| Pittsburgh Victorias | |
|---|---|
| City | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,United States |
| League | Western Pennsylvania Hockey League |
| Founded | 1902 |
| Operated | 1902–1904 |
| Home arena | Duquesne Garden |
| Colors | Maroon, white[1] |
| Championships | |
| Regular season titles | (1)1903–04 |
ThePittsburgh Victorias were one of the earliest professionalice hockey teams. The club was based inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, and were members of theWestern Pennsylvania Hockey League, the first league to openly hire hockey players, from 1902 to 1904. The team folded in 1904, when the WPHL disbanded its teams to form thePittsburgh Professionals and compete in theInternational Professional Hockey League.[2]
For the1902–03 season, the Victorias were added to the WPHL making it a four team league. The team was made up of players fromOttawa,Ontario, enticed to come to Pittsburgh. The Victorias were able to addStanley Cup winnerBruce Stuart to their team, giving the futureHall of Famer his start in professional hockey. That season, Stuart led the WPHL with 16 goals in his first pro season and was named to the First All-Star team.[3]William Duval, the 1902 captain of theOttawa Silver Seven, also made the trip to Pittsburgh and began his professional career with the Victorias. Ottawa's Harold "Chic" Henry,Charles Spittal and the Sixsmith brothers,Garnet andArthur, also played for the Victorias. Arthur,the previous season, played on theKeystones' championship team. While Garnet would one day score 11 goals in a game in Pittsburgh, considered to be a record for theDuquesne Garden.[4]
In 1904 the Victorias won the WPHL title and playedHoughton, Michigan'sPortage Lakes Hockey Club for the "American Championship" that year.[2] The Victorias lost the three game series two games to one. The team disbanded later that year when the WPHL consolidated its players into thePittsburgh Professionals and competed in theInternational Professional Hockey League. Several of the Victorias' players went on to play with the Professionals, such as William Duval, Ed Roberts, Arthur and Garnet Sixsmith and Charles Spittal.
Victorias members of Hockey Hall of Fame:
| Preceded by | WPHL Champions 1903-04 | Succeeded by |