The 1913–14 PCHA season was the third season of the professional ice hockey league, the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA). The league, founded and operated by the Patrick brothers, Lester and Frank, continued to showcase innovative rules and fast-paced hockey in Western Canada. The season ran from December 1913 to March 1914.
Teams
Three teams competed in the 1913–14 PCHA season:
- New Westminster Royals
- Vancouver Millionaires
- Victoria Aristocrats (sometimes referred to as the Victoria Senators)
Regular Season
The teams played an unbalanced schedule, with each club facing its opponents five times for a total of 15 games per team. The league continued its pioneering spirit with rules such as the forward pass in the neutral zone, which would later be adopted by other leagues.
The Victoria Aristocrats, led by player-manager Lester Patrick, emerged as the dominant team.
Final Standings
| Team | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria Aristocrats | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 80 | 67 | 20 |
| Vancouver Millionaires | 15 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 76 | 84 | 14 |
| New Westminster Royals | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 68 | 73 | 10 |
GP: Games Played, W: Wins, L: Losses, T: Ties, GF: Goals For, GA: Goals Against, Pts: Points
The Victoria Aristocrats were crowned the league champions based on their first-place finish in the regular season standings.
Leading Scorers
Notable players from the season included Cyclone Taylor of the Vancouver Millionaires, who was a significant draw for the league.
Stanley Cup Challenge
At this time, the Stanley Cup was held by the champions of the National Hockey Association (NHA) in Eastern Canada. There was no direct inter-league championship series between the PCHA and NHA champions in the 1913–14 season. The first official Stanley Cup challenge series between the PCHA and NHA champions would be introduced in the following 1914–15 season, establishing a direct competition for hockey's ultimate prize.
Legacy
The 1913–14 PCHA season further solidified the league's reputation as a top professional hockey circuit and continued to influence the game's development with its progressive rule changes and exciting style of play. The success of the Victoria Aristocrats highlighted the competitive balance within the league and set the stage for future rivalries.