The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) was established in 1914, and arranged playoffs for the 1915 Allan Cup such that one team each from Eastern and Western Canada would challenge for the trophy, and that the cup holders played no more than two series to defend it. The CAHA preferred a home-and-home series, but cup trustee Claude C. Robinson stated that sudden death could be used in case the weather did not support hockey.[1] CAHA president W. F. Taylor determined the playoffs format by having names drawn out of a hat by Winnipeg mayor Richard Deans Waugh.[2]
Melville was challenged for the Allan Cup by the Toronto Victorias of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA), who wanted to play under the eligibility rules adopted by the CAHA in December 1914. Residency requirements for players on Melville were questioned, whether they had lived in Melville long enough.[4] The Saskatchewan Amateur Hockey Association (SAHA) contested that the residency rules did not come into effect until the next season. The CAHA held a special meeting at Winnipeg to discuss player eligibility and the residence rule.[5]
The Melville Millionaires received a challenge from the Winnipeg Monarchs who won the Western Canada senior playoffs. The Monarchs were led by Fred Marples as team president and repeated as champions of the Winnipeg Amateur Hockey League.[6] In the 1915 playoffs, the Monarchs defeated the Winnipeg Falcons by a total score of 27–14, defeated Fort William by a total score of 16–10, the defeated Edmonton by a total score of 17–8 to reach the final series.[7]
Winnipeg Monarchs conquer the Allan Cup, winning the series 7-goals-to-6. There were no further challenges.[7]
Long-term outcomes
At the 1915 CAHA general meeting, residency rules were amended to give exceptions to soldiers relocated for service, and for students studying away from home. The CAHA expressed regret that a general meeting was called to handle the SAHA grievance, instead of dealing with the matter at an executive meeting as per the SAHA constitution. The CAHA then made a committee to review the constitutions of each CAHA branch, such that each coincides with the CAHA.[8]
In 1932, the CAHA decided to remove Melville's name from the trophy, since the team lost the final challenge, and to replace the nameplate with a plaque names of players who died serving in World War I.[3] In 1933, the CAHA restored the Melville plate to the trophy, and noted many of the team members had died in World War I.[9]
