I finished the 1903 SC series this morning. Marshall definitely looks better here than in the 1902 series, and I can see a case for him as the series MVP. I don't think it is anything definite, though, as there is some high praise for Hooper in there as well.
The press coverage of these games provides some pretty good insight into Marshall's style of play- he seems like a try-hard, and I don't necessarily mean that in a negative way. I don't get the vibe that he was particularly skilled, he just never stopped working and didn't shy away from anything.
The press coverage of these games provides some pretty good insight into Marshall's style of play- he seems like a try-hard, and I don't necessarily mean that in a negative way. I don't get the vibe that he was particularly skilled, he just never stopped working and didn't shy away from anything.
Winnipeg Victorias vs Montreal HC, 29 January 1903
A Winnipeg paper wrote: “‘Dicky’ Boon expressed himself as follows this morning: ‘The best team won. It was hockey. The ice was terrible, and that accounts for the poor quality of the match. The puck would not slide at all. It was difficult to move it. I am well satisfied with the team, and I do not see any reason why it should be changed. Phillips’ work satisfied me. He covered his man, did he not? That was the only game to play under conditions like those of yesterday, man against man’”
“Oleson in goal appeared at first a little nervous, but he put up a good game. He is a clever blocker and has his eye on the puck all the time. His stability at critical moments was quite noticeable. The position of point was played by the old timer, Roddy Flett, but this player is dropping away, and his work, while aggressive, was, at its best, only fair. He did not appear to realize the situation, and his blocking was not too rapid. He was a disappointment to his friends and possibly he realized the fact at times”
“”In the first place, Oleson, between the flags, was not equal to the occasion. He may be a good goalkeeper under ordinary conditions, but the novelty of the situation seemed to render his work mediocre, and he did not stop anything difficult during the game”
“Though Roddy Flett got off the train from a 1,500 mile trip just two hours before the match, he played with remarkable judgment, and was, in fact, the strong man of the seven throughout. Magnus also put up a creditable article, while Kean on the forward line the junior from whom much could not be reasonably expected, played with comparative brilliance. Scanlan and Cadham were working all the time, but never got a chance to shine. Their checks looked after them so diligently that they were in second place throughout. Gingras tried to use his body, but Referee Quinn would not let him, and, in fact, ruled him off once when he had not committed an offence”
“Hooper was a perfect whirlwind and got by the opposing defence for four goals. Nicholson in goal was a source of confidence to the defence, and Bellingham also put up a splendid game. Boon of course was peerless, while Phillips, who formerly played with Rat Portage, made a remarkable showing for a new man”
A Montreal paper reported: “The Winnipeg defence, to quote from the small boy, was a ‘mark’, even the redoubtable ‘Rod’ Rlett failed to stop that irresistible attack showered upon his citadel”
“Scanlan was the one steady player of the line last night, but he was alone. Gingras was a lamentable failure; while Keane and Cadham were good in spots. Scanlan played a game similar to the fine exhibitions he used to give when he wore a green and grey sweater, and was one of the champions of the world, but his work was lost owing to the failure of his three fellow forwards to help him out, and his gallant rushes were without avail”
“It was a hard task for a man to do [play after the 1,500 train trip], and while Flett, no doubt, played as good a game at point as it was in him to do, the evidence of his lond and tedious journey were only too plain, and when the youth of Magnus Flett failed in front, the experience of the older man was exerted to withstand the press for a while, but then the strain told and in the end he was down and out, so to speak. But even then the strong spirit showed itself, and many a rush was attempted, but nature’s demands were more powerful than those of the spirit and it was all in vain”
“Phillips was most fortunate in making his bow to a senior audience under such circumstances, and it is given to but few athletes to make their initial appearance in the first flight under such circumstances. The game he played fully justified the action of Montreal’s managers in sending him out, and he was a valuable acquisition to the attack last night. He played a strong and fairly fast game, checking well and considering that he was up against the best forward on the ice, Scanlan, he is entitled to due credit for his performance. Hooper and Marshall divided the honors in the centre, each doing yeoman service, and each figured largely in the scoring”
“The Montreal defence was steadiness itself; both Boon and Bellingham playing easily, always looking for the puck. Nicholson was not pressed and did not have a great deal of work to do”
Another Montreal paper noted: “Nicholson, he of the generous outlines, was there whenever he was needed except once. Bellingham at point played a cool, collected game, and Boon, although he did not score, was, as alert, as swift, and as tricky as ever”
