1948-49

Logo & Uniform Changes:

• The Hamilton Kings update their logo and adjust the striping on both sweaters
• Buffalo reverses the trim colours on their white jersey.

Standings:

Canadian Division

1. Montreal
2. Buffalo
3. Vancouver
4. Hamilton
5. Toronto

American Division

1. Boston
2. Philadelphia
3. Chicago
4. Detroit
5. New York

Season Summary:

The biggest story entering the 1948-49 season was the situations in Philadelphia and Vancouver. Milt Stevenson had been unable to sell the Redshirts during the off-season and by January, 1949 the team had lost so much money they could not meet payroll. It appeared that after 46 seasons in three different leagues, the Redshirts were finished, until veteren, defenseman Tom Lapin led the players and staff in a vote where they decided to play for free for the remainder of the season to give the franchise a chance to survive. "We loved Philly and we loved the game, that's why we did it." said a 90-year-old Lapin in 2010. "It was different back then, now it's all about money." The Redshirts not only survived the season, they won their final 14 games in a row to finish second in the American Division. Meanwhile in Vancouver, the Bighorns enjoyed their best season yet, finishing third in the Canadian Division. However, the travel expenses as well as the lack of interest at times from a fan base used to watching local junior hockey began to take a toll on the extremely isolated franchise. In New York, Skippy Cleveland suffered a horrific injury in November when he slid into the boards head-first. Cleveland fought for his life for 6 weeks before finally coming out of the coma in late December. He missed the rest of the season and the Civics slipped to last place in the American Division. In the playoffs, Buffalo finally caught fire, sweeping the Vancouver Bighorns in 4 straight before winning a classic battle with the Royale in 7 games to advance to the Lewis Cup finals. Boston defeated Philadelphia in a nasty 6-game series that saw a lot of fights including a brawl in game 4, while Chicago defeated Detroit in 5 games. After a tough 7-game series with the Bulldogs, the Chicago Shamrocks advanced to their second consecutive Lewis Cup final. Buffalo goaltender James Whyte turned in a couragous performance in the finals despite suffering from severe abdominal pain, including a 64-save shutout to claim the Lewis Cup in game 6. Buffalo finally won a big-league championship but it would come at a price. Less than two weeks after game six, James Whyte died of a liver infection at his home in Fredricton, New Brunswick. The league created the Whyte Trophy in his honour to be awarded to the league's top goaltender every year. In Philadelphia, a dramatic 3 years off the ice finally came to an end when a local Millionaire, Bob Wells, offered to purchase the team and keep it in Philadelphia. The Redshirts were saved, but Vancouver would not be so lucky. In June, 1949, Bighorns owner Gerald Smythe anounced both he and the team were bankrupt. The team was forced to fold, leaving the league at 9 teams.

1947-48

Logo & Uniform Changes:

• Vancouver drops their orange alternate sweater.
• New York simplifies the arm striping on their blue sweater and adds the players' numbers to the front of both jerseys, right below the wordmark.

Standings:

Canadian Division:

1. Montreal
2. Buffalo
3. Toronto
4. Edmonton
5. Hamilton

American Division

1. Chicago
2. Boston
3. Philadelphia
4. New York
5. Detroit

Season Summary:

The 1947-48 season was a bizzare one for several teams. The Hamilton Kings appeared to run out of gas after their big run the previous year. Star players Frankie Jenkins and Ted Nixon were both injured early in the season and frustrated 18-year veteran Gilbert Wriggly retired in January, 1948. As a result, the Kings fell to a last place finish in the Canadian Division. Meanwhile, the Montreal Royale, spurred by young phenom Pierre Drouin, climbed all the way from the basement back to first place. In the American Division, Detroit fell to last place, while the Philadelphia Redshirts, still clinging to life as a franchise, overcame their financial problems and rumors about their future to finish in third place and back in the playoffs for the first time since 1944.

In the playoffs, Montreal dominated Vancouver and Buffalo, not allowing a goal until game 2 against Buffalo. They would face the Chicago Shamrocks in the Lewis Cup final, where the Shamrocks would sweep them in 4 straight to capture their second cup. Early in the summer of 1948, Milt Stevenson anounced he had struck a deal to sell the Redshirts to a wealthy Quebec City businessman named Jean Poulette. The team would be called the Quebec Nationale. The deal fell through, however, when the Poulette couldn't come up with the down payment in time. The Redshirts would stay in Philly for at least one more year.

1946-47

Logo & Uniform Changes

• The league begins to pressure New York and Chicago to create white uniforms for contrast. New York complies, creating a plain white sweater for road games against Toronto, Detroit, and Hamilton.

