The Dawson City Nuggets, who were formed in 1904 specifically to challenge the Ottawa Silver Seven for the Cup, are perhaps the subject of one of the most unusual Stanley Cup stories ever recorded.
This was a few years before the NHL was founded, and at that time pretty much anybody could challenge the previous year's Cup winner for the title. In Dawson City, which was nearing the conclusion of the Gold Rush, two players from previous Cup winning teams and a few miners from local clubs were assembled to form an eight-man team that was scheduled to play in Ottawa in January 1905. The players would travel 6400 km (4000 miles) to Ottawa over the period of about a month by dog sled, train, bicycle, foot, and ship—with nothing even somewhat "typical" in this series. It was no surprise when the Ottawa squad won the best-of-three series easily, 2-0. The two games' numbers were astonishing: the first game ended 9-2. The second game ended 23-2, setting a record for the Stanley Cup. Ottawa's Frank McGee scored 14 of the 23 goals in the second game, setting another record.
Following their departure from Ottawa (and a botched effort to toss the Cup into the Rideau Canal at a dinner), the team traveled to eastern Canada to play a string of exhibition games before returning home.
The Ottawa Senators Alumni faced a Dawson team in a memorial game in 1997. Ottawa won that game 18-0 despite only having 25 shots on goal, suggesting that not much had changed in the intervening 92 years.
Given that the original Dawson City Nuggets didn't have a logo, we've created our own rendition that captures the colors and spirit of the Dawson City's gold rush.
This would make a unique gift for the hockey fan in your life or a neat find for yourself of a vintage hockey team.
Free standard shipping, no minimum. All t-shirts and hoodies ship from Vancouver, BC via Canada Post, with expected delivery in 6 –10 business days. Please note that we are a print-on-demand shop, which means that we will create your products upon receiving your order.
About the t-shirt from the manufacturer:
- Brand & Product: Bella Canvas 3001 or 3001CVC
- Lightweight: 4.2 oz., 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton
- Note: Athletic Heather is 90% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, 10% polyester
- Crew neck
- Lightweight, thin feel
- Athletic/slim fit
