Vancouver Millionaires
Vancouver's only Stanley Cup champion, from 1915.
The Vancouver Millionaires, later known as the Vancouver Maroons, were a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. They competed in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association and the Western Canada Hockey League from 1911 to 1926, playing at Denman Arena, the first artificial ice surface in Canada and the largest indoor ice rink in the world at the time it opened. The team won the Stanley Cup once, in 1915, making them Vancouver's only Stanley Cup champion.
Quick Facts
- Text Color
- #000000
- Team
- Vancouver Millionaires
- City
- Vancouver, British Columbia
- League
- PCHA (1911–1924) / WCHL (1924–1926)
- Operated
- 1911–1926
- Arena
- Denman Arena
- Owner
- Frank Patrick
- Championships
- 6 (1915, 1918, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924)
- Stanley Cups
- 1 (1915)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The team was founded in 1911 when the Patrick brothers, Frank and Lester, inaugurated the Pacific Coast Hockey Association, creating three teams including the Vancouver Millionaires. Frank Patrick aligned himself with Vancouver as player, coach, and manager. To gain credibility, the PCHA lured players from the NHA, and in 1912 the Millionaires acquired Cyclone Taylor, who played for Vancouver for the next ten seasons, scoring 263 points in 131 games. In the 1914–15 season, the NHA and PCHA agreed that their champions would play for the Stanley Cup; the Millionaires won the PCHA title and swept the Ottawa Senators in a best-of-five series at Denman Arena, with Taylor scoring six goals. The team changed its name to the Vancouver Maroons in 1922. After the PCHA dissolved following the 1923–24 season, the Maroons were absorbed by the Western Canada Hockey League but did not achieve the same success. The WCHL folded in 1926, and the team ceased operations after 15 years.
Reader's Guide
The Vancouver Millionaires hold a unique place in hockey history as the only team to bring the Stanley Cup to Vancouver. Their 1915 championship was the furthest west the Cup had been awarded at that time. The team's maroon jerseys featured a white V with 'Vancouver' spelled down one side and up the other. After the team folded, the Denman Arena burned down in 1936, destroying all original sweaters. In 1999, musician Jon Mikl Thor trademarked the Vancouver Millionaires name and 'Victory V' logo, marketing apparel through his company VM Sports. On October 1, 2010, the Vancouver Canucks purchased the rights to the Millionaires' logos, jerseys, and trademarks. Since then, the Canucks have worn Millionaires throwback uniforms on several occasions, including the 2014 Heritage Classic against the Ottawa Senators. The Vancouver Giants, a WHL team, also wore Millionaires jerseys in 2008 for a 'Stanley Cup Legends Night'. The Canucks' third jerseys have included a shoulder logo with a 'V' paying tribute to the Millionaires.
Did You Know?
- The Vancouver Millionaires won the Stanley Cup in 1915 by sweeping the Ottawa Senators 6–2, 8–3, and 12–3.
- Cyclone Taylor scored 263 points in 131 games over ten seasons with the Millionaires.
- The Vancouver Canucks purchased the Millionaires trademarks on October 1, 2010, and have worn throwback jerseys since.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the Vancouver Millionaires?
They were a professional ice hockey club based in Vancouver, British Columbia, that operated from 1911 until 1926. The franchise later rebranded as the Vancouver Maroons and is remembered as the city's sole Stanley Cup-winning team.
Where did the Vancouver Millionaires play their home games?
Their home venue was Denman Arena, which at the time of its opening was the largest indoor ice rink in the world and featured the first artificial ice surface built in Canada.
Did the Vancouver Millionaires ever win the Stanley Cup?
Yes—they lifted the Stanley Cup in 1915, a title that still stands as the only one ever claimed by a Vancouver-based hockey franchise.
What leagues did the Vancouver Millionaires compete in?
The club spent the bulk of its existence in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association from 1911 through 1924, then shifted to the Western Canada Hockey League for its final two seasons before folding in 1926.
How many league championships did the Vancouver Millionaires win?
They captured six PCHA titles in 1915, 1918, 1921, 1922, 1923, and 1924, making them one of the most dominant clubs in that league's history.
More in Defunct Ice Hockey Teams, Part 5 1-24
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