Sydney Millionaires

Upon completion of the Stanley cup games, the Sydney team immediately dissolved.  Players hailing from Quebec, Ontario and Western Canada heading on to their homes.  The Sydney executive along with the local players headed back to Sydney on the midnight express train bound for Cape Breton.   Upon arriving back in Sydney on Thursday, March 12th, the Millionaires were met by local reporters and fans to inquire about their trip and their treatment in the "Ancient Capitol".  Team President Curry responded by stating that "we had a fine trip and were treated in the best way possible.  There is no doubt that we were beaten by a better team.  The Quebec team this year is the best ever in Canada and we are quite satisfied with the showing we had against them."  Others went on to speculate that Sydney was outplayed by the Quebecers because of the difference in rules of the two organizations.  Some believed that it would be prudent of the MPHA to adopt the rules of the NHA for the following season so the Maritime teams would have a better chance of competing in future challenges.  The Montreal Star echoed this idea by stating that Joe Tetrault was Sydney's best player in the two games and that was attributed to his familiarity with the "Quebec style of play".

The Millionaires prepared for the second game in the series taking place on Tuesday, March 10 with the determined goal of playing a closer game and hopefully making up some of the goal differential which now stood at eleven goals.  The good news was that Toby Macdonald was fit to play.  It was also announced that Joe Malone would not be playing in the second game.  Malone was suffering from a cold and the team management want to rest him before they headed out west for an exhibition trip to British Columbia.   According to the reports from Quebec, the second game of the series was not as well attended as the first game.  Many of the Quebec fans stayed away since the Quebec team already had the Stanley Cup well in hand. 

As the two teams entered the ice at the Quebec rink, both teams were warmly applauded by the large group of spectators out to watch this first of two Stanley Cup challenge matches. The Millionaires were forced to borrow sweaters for the game when it was realized that both teams sported similar colours.  To avoid confusion, Sydney agreed to wear the uniforms of the Quebec Senior Hockey Association.  The ice was described as being hard and fast as a result of a recent cold snap in the city. Quickly the Bulldogs got on the score sheet when Joe Malone was able to skate from center and slide one past Toby Macdonald.  The Millionaires quickly bounced back from this first goal and responded when Gordon Trenouthe was able to shoot a puck past Paddy Moran.  Sydney then went on to surprise the crowd when Ken Randall was able to take advantage of a tired looking unmotivated Quebec team and score a second goal on Moran putting Sydney in the lead 2 to 1.  The Sydney fans at the game were surprised and elated with one being overheard stating "what will they say in Sydney when they hear this".   Unfortunately for the Millionaires, this second goal appeared to wake up the Bulldogs who went on to score three unanswered goals to end the first period up 4 to 2.  Early in the second period as a result of an on ice collision, Toby Macdonald, Sydney's star goaltender was injured and had to leave the ice.  Sydney did not have a back up so Cap Macdonald took Toby's spot and Cap was replaced by Jimmy Wilkie on defense.  According to reports, Cap did his best as a goalie but the talented Quebec scorers were too much and they were able to put seven goals past him in the second period.

As the date of the first game was coming close, excitement began to increase.  The Sydney Steel plant became a hotbed for gambling on the games, with the supporters betting on the score of the game rather than the outcome, not wanting to bet against their beloved Millionaires.  Those who were not opposed to betting on the outcome had the odds at three to one in Quebec's favor.  When the players were questioned about their chances against the powerful Quebec team, they answered with what appears to be a scripted response of "we will do our very best, what more can a man do".  A group of fans left Sydney on Wednesday, March the 5th to meet up with the Millionaires as they left Halifax and headed west toward Quebec in their private car.  Even the papers in Ontario were getting word from the east of the excitement being generated by a Nova Scotia team getting a shot at the Stanley Cup.  The Ottawa Citizen stated that "if Sydney should win the cup tonight, the challengers would need a machine gun, the MacNamaras and a battery of infantry to get it away from the Nova Scotia burg."  The MacNamara brothers were two very large defensive players known for their style of rugged play.

Monday, March 3rd, 1913 was a bitter-sweet day for the residents of Sydney.  On one hand, they were sending their beloved Millionaires off on a journey to hopefully bring the Stanley Cup to Cape Breton.  On the other hand, many of their popular import players were leaving the city to return to their home towns immediately after the games in Quebec.  Players who were not returning to Sydney after the Stanley Cup challenge included Jack Fraser and Gordon Trenouthe, who were heading back to Brandon, Manitoba where they had jobs working for the Canadian National Railroad.  Cap MacDonald, Ken Randall and Percy Tighte were returning to Ontario and Joe Tetrault was heading back to Sherbrook Quebec.