“Phillips, the new Montreal man, formerly of McGill and before that of Rat Portage, showed up fairly well”
“Scanlan gave some fine exhibitions of stick handling even at the very beginning and made some beautiful runs, twisting in and out among the opposing players and managing to pass both Boon and Bellingham, but his efforts were always came to naught, and like Marshall, who goes at things like a wild bull, charging with his head down and half the time seeing nothing but the puck, the feet of the men opposed to him, and the bottom of the goalposts, he had some painful mishaps”
“Gingras, Cadham and Kean all made fine efforts at times, but there was no joint play and that spoiled all the good they might have done”
“The two Fletts did a good deal of talking and coaching but at times when it was really necessary to play, seemed bewildered, and lost their opportunities, and incidentally their goals”
“Marshall drew it with his accustomed quickness before the echo of the whistle had well died away”
“Gardner did some good individual work”
“Marshall, as is his custom, drew the puck when the referee’s whistle blew for the first game”
“Boon, however, at this stage of the game was putting up an excellent article of hockey under the prevailing conditions and kept rushing the puck back as fast as the Winnipeg people could bring it down”
Final Score: 8-1 Montreal HC
Rosters
Winnipeg: Oleson in goal, R. Flett at point, M. Flett at cover, Keane at rover, Cadham at center, Gingras at RW, and Scanlan at LW
Montreal: Nicholson in goal, Bellingham at point, Boon at cover, Hooper at rover, Marshall at center, Gardner at LW, and Phillips at RW
Winnipeg Victorias vs Montreal HC, 31 January 1903
A Winnipeg paper wrote: “Oleson was blocking splendidly and the two Fletts maintained a capable defence. On the forward line Scanlan, GIngras and Cadham were keeping the Montreal busy. Kean was working every minute, but unfortunately showed lack of judgment in his tactics which caused him to spend 5 minutes less than a whole half period on the fence”
“...Gingras, who played a sensational article throughout, banged the rubber into the net”
A Montreal paper reported: “During the overtime, a record was kept of the shots stopped in goal by the men at each end. Oleson stopped ten and Nicholson had two chalked up to his credit”
“There was no doubt that the loss of Gardner was a severe handicap to the Montreal team and there were many who averred that with the big wing man in his place right through the game there would have been a great difference in the scoring. This, of course, is problematical, but there can be no doubt that Gardner’s mishap was a big loss to the team”
“Blachford checked well, but he did not have the same strength as Gardner”
“Scanlan was without doubt the cleanest player on the ice during the two matches, and in addition, was undoubtedly the most finished forward player of all those on the ice. Scanlan went into everything, took his medicine without making any bones about it, and not once, in spite of what must have been pretty severe provocation, did he make any effort at retaliation. It was a creditable record of a good man. Boon, too, also ought to be spoken of in this matter. He played a steady telling game in both matches, and played his game without any resort to unfair methods. The nice play and the effectiveness of this man demonstrates that tip-top hockey can be played without batting opponents to little, just because some one on the side thinks it would be a good sort of game to play”
“However, it is was then that the Flett boys and Oleson came to the rescue, and the excellence of their work save the Victorias from what seemed like certain defeat”
“Hodge is not as good a man as Bellingham”
“Rod Flett showed up in better form then on his first appearance, and Magnes Flett played a steadier game at cover. He was in the game all the time helping out the forwards, backing up and down with the puck, and proved a valuable and useful man”
“The trouble with the Winnipeg forward line was that everybody wanted to play to Scanlan and the latter was altogether too well fed. Then the centre men had a bad habit of butting into other people’s territory and trying to do work that was not expected of them. Cadham is a nice player and held his own pretty well for a small man. Keane is an in and outer, and was good in spots and when he was bad he was as bad as possible”
“On the Montreal line, Phillips, Hooper and Marshall worked splendidly and were in the game all the time. Phillips lived up to the promises he gave of good work and played a steady and consistent game on his wing, and as he was playing on the best man on the ice [I believe this is referencing Scanlan] his work was noticeable. Hooper was up in the scoring line and his goals were neat affairs and well deserved”
“Both goalkeepers deserve a word. Both were pressed hard and Nicholson and Oleson played useful hockey”
Another Montreal paper noted: “The Montreal team would have won if Gardner had not been rendered useless”
“His [Gardner’] knockout, which as far as human judgment can be relied upon, prevented the Montrealers from winning the match is a thing that will never be satisfactorily cleared up”
“Considering this [having played an Intermediate game earlier in the day], Blatchford played magnificently”
