Arthur Farrell
Player, author of first hockey book, Stanley Cup winner.
Arthur "Art" Farrell (February 8, 1877 – February 7, 1909) was a Canadian ice hockey player, author, and businessman. He is best known for helping the Montreal Shamrocks win the Stanley Cup in 1899 and 1900, and for writing the first book ever published about ice hockey, *Hockey: Canada's Royal Winter Game*, which came out in 1899.
Farrell was born in Montreal, the fourth of eight children of William Farrell, a successful businessman and city alderman, and Mary Meagher. He played hockey at St. Mary's College from 1895 to 1896, where he met future Shamrocks teammates Harry Trihey, Fred Scanlan, and Jack Brannen. In 1897, all four joined the Montreal Shamrocks, forming a strong forward line (which in that era included a rover). The team won its league championship and the Stanley Cup in both 1899 and 1900. After one more season together, the entire group left the Shamrocks, and Farrell and Trihey retired from competitive play. During his playing career, Farrell also served as a referee in the Canadian Amateur Hockey League, and he continued refereeing after retiring as a player.
After leaving hockey in 1901, Farrell joined his father's business. He wrote two additional hockey instruction books: *Ice hockey and ice polo guide of 1901-1904* and *How to play Ice Hockey* (1907). He also revised his 1899 book for the American market and worked as an editor for the Spalding Athletic Library series, published by American Sports Publishing Co. Farrell fell ill with tuberculosis in 1906 and entered a sanatorium in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, where he died in 1909. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a player in 1965, alongside his teammate Fred Scanlan. Only four copies of *Hockey: Canada's Royal Winter Game* are known to exist today.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Centre
- Played For
- Montreal Shamrocks
- Birth Date
- 1877-02-08
- Birth Place
- Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Death Date
- 1909-02-07
- Death Place
- Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec, Canada
- Career Start
- 1896
- Career End
- 1900
- Halloffame
- 1965
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Farrell studied and played ice hockey at St. Mary's College from 1895 until 1896, where he met future Shamrocks' players Harry Trihey, Fred Scanlan and Jack Brannen. In 1897, the four joined the Montreal Shamrocks, forming an impressive offensive line of four forwards including a rover. The Shamrocks won their league championship and the Stanley Cup in 1899 and 1900. After one more season together, all four left the Shamrocks, and Farrell and Trihey left competitive play entirely. While still playing, Farrell served as referee in CAHL games, and continued as a referee after retiring as a player.
Reader's Guide
Farrell's significance lies in his dual contribution to hockey as a player and as an author. He wrote the first ever book on ice hockey, *Hockey: Canada's Royal Winter Game*, published in 1899, of which only four remaining copies are known to exist. He later wrote two 'how-to' books: *Ice hockey and ice polo guide of 1901-1904* and *How to play Ice Hockey* (1907). After leaving hockey in 1901, he entered his father's business firm and revised his 1899 book for the American market. He also served as one of the editors for the Spalding Athletic Library collection. Farrell fell ill with tuberculosis in 1906 and died in 1909 at a sanatorium in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1965, along with his teammate Fred Scanlan, as a player.
Did You Know?
- Only four remaining copies of that book are known to exist in the world.
- He helped lead the Montreal Shamrocks to Stanley Cup victories in 1899 and 1900.
More in Hockey Hall of Fame Players 1-24
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