The Saskatoon Sheiks were a professional ice hockey team in the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL) and Prairie Hockey League (PrHL) from 1921 to 1928. The team played their home games at the Crescent Arena in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Saskatoon Sheiks
CitySaskatoon, Saskatchewan
LeagueWCHL/WHL (1921–1926)
PrHL (1926–1928)
Operated1921–1928
Home arenaCrescent Arena, Saskatoon
ColorsBlue, white
   
Franchise history
1921Saskatoon Sheiks
1922Moose Jaw Sheiks
1922–23Saskatoon Crescents
1923-28Saskatoon Sheiks
Hockey player dressed in Saskatoon Crescents uniform
Bill Cook with the Crescents c. 1922 – c. 1923

History edit

The Sheiks entered the WCHL in the 1921–22 season. On February 3, 1922, poor attendance forced the club to move to the Moose Jaw Arena and play as the Moose Jaw Sheiks.[citation needed]

The team was reorganized as the Saskatoon Crescents Hockey Club in April 1922.[1] Frederick E. Betts was appointed chairman of the team's management committee, made the final decision on player contracts, and had a policy of not making statements to the media until a deal was final.[2] Betts signed ten new players to contracts by November in addition to three players who returned from the previous season. He sought to sign Newsy Lalonde from the Montreal Canadiens, and was willing to buy Lalonde's release pending all other National Hockey League clubs waiving their right to claim him.[3][4] Betts later agreed to trade the rights to highly-touted prospect Aurèle Joliat to bring Lalonde to the Crescents as the team's player-coach for the season.[5] The Crescents won eight of thirty games played, placed fourth during the 1922–23 WCHL season and did not qualify for the playoffs, despite that Lalonde led the league with 30 goals scored.[6][7]

New ownership took over the team in May 1923.[8] The team continued playing until 1928 when it folded.[citation needed]

Season-by-season record edit

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points

Season Team name League GP W L T PTS GF GA Finish Playoffs
1921–22 Saskatoon Sheiks/Moose Jaw Sheiks (WCHL) 24 5 19 0 10 67 137 4th in WCHL
1922–23 Saskatoon Crescents (WCHL) 30 8 20 2 18 91 125 4th in WCHL
1923–24 Saskatoon Sheiks (WCHL) 30 15 12 3 33 91 73 3rd in WCHL
1924–25 Saskatoon Sheiks (WCHL) 28 16 11 1 33 102 75 2nd in WCHL Lost in Semi-finals
1925–26 Saskatoon Sheiks (WHL) 30 18 11 1 37 93 64 2nd in WHL Lost in semi-finals
1926–27 Saskatoon Sheiks (PrHL) 32 14 16 2 30 110 117 2nd in PrHL
1927–28 Saskatoon Sheiks (PrHL) 28 18 5 5 41 86 39 1st in PrHL

Head coaches edit

Notable players edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Saskatoon Crescent Hockey Club Has Been Reorganized". Edmonton Journal. Edmonton, Alberta. April 26, 1922. p. 21. 
  2. ^ "Saskatoon Quite Satisfield With The Hockey Plan". Calgary Herald. Calgary, Alberta. August 26, 1922. p. 20. 
  3. ^ "Hockey Notes". Medicine Hat News. Medicine Hat, Alberta. November 2, 1922. p. 2. 
  4. ^ "Want Lalonde In East and He May Not Come West". Brandon Daily Sun. Brandon, Manitoba. October 7, 1922. p. 3. 
  5. ^ "Lalonde Safe In the Fold of Crescents". Calgary Herald. Calgary, Alberta. November 4, 1922. p. 29. 
  6. ^ "1922–23 Western Canada Hockey League Standings". Hockey Database. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  7. ^ "WCHL 1922–23 League Leaders". Hockey Database. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  8. ^ "New Company May Take Over Local Pro Team". Saskatoon Daily Star. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. May 26, 1923. p. 12.