The Montreal Candiens were one of the original clubs to start the National Hockey Association (NHA) - the fore-runner of the NHL. The Renfrew Creamery Kings - a.k.a. the "Millionaires" were a bust after two seasons and from their ashes
Didier Pitre (pictured on this C56 from 1910) was the very first player to be signed by the Montreal Canadiens.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWONO5woWujNgBEpWvmtBbd1ngPKe7pikcyFs5qefsieZGMTpaqjK7dayVJl4bI-hap6vMihrISQ1dL1DQhcJeGsM_G2I0wJJzXvrpkb0GJGttbmaIL6hbvGkS1ONo0Z4HDCJc-YOzdgD/s400/C56+-+Pitre+3.jpg)
It took about half of a decade but the Canadiens won their first Stanley Cup in 1915-16 season.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdTbHheW_1KNrYGPu4d8CKPt1u-RlrujNhkM-v0ihGP1FkrIUZq6Xxr526r_Gs45M_Opv2HGtmTDnqYvMnx7uXGiRysKtu6RlUAx7wVKVcloYwJs4KVVSJ_rpKWiXlGYr6WTvcNK2OwP9/s400/100years_canadiens.jpg)
In addition to Pitre, the club boasted 3 other future Hall of Famers -
Jack Laviolette and
Newsy Lelonde - who alternated as Captains, and the immortalized goalie -
George Vezina. The team's only goalie from 1910 to 1926 - Vezina died prematurely from tuberculosis. The club donated the now heralded trophy the following year to goalies who are the best each season.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCljBYRk8OrhJ4EXaWhr5sk2Rk_DhviHqvwx6IYXJmdu-5WGxrsAtpPFtitMaIMfo5VfO2SRYQ3Y1YLfDcaGmPISWveJwZ_9i2rX2S5Ox5Q1ptuR6_-nIE7P_Xkf9e0ZTkyk41EUq6FnGa/s400/C55+-+Vezina.jpg)
While the Stanley Cup was only won once by the Canadiens during this period, the club could have added a second if not for the influenza epidemic of 1919 which claimed the life of more than a few players. They did finish with the best record in the NHL on several occasions with their stars topping the scoring charts regularly.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUU8U-eISYH3fXwXtIwTEOPBtrJzdG5GsWnzCe8oh7HsdaHM2JhYS6_aepUKMVPSkxD__Z43GH366ZuStjRc4s6lUfuie_aJuMWtx0XzYJ9uCyo3j26ocqPY-rV9UIlr9_-aqYuCOcLsI_/s400/C55+-+Canadiens+3.jpg)
Contesting the Les Canadiens in the new league's inaugural season were - Cobalt Silver Kings, Haileybery Comets, Montreal Shamrocks, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators, Quebec Bulldogs and Renfrew Creamery Kings. (pictured are the players from the
C55 Imperial Tobacco set from 1911-12)
NHA ceased to exist and the NHL began play in 1917. League stability and World War I (1914-1918) were great factors that pressured survival of this franchise in its first decade. But the best was yet to come.
1 comment:
Cool looking site, lots of old ass cards. It's incredible to think about just how old they are.
Keep it up.
-Justin
(The Hockey Card Show)
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