“The defence on both sides was wonderful. Oleson, the white-haired boy of the Victorias, played twenty two times better than he did on Thursday, and the two Fletts did not talk, but attended strictly to business. Rod had evidently got over the fatigue of his hurried journey, and Magnus, in addition to holding his position at cover efficiently, did some effective bodying, which must have helped to physically wear out some of the men who came in contact with him”
“Nicholson, for Montreal, took things as calmly as if he were at home, and Hodge played a splendid game, carrying the puck several times close up to the enemy’s goals, and stopping shot after shot that passed Boon, without allowing Nicholson a chance to save”
“Boon, tricky, quick and yet collected, played a careful, steady game, and often left his position, particularly when Gardner was put out of business, to give aid wherever it was needed”
“Phillips played rough, but made some great runs, and it was the result of one of these runs that he managed to score the second goal. Marshall played his usual good, devil-may-care game, and if he did not score he tried hard enough. Gardner was brilliant while he lasted, and when Hooper scored the first point, it was Gardner who assisted him”
“He [Scanlan] played hockey by the book. His play was finished, but it did not have the necessary impetus behind it to make it count”
“Kean would be an admirable player if he would drop his rough and rowdy ways, with which he has made a rather unenviable reputation for himself. Cadham, in size resembling Boon, did some excellent individual work, and Gingras showed some of his old form”
“A curious thing in the early part of the match occurred when John Marshall was ruled off. The human automobile of the Montreal team started to go off but then thought better of it and finally decided to stay on”
Final Score: 2-2 (game ended in a draw due to curfew)
Rosters
Winnipeg: Oleson in goal, R. Flett at point, M. Flett at cover, Keane at rover, Cadham at center, Scanlan and Gingras on the wings
Montreal: Nicholson in goal, Hodge at point, Boon at cover, Hooper at rover, Marshall at center, Phillips and Gardner (replaced by Blachford due to injury) on the wings
Winnipeg Victorias vs Montreal HC, 2 February 1903
A Winnipeg paper wrote: “Oleson in the flags was brilliant. The two Fletts played a star game and formed an almost impassable bulwark in front of the nets”
“On the forward line Kean was at first unsteady, but he got his sea-legs in the second half and thereafter became a terror”
“Gingras at times hung back, but waited his chance frequently and made some individual rushes that were disconcerting”
“The Montreal defence did not play the effective article that it exhibited Saturday, though Hodge probably showed up better. Blatchford seemed somewhat off color, while the others were at about their ordinary”
“Nicholson, in goal for Montreal, stopped very satisfactorily, and his work will bear the closest scrutiny, but in general the visiting team created the impression that it was not much extended and was master of the situation all the time”
“Kean playing a beautiful game”
A Montreal paper reported: “The absence of Gardner was felt and the fact that he was off reduced the value of their attack to some extent, and though his substitute played an excellent game, he was not Gardner, nor did he possess the fine checking qualities of the other man”
“The Victorias played a wonderful defence game, and Oleson should have his name mentioned in the despatches for a distinguished service order. He played a fine game in front of the net, stopping many stiff shots, and he picked out a few puzzling drives in a manner that compelled admiration from friend and opponent alike. The two Flett boys showed that they could go under pressure, and both of them played steadily throughout, and were always watchful and wary. Winnipeg’s victory was won by these three men, rather than the forwards”
“The Montreal defense was certainly a shade off. Hodge played a much superior game to that of Saturday night, but the unity of the defence did not appear to be so well preserved and the Winnipeg scores were made on what looked like easy chances”
“Keane had a particularly aptitude for getting in the road and effectively spoiled many a run [for his team]. But if Keane was a bother to his fellows, he proved extremely useful on the whole, and when he steadied down to serious hockey, he was the whole thing and figured three times in the scoring list. Cadham played a nice game and made a feature of slipping in among the defence men when there was a rush. Marshall on the other side displayed a similar tendency, and both players were warned by the referee and were in imminent danger of being benched. Scanlan, as usual, played a nice game but was not as effective as he was usually along when he went in front of the net, but he was clean and careful and did a lot of hard work. Gingras hung back a lot, depending on a chance for a rush, and he succeeded in getting in some dangerous runs, but failed to locate the net”
Another Montreal paper noted: “Like on Saturday, the defence on either side was great. If Nicholson a hard time of it in the second half, and particularly in the latter part thereof, being left almost entirely alone to guard the goals, Oleson, who in some way or other seemed almost as fleshy as Nicholson last night, had a hot experience in the first half
The two Fletts aided him well, but even with their best endeavors, the shots that were rained in on his stronghold came so swiftly and were so many that he had to use all his wits and all his guinness to turn a number of them aside.
