Quebec Bulldogs win Stanley Cup
The 1911–12 NHA season was the third season of the now defunct National Hockey Association.
Four teams played 18 games each. The Quebec Bulldogs would win the league championship and take over the Stanley Cup.
After the season, Quebec played one challenge against Moncton Victorias. The Moncton team was essentially the same Galt team that had challenged Ottawa in 1911. This was the first series playing six to a side.
For the first time in history, the customary seven man per side hockey game was reduced to six. The rover position had now been eliminated. Another rule change in 1912 required teams to complete their regular season before competing for the Stanley Cup. The Quebec Bulldogs, who posted a league-high 10-8-0 record, successfully defended the Cup against Moncton of the Maritime Professional Hockey League. The championship was a best of three affair. The Bulldogs won game one 9-3, and went on to win game two by an a 8-0 verdict to win their second straight title. Jack McDonald and Joe Malone combined for 14 of Quebec's 17 goals.
The Bulldogs go from worst to first as Joe Hall had a break trough season scoring 15 goals while having an imposing physical presence on the ice. Along with Hall, Joe Malone added 21 goals and Jack McDonald added 18, as the Bulldogs posted a 10-8 record. In the Stanley Cup Finals the Bulldogs easily defeated the Moncton Victoria in 2 games 9-3 and 8-0 to claim the Cup.
For 1911–12, the Bulldogs went from worst to first, with Joe Malone having a spectacular season, to win the O'Brien Cup as champions of the NHA and the Stanley Cup. The Dogs' record improved to 10 wins and 8 losses while Malone scored 21 goals and Jack McDonald scored 18. In a Stanley Cup challenge, they crushed the Moncton Victorias in 2 games, 9–3 and 8–0, in the best of three playoff.
Logo used (1911 – 1913)
In their third season (1912–13), Quebec would again finish first overall with a record of 16 wins and 4 losses to retain the championship. Joe Malone won the scoring race with an unprecedented 43 goals. His teammate, Tommy Smith, was a close second with 39. In a Stanley Cup challenge after the season the team easily beat the Sydney Millionaires in two games by a combined score of 20 to 5.
The Victoria Aristocrats of the PCHA next challenged the Bulldogs. The powerhouse Bulldogs expected to bowl over the Aristocrats, but were shocked after splitting the first two games and then losing 6–1 in the decisive third game. Fortunately for Quebec, and unfortunately for Victoria, the Stanley Cup Board of trustees did not recognise the challenge by the Aristocrats as being official and the Bulldogs were able to keep the Cup.
