AMAZONS HOCKEY TEAM
Women’s Hockey At King George

by Milan Streit
Hockey has always been a sport of diversity, first being reported in the 1870s. But in the early 1900s, the Pacific Coast Hockey Association and its founders, Lester and Frank Patrick, would change the scene completely.

The original women's league was first formed in 1914, with the rivalry between Vancouver and New Westminster Ladies Teams. The Vancouver Ladies’ team was owned by the Patrick brothers, and they would share the brand new 10,500-seat Denman Arena at the northeast corner of Denman and West Georgia with the famous Vancouver Millionaires. U.B.C. would later join the mini-league, providing intercity competition.

The Vancouer Ladies Team. *(Vancouver Archives)*

Meanwhile, younger Walter Patrick of the famous hockey family began attending the original King George Secondary building at Burrard and Nelson. The girls playing street hockey were interested in his parent's successful league and decided to challenge the Vancouver’s lady club.

Newspaper sports pages around Vancouver referred to them as “a bunch of school girls.” The King George girls, along with other younger West Enders were skating on Friday Nights and watching Millionaires games on weekends. They were ready for a challenge against the women’s team, and the girls called themselves the Amazons.

The challenge was accepted by the Vancouver Ladies and it would be decided in the best of seven games. The games were played from February-March in Denman Arena. The first game was a 1-0 win by the Amazons, with their hockey tactics being a rough and tumble style, emulating the Vancouver Millionaires.

The next games were a success for the Amazons with a two-one win along with a draw. When the championship game came the Amazons shut out the Vancouver Ladies 1-0.

The Vancouver Sun was impressed, writing “Amazons Are Now Real Hockey Champs, B’Gosh”

They would go on to win the highly regarded Alpine cup against the Regents of Calgary. They also played the Fernie Swastikas, who had some interesting jeresys and branding to say the least. Keep in mind, this was back when the symbol was regarded as “good fortune.”

Looking back at it, it's crazy how a bunch of King George students, along with others from the community beat the best and most profitable women's team in the lower mainland.

Thanks to the King George Archives and Jim Bradbury for the amazing information and collection of photos, written history, and news articles from the era!