The two goal-keepers were fairly even in their work. The two points would have been equal if it had not been that Rod Flett’s opponent was not his equal as far as physical condition went”
“Hodge did his best, but Rod Flett more than recovered from the fatigue which made him an uncertain quantity on Friday, was perfectly cool and collected, and with his fine well-fitted-out form, his red jersey, his white well-fitting knickerbockers, and his long black stockings, which in the distance through the haze that prevailed looked almost like long-legged boots, and with his immaculate white gauntlets, he looked like Life Guard in undress uniform”
“Magnus Flett, who also played a beautiful game had a somewhat similar advantage over Boon, for the latter was compelled at times to play cover point, rover and forward all combined. He certainly is a little wonder. He is not big enough to do any heavy checking, but he is quick enough to prevent any heavy checking being one to him”
“Phillips worked hard and made some great attempts to score, but seemed to run over the puck often”
“Blachford did wonderful work, but he was not sufficiently strong to keep up the pace of the company he was in. Hooper played a steady and careful game, and Marshall, with the bulldog tenacity for which he has become noted, and with his careless rushing in where more careful fellows would fear to go, managed to score”
“Little Cadham, Gingras, Kean, who seemed to have undergone a change of heart and to have taken a pledge to try and give up knocking out other people, although at times the temptation was too strong for him, and Scanlan, who always plays a gentlemanly game, were almost perfect in their work”
“Marshall, with his usual alertness, drew the puck”
“Marshall again had the best of the draw”
Final Score: 4-2 Winnipeg
Rosters
Winnipeg: Oleson in goal, R. Flett at point, M. Flett at cover, Keane at rover, Cadham at center, Scanlan and Gingras on the wings
Montreal: Nicholson in goal, Hodge at point, Boon at cover, Hooper at rover, Marshall at center, Phillips and Blachford on the wings
Winnipeg Victorias vs Montreal HC, 4 February 1903
A Winnipeg paper wrote: quoting the Montreal Herald- “While Phillips was the star of the ice, Montreal’s other three forwards were in great form. Hooper did not figure in the scoring, but was effective as if he had. He worked in close and placed the puck for the others to shoot. But his best work was the way he fell back on the defence, and time after time broke up the Vics.’ attack. Towards the end he played second cover point and was as sure as he could well be. Marshall, too, did great work in centre. Smith did not show up much in attack, but he was doing good work by keeping Scanlan out of the play and justified the change in the team. The weakest part of the Montreal team was the defence; Boon played a corking game and Bellingham was good, too. They did not work any too well together at times. Poor lifting and looseness in clearing made it look very dangerous more than once. Perhaps next to Phillips honors go to Kean. In spite of his disgraceful attack on Phillips at the end of the match, and his generally rough tactics, it must be admitted he is a player any team should be proud of. He has speed and is as strong a skater as there is playing to-day. He is a heady player and was dangerous till the gong had actually sounded. The other three were not in the same class. Scanlan was held down by Smith till within ten minutes of time, when Smith tired and onl then did Scanlan get in those brilliant runs of his which the Montreal crowd know so well. Gingras was no match for Phillips. Cadham played a fine game before he had to retire with an injured ankle. Dan Flett, who took his place, was of little use, except in body work, and he is certainly a peach at that”
“The Montrealers made some changes on their line up which proved beneficial. Bellingham was on at point in place of Hodge and Smith took Blachford’s place on the forwards. The latter division of the Montreal team put up a good article but the defence did not appear any too brilliant”
A Montreal paper reported: “The Montreal team did well by putting Smith on. He did not figure in the scoring, but he did a lot of good, steady checking, and kept Scanlan busy. Phillips went over to Gingras’ side and performed excellent service there. The presence of Bellingham was a distinct improvement to the team, and there was a finish about his play that was always encouraging”
“Winnipeg was unfortunate in losing the services of Cadham near the end of the first half, as Dan Flett, who replaced him, though a big man, was not by means the good player Cadham was”
“Phillips made another of his wonderful runs”
Another Montreal paper noted: “‘Dicky’ Boon, the wonderful little captain of the Montreal team…”
“He [Cadham] is a bright little man; a clever little player, and although Montreal will swear by Boon, his pluck and his good performance on the ice will always be remembered when this series of wonderful Stanley CUp matches is spoken of”
“He [Keane] is a fine player, and it seems strange that a man like he, who has sufficient ability to help win a match by mere good play should continually lay himself open to that sort of thing [he was kicked out of the game near the end]”
“Phillips proved himself a coming star last night. With a little more care, and a little more finish he will become one of the most brilliant players seen here. He played on a side of the team to which he is an utter stranger, and if it had not been for that, he would probably have scored much oftener”
“Every man did his duty, and Smith, who was probably the weakest as far as general condition went, did what was expected of him, and kept Scanlan from doing any effective work”
“Nicholson in goal, Boon at cover, Hooper, Marshall and Phillips on the forwards, all did wonderfully last night, and Bellingham, considering that he has been under the weather, played a really brilliant game”
A scoring table for the series was provided:
Final Score: 4-1 Montreal
Rosters
Winnipeg: Oleson in goal, R. Flett at point, M. Flett at cover, Keane at rover, Cadham (replaced by D. Flett) at center, Scanlan (LW) and Gingras (RW) on the wings
Montreal: Nicholson in goal, Bellingham at point, Boon at cover, Hooper at rover, Marshall at center, Phillips (LW) and Smith (RW) on the wings
Series Totals
A Winnipeg paper wrote: “‘Dicky’ Boon expressed himself as follows this morning: ‘The best team won. It was hockey. The ice was terrible, and that accounts for the poor quality of the match. The puck would not slide at all. It was difficult to move it. I am well satisfied with the team, and I do not see any reason why it should be changed. Phillips’ work satisfied me. He covered his man, did he not? That was the only game to play under conditions like those of yesterday, man against man’”
“Oleson in goal appeared at first a little nervous, but he put up a good game. He is a clever blocker and has his eye on the puck all the time. His stability at critical moments was quite noticeable. The position of point was played by the old timer, Roddy Flett, but this player is dropping away, and his work, while aggressive, was, at its best, only fair. He did not appear to realize the situation, and his blocking was not too rapid. He was a disappointment to his friends and possibly he realized the fact at times”
“”In the first place, Oleson, between the flags, was not equal to the occasion. He may be a good goalkeeper under ordinary conditions, but the novelty of the situation seemed to render his work mediocre, and he did not stop anything difficult during the game”
“Though Roddy Flett got off the train from a 1,500 mile trip just two hours before the match, he played with remarkable judgment, and was, in fact, the strong man of the seven throughout. Magnus also put up a creditable article, while Kean on the forward line the junior from whom much could not be reasonably expected, played with comparative brilliance. Scanlan and Cadham were working all the time, but never got a chance to shine. Their checks looked after them so diligently that they were in second place throughout. Gingras tried to use his body, but Referee Quinn would not let him, and, in fact, ruled him off once when he had not committed an offence”
“Hooper was a perfect whirlwind and got by the opposing defence for four goals. Nicholson in goal was a source of confidence to the defence, and Bellingham also put up a splendid game. Boon of course was peerless, while Phillips, who formerly played with Rat Portage, made a remarkable showing for a new man”
A Montreal paper reported: “The Winnipeg defence, to quote from the small boy, was a ‘mark’, even the redoubtable ‘Rod’ Rlett failed to stop that irresistible attack showered upon his citadel”
“Scanlan was the one steady player of the line last night, but he was alone. Gingras was a lamentable failure; while Keane and Cadham were good in spots. Scanlan played a game similar to the fine exhibitions he used to give when he wore a green and grey sweater, and was one of the champions of the world, but his work was lost owing to the failure of his three fellow forwards to help him out, and his gallant rushes were without avail”
“It was a hard task for a man to do [play after the 1,500 train trip], and while Flett, no doubt, played as good a game at point as it was in him to do, the evidence of his lond and tedious journey were only too plain, and when the youth of Magnus Flett failed in front, the experience of the older man was exerted to withstand the press for a while, but then the strain told and in the end he was down and out, so to speak. But even then the strong spirit showed itself, and many a rush was attempted, but nature’s demands were more powerful than those of the spirit and it was all in vain”
“Phillips was most fortunate in making his bow to a senior audience under such circumstances, and it is given to but few athletes to make their initial appearance in the first flight under such circumstances. The game he played fully justified the action of Montreal’s managers in sending him out, and he was a valuable acquisition to the attack last night. He played a strong and fairly fast game, checking well and considering that he was up against the best forward on the ice, Scanlan, he is entitled to due credit for his performance. Hooper and Marshall divided the honors in the centre, each doing yeoman service, and each figured largely in the scoring”
“The Montreal defence was steadiness itself; both Boon and Bellingham playing easily, always looking for the puck. Nicholson was not pressed and did not have a great deal of work to do”
Another Montreal paper noted: “Nicholson, he of the generous outlines, was there whenever he was needed except once. Bellingham at point played a cool, collected game, and Boon, although he did not score, was, as alert, as swift, and as tricky as ever”
“Phillips, the new Montreal man, formerly of McGill and before that of Rat Portage, showed up fairly well”
“Scanlan gave some fine exhibitions of stick handling even at the very beginning and made some beautiful runs, twisting in and out among the opposing players and managing to pass both Boon and Bellingham, but his efforts were always came to naught, and like Marshall, who goes at things like a wild bull, charging with his head down and half the time seeing nothing but the puck, the feet of the men opposed to him, and the bottom of the goalposts, he had some painful mishaps”
“Gingras, Cadham and Kean all made fine efforts at times, but there was no joint play and that spoiled all the good they might have done”
“The two Fletts did a good deal of talking and coaching but at times when it was really necessary to play, seemed bewildered, and lost their opportunities, and incidentally their goals”
“Marshall drew it with his accustomed quickness before the echo of the whistle had well died away”
“Gardner did some good individual work”
“Marshall, as is his custom, drew the puck when the referee’s whistle blew for the first game”
“Boon, however, at this stage of the game was putting up an excellent article of hockey under the prevailing conditions and kept rushing the puck back as fast as the Winnipeg people could bring it down”
Final Score: 8-1 Montreal HC
Rosters
