Dishing the Dirt

An interesting (if brief) comparison of Bowie and McGee from a Montreal paper in March 1905-

Bowie, in fact, in the opinion of many is the most finished hockey player in the business. He knows all the tricks of the game from A to Z, and as a stick-handler he is a phenom.

There has been a constant wrangle among the fans this year as to whether McGee of Ottawa or Bowie is the better man.

As a matter of fact they can scarcely be compared, as their style of play is entirely different.

McGee depends a good deal upon his great speed, Bowie upon his lightning stick-handling and his wonderful ability to be at the right place at the right time
 
Exact reference please!

... There has been a constant wrangle among the fans this year as to whether McGee of Ottawa or Bowie is the better man.

As a matter of fact they can scarcely be compared, as their style of play is entirely different.

McGee depends a good deal upon his great speed, Bowie upon his lightning stick-handling and his wonderful ability to be at the right place at the right time...
Specific newspaper on specific date, please.

We need this @rmartin65

Awesome!
 
Exact reference please!


Specific newspaper on specific date, please.

We need this @rmartin65

Awesome!

Montral Herald, September 2, 1904. Bowie was 24. McGee was going on 23.
1717723646780.png


From "Killing Frank McGee". Talking about McGee's first year how he didn't have an accurate shot- but that soon changed in a big way. Other details about his style of play (strong forechecker), could "outmanoeuvre" anyone. Elsewhere said he practiced hard. Was brave, played with injuries.
1717724416498.png

 
Last edited:
Gawd, McGee seems like Gilmour on steroids.

Though passing/assists were so underdocumented back then, and yet his lame goal scoring average still led hockey in '03, '04, '05, plus huge goals in huge games, multiple Stanley Cups where fingers pointed at HIM as why. He is him.

Certainly bottom-6 ATD intangible material.
 
Last edited:
Gawd, McGee seems like Gilmour on steroids.

Though passing/assists were so underdocumented back then, and yet his lame goal scoring average still led hockey in '03, '04, '05, plus huge goals in huge games, multiple Stanley Cups where fingers pointed at HIM as why. He is him.

Certainly bottom-6 ATD intangible material.
I have him as avg defensively so not sure Gilmour fits. No source tho.
 
Montral Herald, September 2, 1904. Bowie was 24. McGee was going on 23.
View attachment 880173
That's really interesting. I knew the Wanderers had made later attempts to secure Bowie's services, but this was new to me.

The 1905 Wanderers played in the FAHL, which was a pretty weak league (really just the Wanderers and Ottawa HC, who both left the next season). I believe Pud Glass was their primary rover that year, but the position was still a bit in flux (especially as of Fall 1904), as Archie Hooper had been severely injured (and would later succumb to those injuries in I believe October 1904) in the previous season.
From "Killing Frank McGee". Talking about McGee's first year how he didn't have an accurate shot- but that soon changed in a big way. Other details about his style of play (strong forechecker), could "outmanoeuvre" anyone. Elsewhere said he practiced hard. Was brave, played with injuries.
View attachment 880175
This is also very cool. I will probably have to get that book. I wonder what the primary sources were for that one.
 
Taylor was considered by numerous peers to already be the best hockey player in the world in 1909. Pretty impressive considering he was only about 4 years into a professional career.

Ottawa Citizen Dec 17, 1909.

1720670787226.png
 
One of the cooler finds in doing this research on Imlach.

St. Paul Recorder

Minneapolis, Minnesota · Friday, February 17, 1961

Starting his professional hockey career with Quebec City of Quebec League in 1956-57' O'Ree, who hails from Frederick, New Brunswick, Canada, told of early encouragement he got from the Quebec coach, Punch Imlach.

"Punch Imlach was coaching the team at the time and I'll always remember the advice he gave me. Punch told me that no matter what abuses I had to take, to work hard and I'd make the NHL because I had the ability."
-Willie O'Ree

1722482237037.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: VanIslander
My take away...

O'Ree recalls his then-juniors coach Punch Imlach's advice:

"No matter what abuses I had to take, to work hard and I'd make the NHL because I had the ability."

Then later Bruins coach Lynn Patrick cited him top 4 in team speed.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: ImporterExporter
I didn't want to post in the draft thread, due to many undrafted players, but this is a fantastic find in regards to Clapper from someone who saw him play across his entire career.

Wonderful analysis and comparison between Clapper and Doug Harvey by the all time great writer Baz O'meara who's career started in 1910 (Ottawa Journal) and later spent 30+ years at the Montreal Star (1929 through late 60's). He has some of the most in depth opinion pieces I've seen in all my research over the years.

1739000856904.png


1739000709325.png


1739000914409.png
 
Provided the upcoming update fixes the issue the board is currently experiencing with tables, I intend to use this thread to data dump some of the information I've compiled over the last couple years; 1882-1886 Pre-AHAC, updated 1887-1909 AHAC/CAHL/ECAHA, 1904-1909 FAHL, OHA 1891-1909, MHA/MPHL 1893-1909 (minus about half of 1908, unfortunately), MNHA 1902-1904, OPHL 1908-1909, WPHL 1896-1897 and 1899-1904, CIAU 1903-1909, and all SC games through 1909. I'll probably stick to just the scoring tables (top 10 per season, I think) at first while I decide what to do with all the text.
 
  • Love
Reactions: jigglysquishy

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad