Cleveland's Elysium Was Rocking For Women's Hockey In 1916

On March 15, 1916, the puck dropped at Cleveland's Elysium arena between two of the top teams in the world. Neither was from Ohio, or the United States for that matter. In fact, it was a series set to be played between the Ottawa Alerts and Cornwall Victorias.

The Elysium in Cleveland, built in 1907, was once the largest indoor arena in the world. The arena, which held 3,500 fans, had hosted Ottawa teams before, including the season prior, when a game between Ottawa College and the Cleveland Athletic Club resulted in a riot. A brawl broke out on the ice, which was followed by spectators jumping on the ice to join the melee. The police were called, and Ottawa goaltender Vincent Doran was charged with assault to kill for hitting another player over the head with his stick, and Cleveland's trainer also faced the courts for smashing a bottle over the head of an Ottawa player.

The series between the Alerts and Victorias didn't involve any such fracas, but it was a spirited series. Tours such as this became common in the coming years and helped spark interest in women's hockey in America.

Ottawa and Cornwall's series received North America wide interest from media and readers alike. Much of the coverage at the time was sexist.

"Hair pulling is barred in games between girls' teams, but the feminine stick wielders dress to ward off hard knocks and it is said that they check back with much skill and zest," the Cleveland Plain Dealer wrote on March 15, 1916.

Highlighting the game would be Albertine Lapansee, long considered one of the greatest players to touch the ice in the era.

"(Lapansee), who plays center for the Cornwall team is said to be the best lady hockey player in Canada," The Plain Dealer wrote.

As the Akron Beacon Journal wrote, "Miss Albertine Lapansee is the world's greatest lady hockey player. She is captain of a woman's team of Cornwall, Canada, and is famed for her great speed, stickhandling and shooting ability. She holds the scoring record of fifteen goals in one game, and is regarded as the superior of many male stars in Canada."

At the time, Ottawa's star was captain Belle Roger. Roger was "said to be the most clever young woman in Canada in playing cover point. She can check with the best of them and, when occasion necessitates, outskate nine out of ten of her sex," The Plain Dealer wrote while promoting the game on March 14, 1917.

Reports state that Cornwall swept Ottawa in the series, winning the final game 9-4. Although lead up coverage to the series was found in papers across Canada and the United States, there was little coverage of the actual three game series. The final game however, was played in front of an avid group of fans.

"Before the largest crowd that has witnessed a hockey game here this season, a crowd that filled practically every seat in the Elysium and that stood two and three deep back of the seats, the Cornwall girls defeated the Ottawa girls..." The Montreal Star wrote.

The series was a success with fans, and opened the door for continued cross-boarder play.

The following year, the Ottawa Alerts would return to the United States, playing a three games series against the Pittsburgh Polar Maids, which they easily swept. The exposure to high level women's hockey in America was also important for the continued growth of the game in the nation. It was a trend that all started in Cleveland's Elysium.

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