Winnipeg: Oleson in goal, R. Flett at point, M. Flett at cover, Keane at rover, Cadham at center, Gingras at RW, and Scanlan at LW
Montreal: Nicholson in goal, Bellingham at point, Boon at cover, Hooper at rover, Marshall at center, Gardner at LW, and Phillips at RW
| Team | Goal Scorer | Assist | Assist |
| Montreal | Marshall | N/A | N/A |
| Montreal | Hooper | N/A | N/A |
| Montreal | Marshall or Hooper | N/A | N/A |
| Montreal | Hooper | N/A | N/A |
| Montreal | Gardner | N/A | N/A |
| Montreal | Hooper | N/A | N/A |
| Montreal | Hooper | N/A | N/A |
| Winnipeg | Keane | Scanlan | N/A |
| Montreal | Marshall or Gardner | Maybe Gardner | Bellingham |
Winnipeg Victorias vs Montreal HC, 31 January 1903
A Winnipeg paper wrote: “Oleson was blocking splendidly and the two Fletts maintained a capable defence. On the forward line Scanlan, GIngras and Cadham were keeping the Montreal busy. Kean was working every minute, but unfortunately showed lack of judgment in his tactics which caused him to spend 5 minutes less than a whole half period on the fence”
“...Gingras, who played a sensational article throughout, banged the rubber into the net”
A Montreal paper reported: “During the overtime, a record was kept of the shots stopped in goal by the men at each end. Oleson stopped ten and Nicholson had two chalked up to his credit”
“There was no doubt that the loss of Gardner was a severe handicap to the Montreal team and there were many who averred that with the big wing man in his place right through the game there would have been a great difference in the scoring. This, of course, is problematical, but there can be no doubt that Gardner’s mishap was a big loss to the team”
“Blachford checked well, but he did not have the same strength as Gardner”
“Scanlan was without doubt the cleanest player on the ice during the two matches, and in addition, was undoubtedly the most finished forward player of all those on the ice. Scanlan went into everything, took his medicine without making any bones about it, and not once, in spite of what must have been pretty severe provocation, did he make any effort at retaliation. It was a creditable record of a good man. Boon, too, also ought to be spoken of in this matter. He played a steady telling game in both matches, and played his game without any resort to unfair methods. The nice play and the effectiveness of this man demonstrates that tip-top hockey can be played without batting opponents to little, just because some one on the side thinks it would be a good sort of game to play”
“However, it is was then that the Flett boys and Oleson came to the rescue, and the excellence of their work save the Victorias from what seemed like certain defeat”
“Hodge is not as good a man as Bellingham”
“Rod Flett showed up in better form then on his first appearance, and Magnes Flett played a steadier game at cover. He was in the game all the time helping out the forwards, backing up and down with the puck, and proved a valuable and useful man”
“The trouble with the Winnipeg forward line was that everybody wanted to play to Scanlan and the latter was altogether too well fed. Then the centre men had a bad habit of butting into other people’s territory and trying to do work that was not expected of them. Cadham is a nice player and held his own pretty well for a small man. Keane is an in and outer, and was good in spots and when he was bad he was as bad as possible”
“On the Montreal line, Phillips, Hooper and Marshall worked splendidly and were in the game all the time. Phillips lived up to the promises he gave of good work and played a steady and consistent game on his wing, and as he was playing on the best man on the ice [I believe this is referencing Scanlan] his work was noticeable. Hooper was up in the scoring line and his goals were neat affairs and well deserved”
“Both goalkeepers deserve a word. Both were pressed hard and Nicholson and Oleson played useful hockey”
Another Montreal paper noted: “The Montreal team would have won if Gardner had not been rendered useless”
“His [Gardner’] knockout, which as far as human judgment can be relied upon, prevented the Montrealers from winning the match is a thing that will never be satisfactorily cleared up”
“Considering this [having played an Intermediate game earlier in the day], Blatchford played magnificently”
“The defence on both sides was wonderful. Oleson, the white-haired boy of the Victorias, played twenty two times better than he did on Thursday, and the two Fletts did not talk, but attended strictly to business. Rod had evidently got over the fatigue of his hurried journey, and Magnus, in addition to holding his position at cover efficiently, did some effective bodying, which must have helped to physically wear out some of the men who came in contact with him”
“Nicholson, for Montreal, took things as calmly as if he were at home, and Hodge played a splendid game, carrying the puck several times close up to the enemy’s goals, and stopping shot after shot that passed Boon, without allowing Nicholson a chance to save”
“Boon, tricky, quick and yet collected, played a careful, steady game, and often left his position, particularly when Gardner was put out of business, to give aid wherever it was needed”
“Phillips played rough, but made some great runs, and it was the result of one of these runs that he managed to score the second goal. Marshall played his usual good, devil-may-care game, and if he did not score he tried hard enough. Gardner was brilliant while he lasted, and when Hooper scored the first point, it was Gardner who assisted him”
“He [Scanlan] played hockey by the book. His play was finished, but it did not have the necessary impetus behind it to make it count”
“Kean would be an admirable player if he would drop his rough and rowdy ways, with which he has made a rather unenviable reputation for himself. Cadham, in size resembling Boon, did some excellent individual work, and Gingras showed some of his old form”
“A curious thing in the early part of the match occurred when John Marshall was ruled off. The human automobile of the Montreal team started to go off but then thought better of it and finally decided to stay on”
