Niagara Falls Cataracts

The Niagara Falls Cataracts were a Canadian minor professional ice hockey team located in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The franchise played for four seasons with the first three coming in the Canadian Professional Hockey League. In 1929, the league was reformed as the International Hockey League.[1]

Niagara Falls Cataracts
CityNiagara Falls, Ontario
LeagueCanadian Professional Hockey League (1926–1929)
International Hockey League (1929–1930)
Founded1926
Folded1930

History

Niagara was one of the founding members of the CPHL in 1926 which consisted entirely of Canadian teams from southern Ontario. The team was rather unsuccessful, finishing last in the league in two out of three seasons. Despite their struggles, the Cataracts joined the rest of the league members in 1929 by dissolving the CPHL and reforming in the International Hockey League. Niagara once again finished last in the standings and decided to call it quits after the season.[2]

During their final season, tragedy befell a member of the team when Edward Baker was fatally injured during a game. On January 9, against the Buffalo Bisons, Baker collided with his teammate, Lloyd Gross and suffered a skull fracture as a result. Baker remained conscious and skated off of the ice under his own power. He was later taken to a local hospital where he died the following morning at the age of 26. His death was ruled to have been accidental and no inquest was held.[3]

Former NHL star and Hockey Hall of Famer Newsy Lalonde coached Niagara Falls during the 1928–29 season.

Season-by-season record
SeasonGPWLTPtsGFGAPlacePlayoffs
1926–2732121912578815thmissed
1927–28421317123689996thmissed
1928–29421228226701288thmissed
1929–3042728721721338thmissed
Totals158449222–309441––

References
  1. Ross, J. Andrew (2015). Joining the Clubs: The Business of the National Hockey League to 1945. Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press. ISBN 978-0-8156-3383-9.
  2. "Hockey". Windsor Star. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  3. "Falls Hockey Star Fatally Injured". Montreal Gazette. January 11, 1930. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
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