared to put up whatever money it took to realize their dream. They launched an open raid on the Ottawa team, aggressively pursuing Taylor, Walsh, Lake, and xxxxx.
Jack Darragh and Hamby Shore earned $1500.00. Fred Lake earned $1350 and Percy LeSueur $995.99.
Ottawa Citizen said:
Lake was known as an outstanding player in several other cities where he performed.
A rugged, dependable defence player, the late Fred Lake held down the point position in the hockey lineup of the time. He combined with Fred Taylor and Hamby Shore to give the Ottawa team a defence that was respected by their opponents in the major competition of the time
Ottawa Journal said:
Fred Lake gave ***** the finest body-check of the night. ***** sailed through the air like one of the Wright brothers.
Total Hockey said:
Fred Lake teamed with Hamby Shore to form a solid defense pairing for Ottawa...
Toronto Star said:
Fred Lake, the stock point man of the world's champions, is 29 years old and tips the beam at 178 pounds. Lake is a Winnipeg boy and was unfortunate in his first professional game, in losing the sight of his left eye. Lake is better than the average man with the sight of both optics, however, and is without a doubt the greatest point man in the professional game. He has played with Ottawa for three seasons, helping in that time to win two championships. Lake is very fast, and has a great shot, and is, above all, game.