Standings:

Canadian Division

• Hamilton
• Buffalo
• Toronto
• Vancouver
• Montreal

American Division

• Chicago
• New York
• Detroit
• Boston
• Philadelphia

Season Summary:

The biggest change at the beginning of the 1946-47 season occured when the league decided to create two divisions. Toronto, Montreal, Hamilton, Buffalo, and Vancouver formed the Canadian Division, while New York, Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia, amd Chicago formed the American Division. The Hamilton Kings entered the 1946-47 season aggressively seeking their first Lewis Cup. They traded 17-year veteran Johnny Williams to Buffalo for young star Frankie Jenkins. Jenkins led Hamilton in scoring with 38 goals as the Kings finished first overall with a 29-5-3-3 record. Meanwhile, in Buffalo, Johnny Williams provided veteran leadership for a young team, helping them to a fourth place finish. In their second season, Vancouver sqeezed into the playoffs despite a brutal traveling schedule. The Montreal Royale Missed the playoffs for the first time in their history with only 18 wins. Philadelphia finished in last place, but on-ice futility was the least of their worries. When Milt Stevenson decided to sell the Redshirts in the summer of 1946, he could not find a buyer. now he was listening to potential buyers from other cities, with Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Ottawa, and St. Louis showing interest. In the playoffs, Hamilton continued their magical season, defeating the Vancouver Bighorns and Toronto Racers before taking out the Boston Bulldogs in a thrilling 7 game final to claim their first Lewis Cup.

1945-46

Logo & Uniform Changes:

• Two expansion teams join the league, the Vancouver Bighorns, who make their debut wearing Maroon and orange uniforms, and the Buffalo Bulls, who wear red and green.
• The Philadelphia Redshirts change their uniforms to a more modern look.

Standings:

1. Detroit
2. New York
3. Buffalo
4. Hamilton
5. Boston
6. Toronto
7. Montreal
8. Chicago
9. Philadelphia
10. Vancouver

Season Summary:

The PHL's seventh season would see the league experiment with western expansion for the first time as the Vancouver Bighorns joined the league. A second franchise, the Buffalo Bulls also made their debut. 1945-46 would also see many star players return from the war including George Allen, who would finally make his debut with the New York Civics over a year after being claimed in the dispersal draft. Allen would team up with Skippy Cleveland and talented rookie Bernie Bassen to form the ABC line, leading the Civics to second place. The Detroit Mustangs, led by rookie Allan Keenan climbed to first place. But the real surprise was the expansion Buffalo, who finished in third place. The playoff format was changed once again to include eight teams and the final series was extended to a best of 7. New York continued their impressive run through the playoffs, reaching the finals for the first time in their history. The Boston Bulldogs continued their dominance, however, defeated the Civics in 7 games to take their fourth consecutive Lewis Cup.

1944-45

Standings:

1. Boston

2. Chicago

3. Montreal

4. Detroit

5. New York

6. Toronto

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7. Hamilton

8. Philadelphia

Season Summary:

1944-45 begins with a league-wide dispersal draft for the now-defunct Windsor Wings. New York gets the first pick and selects star forward George Allen. Allen does not suit up for the Civics, however, as he is still at war. Despite this, the Civics return to the post-season on a 40-goal effort from Skippy Cleveland. A young Philadelphia club finishes last place with only 7 wins all season, while a demoralized Hamilton squad drops out of the playoffs after the devestating news the their star defenseman, Ben Ridley, had been killed in the war. In the playoffs, the format is changed to the same 6-team format used through the late 1930s. Boston and Chicago earn a first round bye and both take advantage as they meet in the finals. Boston defeats the Shamrocks in overtime of game 5, becoming the first team in league history to win three consecutive Lewis Cups.

1943-44

Team Standings:

1. Boston

2. Chicago

3. Windsor

4. Hamilton

5. Toronto

6. Montreal

7. Detroit

8. Philadelphia

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9. New York

Season Summary:

The 1943-44 Season began with several teams weakened by the war effort. Windsor in particular saw 5 of it's players leave for military duty including superstars Gil Matthews and George Allen. In the wake of dissapointing season, Toronto and Hamilton both fired their coaches after the 1942-43 season. The Racers hired longtime winger Chuck Patrick as their new head coach and improved to 5th place. New York once again found themselves outside of the playoff picture. However, there would be a twist at the end of the season. The once powerful Windsor Wings, depleted from the war and losing money every day, would be forced to suspend operations at seasons end, reducing the league to 8 teams and allowing New York into the playoffs. This would be the only time in history that every team in the league would participate in the playoffs. In the playoffs Boston proved to be dominant once again, soundly defeating New York, Detroit, and Chicago to become the first team to win back-to-back Lewis Cups.

1942-43 Season

Logo & Uniform Changes:

• Montreal simplifies their look, eliminating the "barber pole" striping, leaving only a few stripes on the arms and waist.

