Niagara Falls Cataracts

The Niagara Falls Cataracts were a Canadian minor professional ice hockey team located in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The franchise played for four seasons with the first three coming in the Canadian Professional Hockey League. In 1929, the league was reformed as the International Hockey League.[1]

Niagara Falls Cataracts
CityNiagara Falls, Ontario
LeagueCanadian Professional Hockey League (1926–1929)
International Hockey League (1929–1930)
Founded1926
Folded1930

History

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Niagara was one of the founding members of the CPHL in 1926 which consisted entirely of Canadian teams from southern Ontario. The team was rather unsuccessful, finishing last in the league in two out of three seasons. Despite their struggles, the Cataracts joined the rest of the league members in 1929 by dissolving the CPHL and reforming in the International Hockey League. Niagara once again finished last in the standings and decided to call it quits after the season.[2]

During their final season, tragedy befell a member of the team when Edward Baker was fatally injured during a game. On January 9, against the Buffalo Bisons, Baker collided with his teammate, Lloyd Gross and suffered a skull fracture as a result. Baker remained conscious and skated off of the ice under his own power. He was later taken to a local hospital where he died the following morning at the age of 26. His death was ruled to have been accidental and no inquest was held.[3]

Former NHL star and Hockey Hall of Famer Newsy Lalonde coached Niagara Falls during the 1928–29 season.

Season-by-season record

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Season GP W L T Pts GF GA Place Playoffs
1926–27 32 12 19 1 25 78 81 5th missed
1927–28 42 13 17 12 36 89 99 6th missed
1928–29 42 12 28 2 26 70 128 8th missed
1929–30 42 7 28 7 21 72 133 8th missed
Totals 158 44 92 22 309 441

References

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  1. ^ Ross, J. Andrew (2015). Joining the Clubs: The Business of the National Hockey League to 1945. Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press. ISBN 978-0-8156-3383-9.
  2. ^ "Hockey". Windsor Star. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  3. ^ "Falls Hockey Star Fatally Injured". Montreal Gazette. January 11, 1930. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
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