Final Score: 2-2 (game ended in a draw due to curfew)
Rosters
Winnipeg: Oleson in goal, R. Flett at point, M. Flett at cover, Keane at rover, Cadham at center, Scanlan and Gingras on the wings
Montreal: Nicholson in goal, Hodge at point, Boon at cover, Hooper at rover, Marshall at center, Phillips and Gardner (replaced by Blachford due to injury) on the wings
| Team | Goal Scorer | Assist | Assist |
| Montreal | Hooper | Gardner | N/A |
| Montreal | Hooper or Phillips | N/A | N/A |
| Winnipeg | GIngras | N/A | N/A |
| Winnipeg | Gingras or Cadham | N/A | N/A |
Winnipeg Victorias vs Montreal HC, 2 February 1903
A Winnipeg paper wrote: “Oleson in the flags was brilliant. The two Fletts played a star game and formed an almost impassable bulwark in front of the nets”
“On the forward line Kean was at first unsteady, but he got his sea-legs in the second half and thereafter became a terror”
“Gingras at times hung back, but waited his chance frequently and made some individual rushes that were disconcerting”
“The Montreal defence did not play the effective article that it exhibited Saturday, though Hodge probably showed up better. Blatchford seemed somewhat off color, while the others were at about their ordinary”
“Nicholson, in goal for Montreal, stopped very satisfactorily, and his work will bear the closest scrutiny, but in general the visiting team created the impression that it was not much extended and was master of the situation all the time”
“Kean playing a beautiful game”
A Montreal paper reported: “The absence of Gardner was felt and the fact that he was off reduced the value of their attack to some extent, and though his substitute played an excellent game, he was not Gardner, nor did he possess the fine checking qualities of the other man”
“The Victorias played a wonderful defence game, and Oleson should have his name mentioned in the despatches for a distinguished service order. He played a fine game in front of the net, stopping many stiff shots, and he picked out a few puzzling drives in a manner that compelled admiration from friend and opponent alike. The two Flett boys showed that they could go under pressure, and both of them played steadily throughout, and were always watchful and wary. Winnipeg’s victory was won by these three men, rather than the forwards”
“The Montreal defense was certainly a shade off. Hodge played a much superior game to that of Saturday night, but the unity of the defence did not appear to be so well preserved and the Winnipeg scores were made on what looked like easy chances”
“Keane had a particularly aptitude for getting in the road and effectively spoiled many a run [for his team]. But if Keane was a bother to his fellows, he proved extremely useful on the whole, and when he steadied down to serious hockey, he was the whole thing and figured three times in the scoring list. Cadham played a nice game and made a feature of slipping in among the defence men when there was a rush. Marshall on the other side displayed a similar tendency, and both players were warned by the referee and were in imminent danger of being benched. Scanlan, as usual, played a nice game but was not as effective as he was usually along when he went in front of the net, but he was clean and careful and did a lot of hard work. Gingras hung back a lot, depending on a chance for a rush, and he succeeded in getting in some dangerous runs, but failed to locate the net”
Another Montreal paper noted: “Like on Saturday, the defence on either side was great. If Nicholson a hard time of it in the second half, and particularly in the latter part thereof, being left almost entirely alone to guard the goals, Oleson, who in some way or other seemed almost as fleshy as Nicholson last night, had a hot experience in the first half
The two Fletts aided him well, but even with their best endeavors, the shots that were rained in on his stronghold came so swiftly and were so many that he had to use all his wits and all his guinness to turn a number of them aside.
The two goal-keepers were fairly even in their work. The two points would have been equal if it had not been that Rod Flett’s opponent was not his equal as far as physical condition went”
“Hodge did his best, but Rod Flett more than recovered from the fatigue which made him an uncertain quantity on Friday, was perfectly cool and collected, and with his fine well-fitted-out form, his red jersey, his white well-fitting knickerbockers, and his long black stockings, which in the distance through the haze that prevailed looked almost like long-legged boots, and with his immaculate white gauntlets, he looked like Life Guard in undress uniform”
“Magnus Flett, who also played a beautiful game had a somewhat similar advantage over Boon, for the latter was compelled at times to play cover point, rover and forward all combined. He certainly is a little wonder. He is not big enough to do any heavy checking, but he is quick enough to prevent any heavy checking being one to him”
“Phillips worked hard and made some great attempts to score, but seemed to run over the puck often”
“Blachford did wonderful work, but he was not sufficiently strong to keep up the pace of the company he was in. Hooper played a steady and careful game, and Marshall, with the bulldog tenacity for which he has become noted, and with his careless rushing in where more careful fellows would fear to go, managed to score”
“Little Cadham, Gingras, Kean, who seemed to have undergone a change of heart and to have taken a pledge to try and give up knocking out other people, although at times the temptation was too strong for him, and Scanlan, who always plays a gentlemanly game, were almost perfect in their work”
“Marshall, with his usual alertness, drew the puck”
“Marshall again had the best of the draw”
Final Score: 4-2 Winnipeg
Rosters
Winnipeg: Oleson in goal, R. Flett at point, M. Flett at cover, Keane at rover, Cadham at center, Scanlan and Gingras on the wings
Montreal: Nicholson in goal, Hodge at point, Boon at cover, Hooper at rover, Marshall at center, Phillips and Blachford on the wings
| Team | Goal Scorer | Assist | Assist |
| Winnipeg | Keane | N/A | N/A |
