Semi Professional hockey, not enough to classify them as true professional leagues but cannot call them amateur either. In the early 1900's such a league was in existence in the United States. The Western Pennsylvania Hockey League started the route to true professional leagues being formed in 1904.
Western Pennsylvania Hockey League (1901-04)
The Western Pennsylvania Hockey League (1901-1904) was the earliest semi-professional league in existence. Although there were many accusations of players recieving money to play in amateur leagues, this league offered paid salary and employment inducements. At this time all the leagues in Canada were still amateur status and the effect was to draw many Canadian players to this league. In addition there wre a number of Canadian players that had been banned in Canada under the amateur rules that took the opportunity to continue to play in this league. All games were played at Pittsburgh’s Duquesne Gardens, at one of only two artificial ice surfaces at that time in North America. Until the 1904-05 season the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League champion played the Portage Lakes Hockey Club from Houghton, Michigan for the Championship of the United States.
Western Pennsylvania Hockey League (1901-04) Franchises
Pittsburgh Keystones (1901-1904)
Pittsburgh Athletic Club (1901-1904)
Pittsburgh Bankers (1901-1904)
Pittsburgh Victorias (1902-1904)
Western Pennsylvania Hockey League (1901-04) Champions
|
|
Champion
|
| 1902 |
Pittsburgh Keystones |
1903 |
Pittsburgh Bankers |
1904 |
Pittsburgh Victorias |
Year |
Additional Championships |
1902 |
|
1903 |
Pittsburgh Bankers lost to Portage Lakes who had an exhibition record of 13-1, for the US Championship. |
1904 |
Pittsburgh Victorias lost to Portage Lakes who had an exhibition record of 13-1, for the US Championship. Portage Lakes went on to defeat the Montreal Wanderers 2-0 in what was called the World Series. |
Western Pennsylvania Hockey League (1901-04) Season
| 1902 Season | GP
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
GF
|
GA
|
PTs
|
| Pittsburgh Keystones | 14 |
9 |
5 |
0 |
42 |
32 |
18 |
| Pittsburgh Athletic Club | 14 |
8 |
6 |
0 |
46 |
28 |
16 |
| Pittsburgh Bankers | 14 |
4 |
10 |
0 |
27 |
55 |
8 |
| 1903 Season | GP
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
GF
|
GA
|
PTs
|
| Pittsburgh Bankers | 14 |
10 |
3 |
1 |
58 |
18 |
19 |
| Pittsburgh Athletic Club | 13 |
7 |
5 |
1 |
36 |
32 |
15 |
| Pittsburgh Victorias | 14 |
7 |
7 |
0 |
47 |
40 |
14 |
| Pittsburgh Keystones | 13 |
2 |
11 |
0 |
19 |
71 |
4 |
| 1904 Season | GP
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
GF
|
GA
|
PTs
|
| Pittsburgh Victorias | 13 |
10 |
3 |
0 |
56 |
23 |
20 |
| Pittsburgh Bankers | 14 |
8 |
7 |
0 |
45 |
45 |
16 |
| Pittsburgh Athletic Club | 15 |
4 |
10 |
0 |
44 |
62 |
8 |
| Pittsburgh Keystones | 6 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
15 |
30 |
4 |
| Pittsburgh Keystones withdrew from the league January 17, 1904. | |||||||