Of course, this is not to say that hockey wasn’t already a popular game played between young men on the frozen Red and Assiniboine Rivers. A Free Press article from January 31st, 1890, describes the game being “play[ed] every afternoon at Mr. Austin’s open air skating rink and the ambulances wait outside for the victims” (p.6). In fact, the Hingston Smith Arms Company was already selling equipment for the many “shinny” players when the first organized match took place.
Manitoba Daily Free Press, Dec. 20th, 1890. p.11
The true significance of the first game was the attempt, albeit somewhat failed, at turning hockey into an exciting spectator sport. The commercial aspects of the game had yet to really be considered, but marketing would become increasingly important over the next few years, and throughout the game’s entire storied history.
The second match was scheduled for January 17th, 1891, but was postponed. It was not until two months later that the game would take place.
For this match, the Vics moved Higginbotham to the Back position, and moved Howard up to Forward. This type of positional change was very common early on, as players tried to find the place on the ice where they could make the biggest impact. The roles of the various positions was also ill-defined. Only through experimentation by these early players would any orthodox style of play come to be accepted.
The game was played at the Winnipeg Street Railway Rink on March 14th, 1891. This was the first defeat for the Vics. Strong defensive plays by Stowe and Cronin stifled the speed and finesse of the Vics. Frank Beckett scored the only goal, near the end of the first half. It was agreed that the Vics had lacked in solid team play, an area where, on this occasion, the Pegs excelled. The season series was now level at one game a piece. (Manitoba Daily Free Press, March 16, 1891, p.8)
And so, a third and deciding game was hurriedly scheduled. It was to take place at the Street Railway Skating Rink on March 27th. This game was cancelled due to melted ice. The crowning of the best team in the city would have to be left until the next season.