Team Standings:

1. Windsor

2. Chicago

3. Montreal

4. Detroit

5. Boston

6. Hamilton

7. Philadelphia

8. New York

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9. Toronto

Season Summary:

World War II began to take it's toll on the PHL at the start of the 1942-43 season. The Erie Penguins were forced into bankruptcy early in the summer while a large part of their roster signed up for military duty. In September, 1942, The Penguins were forced to suspend operations, leaving the league at nine teams. Despite facing serious financial difficulties of their own, the Windsor Wings continued to dominate during the regular season, once again finishing first overall. George Allen led the team in scoring. The New York Civics finally reached the playoffs with Skippy Cleveland leading the league in scoring and goaltender Dick Wallace leading the league in shutouts. Toronto struggled all season after losing several stars to the military, plummeting to last place. In the playoffs, Windsor dominated New York and Montreal to reach the finals, where they would face the Boston Bulldogs. The Bulldogs never let the Wings into the series, defeating them in 3 straight.

1941-42 Season

Logo & Uniform Changes:

• Realizing that their uniforms are very similar to the Philadelphia Redshirts, the Hamilton Kings change to a primarily blue uniform.
• The Erie Penguins make a slight adjustment to their white sweater.
• Montreal updates to maroon pants.

Standings:

1. Windsor

2. Philadelphia

3. Montreal

4. Chicago

5. Hamilton

6. Toronto

7. Boston

8. Erie

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9. Detroit

10. New York

Season Summary:

The 1941 offseason was a difficult one for the PHL. The death of Henry Lewis weighed heavily on everybody. Ed Norman was named league president in Lewis' place and his first move was to donate a new championship trophy in his name, the Lewis Cup. The Windsor Wings picked up where they left off, winning their first 21 games of the season and eventually finishing first overall with star winger George Allen leading the way with 36 goals. Erie reached the playoffs for the first time in franchise history but lost to Windsor in 2 straight. The Chicago Shamrocks capped off a mediocre regular season with a big run in the playoffs, led by the "Kid" line of Willy Redman, Johnny Garfield, and Bob Stevens. Toronto bounced back after a somewhat dissapointing 1940-41 season to reach their second final against the Shamrocks. The Racers won game one of the final and appeared to have the upper hand in the series, until goaltender Marcel Roy was suspended for the remainder of the series for am attack on referee Bernie Smith. Chicago took advantage of inexperienced netminder Bip Gelinas, winning the Lewis Cup in 4 games.

1

1940-41 Season

Uniform & Logo Changes:

• The Erie Penguins are added as the PHL's tenth franchise. They wear black and white sweaters with "Erie" running down the front.

Standings:

1. Montreal

2. Phialdelphia

3. Windsor

4. Boston

5. Hamilton

6. Toronto

7. Chicago

8. Detroit

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9. New York

10. Erie

Season Summary:

The PHL kicked off it’s second season by introducing it's first expansion team, the Erie Penguins. With the addition of the Penguins, the league now stood at ten teams, with eight now making the playoffs. Erie purchased the roster of the struggling Moncton Lions of the Canadian Minor Hockey League and recruited some young players of their own as well, the result was a last-place finish. Montreal dominated the regular season with a 33-4-3 record to take first place overall, while the Philadelphia Redshirts dramatically improved to second-place on the stellar play of second-year goaltender Bill Lawrence. In the playoffs, Windsor managed to take out the defending champion Toronto Racers, before upsetting the Montreal Royale to advance to the league final. In the finals, the Wings swept the Hamilton Kings in 3 straight games to take the championship. Tragedy would strike shortly after, however, when league president Henry Lewis was found dead in a Windsor Motel the morning after game 3. Doctors said he died of a heart-attack.

1939-40 Season

Standings:

1. Hamilton
2. Detroit
3. Toronto
4. Chicago
5. Montreal
6. Boston
7. Philadelphia
8. Windsor
9. New York

For two decades, pro hockey was played in three major leagues; the Southern Ontario Hockey League, the American Professional Hockey Association, and the Quebec Hockey League. After years of fighting between the two leagues it was decided to create a new league made up of the top teams from each league and the Professional Hockey League (PHL) was formed with former Toronto Racers owner Henry Lewis elected as league president. The Hamilton Kings dominated the regular season on a 30-goal effort from 10-year veteran Johnny Williams. The New York Civics finished last place despite a big rookie season from 16-year-old Sam "Skippy" Cleveland. The Toronto Racers caught fire in the playoffs, defeating Chicago before pulling off a huge upset over the rival Kings in the semifinals to face the Montreal Royale in the finals. In the best-of-5 final, Montreal took a 2-0 series lead before the Racers stormed back to win the championship with winger Wally Girard scoring the winner in game 5.