1895–96 MHA season
Winnipeg at Montreal
George Merritt G Robert Jones
Rod Flett P Harold Henderson
Fred Higginbotham CP Mike Grant
Jack Armytage F Robert MacDougall
Colin Tote Campbell F Shirley Davidson
Dan Bain F Ernie McLea
Attie Howard F Reg Wallace
sub Hartland MacDougall
Stanley Cup challenge -- Victorias vs. Winnipeg at Montreal
The first successful challenge to the Cup came in February 1896 by the Winnipeg Victorias , playing as the 1895 champions of the MHA . On February 14 , Winnipeg beat the defending champion Montreal Victorias , 2–0 , becoming the first team outside the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada ( AHAC ) to win the Cup . Winnipeg took a 2–0 lead on goals by Armytage and Campbell in the first half , then went on the defensive in the second half . According to The Globe , in its report on the game : `` The westerners started in with a rush and scored the two games ; one in ten minutes and one in nine minutes before the Vics seemed to waken up . For the rest of the first half , the honors were even . In the second half , the Winnipeggers were strictly on the defensive . Shot after shot was fired on their goal but the Vics could not score due to the superb work of Merritt , the visitor 's goalkeeper . The match ended 2 to 0 in favour of the visitors . Both sides were dissatisfied with the work of Mr. Alexis Martin of Toronto as referee ; claiming he was utterly ignorant of the rules , an opinion which seemed to be shared by the spectators . `` [ 4 ] Date Winning Team Score Losing Team Location February 14 , 1896 Winnipeg Victorias 2 – 0 Montreal Victorias Victoria Skating Rink Winnipeg at Montreal
The 1896 Manitoba Hockey Association season was a series of five games contested by the senior ice hockey teams of Winnipeg Victorias and the Winnipeg Hockey Club. During the season, on February 14 the Victorias played a Stanley Cup challenge match in Montreal, defeating the Montreal Victorias. Winnipeg won 2-0 to win the Cup. This was the first time the Stanley Cup champion was from a league other than the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada. The Victorias won the season series to retain the Cup for the league.