| Winnipeg | Scanlan | N/A | N/A |
| Montreal | Marshall | Phillips | N/A |
| Winnipeg | Keane | N/A | N/A |
| Montreal | Marshall or Phillips | N/A | N/A |
| Winnipeg | Keane | N/A | N/A |
Winnipeg Victorias vs Montreal HC, 4 February 1903
A Winnipeg paper wrote: quoting the Montreal Herald- “While Phillips was the star of the ice, Montreal’s other three forwards were in great form. Hooper did not figure in the scoring, but was effective as if he had. He worked in close and placed the puck for the others to shoot. But his best work was the way he fell back on the defence, and time after time broke up the Vics.’ attack. Towards the end he played second cover point and was as sure as he could well be. Marshall, too, did great work in centre. Smith did not show up much in attack, but he was doing good work by keeping Scanlan out of the play and justified the change in the team. The weakest part of the Montreal team was the defence; Boon played a corking game and Bellingham was good, too. They did not work any too well together at times. Poor lifting and looseness in clearing made it look very dangerous more than once. Perhaps next to Phillips honors go to Kean. In spite of his disgraceful attack on Phillips at the end of the match, and his generally rough tactics, it must be admitted he is a player any team should be proud of. He has speed and is as strong a skater as there is playing to-day. He is a heady player and was dangerous till the gong had actually sounded. The other three were not in the same class. Scanlan was held down by Smith till within ten minutes of time, when Smith tired and onl then did Scanlan get in those brilliant runs of his which the Montreal crowd know so well. Gingras was no match for Phillips. Cadham played a fine game before he had to retire with an injured ankle. Dan Flett, who took his place, was of little use, except in body work, and he is certainly a peach at that”
“The Montrealers made some changes on their line up which proved beneficial. Bellingham was on at point in place of Hodge and Smith took Blachford’s place on the forwards. The latter division of the Montreal team put up a good article but the defence did not appear any too brilliant”
A Montreal paper reported: “The Montreal team did well by putting Smith on. He did not figure in the scoring, but he did a lot of good, steady checking, and kept Scanlan busy. Phillips went over to Gingras’ side and performed excellent service there. The presence of Bellingham was a distinct improvement to the team, and there was a finish about his play that was always encouraging”
“Winnipeg was unfortunate in losing the services of Cadham near the end of the first half, as Dan Flett, who replaced him, though a big man, was not by means the good player Cadham was”
“Phillips made another of his wonderful runs”
Another Montreal paper noted: “‘Dicky’ Boon, the wonderful little captain of the Montreal team…”
“He [Cadham] is a bright little man; a clever little player, and although Montreal will swear by Boon, his pluck and his good performance on the ice will always be remembered when this series of wonderful Stanley CUp matches is spoken of”
“He [Keane] is a fine player, and it seems strange that a man like he, who has sufficient ability to help win a match by mere good play should continually lay himself open to that sort of thing [he was kicked out of the game near the end]”
“Phillips proved himself a coming star last night. With a little more care, and a little more finish he will become one of the most brilliant players seen here. He played on a side of the team to which he is an utter stranger, and if it had not been for that, he would probably have scored much oftener”
“Every man did his duty, and Smith, who was probably the weakest as far as general condition went, did what was expected of him, and kept Scanlan from doing any effective work”
“Nicholson in goal, Boon at cover, Hooper, Marshall and Phillips on the forwards, all did wonderfully last night, and Bellingham, considering that he has been under the weather, played a really brilliant game”
A scoring table for the series was provided:
| Name | Team | Goals |
| Marshall | Montreal | 7 |
| Hooper | Montreal | 5 |
| Kean | Winnipeg | 5 |
| Phillips | Montreal | 3 |
| GIngras | Winnipeg | 2 |
| Gardner | Montreal | 1 |
| Scanlan | Winnipeg | 1 |
Final Score: 4-1 Montreal
Rosters
Winnipeg: Oleson in goal, R. Flett at point, M. Flett at cover, Keane at rover, Cadham (replaced by D. Flett) at center, Scanlan (LW) and Gingras (RW) on the wings
Montreal: Nicholson in goal, Bellingham at point, Boon at cover, Hooper at rover, Marshall at center, Phillips (LW) and Smith (RW) on the wings
| Team | Goal Scorer | Assist | Assist |
| Montreal | Hooper or Marshall | N/A | N/A |
| Winnipeg | Keane | N/A | N/A |
| Montreal | Phillips | N/A | N/A |
| Montreal | Phillips | N/A | N/A |
| Montreal | Marshall | Hooper | N/A |
Series Totals
| Name | Team | Position | Goals | Assists | Points |
| Archie Hooper | Montreal HC | Rover | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Billy Keane (Kean) | Winnipeg Victorias | Rover | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Jack Marshall | Montreal HC | Center | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Tommy Phillips | Montreal HC | Wing | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Jimmy Gardner | Montreal HC | Wing | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Fred Scanlan | Winnipeg Victorias | Wing | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Tony Gingras | Winnipeg Victorias | Wing | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| William Bellingham | Montreal HC | Point | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Maybe Gardner | Montreal HC | Wing | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Hooper or Marshall | Montreal HC | N/A | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Cadham or GIngras | Winnipeg Victorias | N/A | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Gardner or Marshall | Montreal HC | N/A | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Marshall or Phillips | Montreal HC | N/A | 1 | 0 | 1 |
