By: Mark Allred | Follow me on Twitter @BlackAndGold277 @AmesburyMaples
After beating the Newburyport Crescents 6-5 in overtime nearly two weeks prior, Armand Hudon and Emilien Jutras, the first Amesbury Maples managers, believed they had built a competitive hockey team and one that was ready for the next challenge. Both managers did their due diligence, searching for other competitive teams in the Amesbury, Massachusetts area. Hudon and Jutras didn’t have to search far, as a new league was being formed within the town’s borders.
The new league was called the Amesbury Winter Outing Club Hockey League, and on January 9th, 1925, the league held its first meeting at the Amesbury Chamber of Commerce. In this meeting, a representative from each team participating were required to attend to conduct important league business such as rules and regulations, along with a schedule of games which were all to be played at the rink located at Patten’s (Hollow) Pond off of Main Street. The rink was 150 feet long by 85 feet wide, with wooden boards that were three feet high.
The league had six teams: the Biddles, Bears, Canadians, Elmwood, Maples, and the Steam Rollers. The first game for the Amesbury Maples was an exhibition match at Patton’s pond against the Exeter town team, a short distance away in Exeter, New Hampshire. The visiting Exeter club and Amesbury Maples ended the game in regulation tied at six apiece. Both teams participated in three overtime periods searching for a winner, but those efforts ultimately came to a close, ending in a 6-6 tie.
Below is the Amesbury Winter Outing Club Hockey League Schedule that all teams agreed on at the previous meeting at the Amesbury Chamber of Commerce. Each team in the league played nine games in total, and games were all to start at 7pm. All teams played three 15-minute periods with five-minute intermissions to rest a little while getting instructions from team managers and also allow the ice crew to shovel off the playing surface quickly. Postponed games were played on Thursdays and Fridays or after regular games the following week. Referees for league games were to be agreed on by both team captains and to be chosen from teams not playing that particular night.
Week One
Monday, January 12th, 1925 – Bears vs. Biddle’s, Elmwood’s vs. Steam Rollers
Tuesday, January 13th, 1925 – Biddle’s vs. Maples, Canadians vs. Steam Rollers
Wednesday, January 14th, 1925 – Bears vs. Maples, Canadians vs. Elmwood’s
Week Two
Monday, January 19th, 1925 – Bears vs. Canadians, Maples vs. Steam Rollers
Tuesday, January 20th, 1925 – Bears vs. Elmwood’s, Biddle’s vs. Canadians
Wednesday, January 21st, 1925 – Biddle’s vs. Elmwood’s, Maples vs. Steam Rollers
Week Three
Monday, January 26th, 1925 – Biddle’s vs. Steam Rollers, Maples vs. Canadians
Tuesday, January 27th, 1925 – Bears vs. Steam Rollers, Biddle’s vs. Elmwood’s
Wednesday, January 28th, 1925 – Maples vs. Elmwood’s, Bears vs. Canadians
Week Four
Monday, February 2nd, 1925 – Biddle’s vs. Maples, Canadians vs. Elmwood’s
Tuesday, February 3rd, 1925 – Bears vs. Biddle’s, Canadians vs. Steam Rollers
Wednesday, February 4th, 1925 – Bears vs. Maples, Elmwood’s vs. Steam Rollers
Week Five
Monday, February 9th, 1925 – Biddle’s vs. Canadians, Maples vs. Elmwood’s
Tuesday, February 10th, 1925 – Bears vs. Elmwood’s, Biddle’s vs. Steam Rollers
Wednesday, February 11th, 1925 – Bears vs. Steam Rollers, Maples vs. Canadians
Disclaimer
Most of the information in this article came from Amesbury Daily News in the archive section of the Amesbury Library’s official website. That link can be found HERE for those interested.
Good to know!