Stanley Cup (1922)
Green Before Blue: The St. Patricks’ grittier conquest remains the franchise’s last pre-Smythe title.
Often overshadowed by later eras, the 1922 Stanley Cup belongs to a different uniform. The Toronto St. Patricks secured the franchise’s second title before the name 'Maple Leafs' existed (adopted officially on February 17, 1927). Despite the green jerseys, this victory remains an unbroken thread in the team's championship lineage.
- Franchise Name at Time
- Toronto St. Patricks
- League
- National Hockey League (NHL)
- Final Opponent
- Vancouver Millionaires
- Series Result
- 3 wins, 2 losses
- Key Figure
- Hap Day (Captain/Defense), Babe Dye (Scorer)
Lore & Background
By 1922, the Toronto franchise had weathered a decade of NHL volatility, having won the championship as the 'Toronto Arenas' in 1918 and finishing second as the St. Patricks in 1920. The 1921-22 season saw the team led by the formidable Babe Dye, whose goal-scoring prowess was unmatched in the league. Under the guidance of coach Dick Carroll, the St. Patricks navigated a grueling regular season to secure their spot in the finals against the Pacific Coast Hockey Association's (PCHA) Vancouver Millionaires.
The series itself pitted Toronto's gritty defense against Vancouver's high-flying offense. The deciding fifth game, played at Mutual Street Arena, remains etched in local memory not just for the victory, but for the sheer physicality displayed. Babe Dye scored the winning goal in overtime, cementing his status as a local hero. This victory was significant as it was the last championship won by Toronto until 1932, and it represented the final Stanley Cup appearance of the PCHA before its eventual merger with the NHL.
Although the team wore green jerseys to honor the Irish heritage of the city's population at the time, this era serves as the bridge between the original Arenas and the iconic Maple Leaf identity. The franchise would continue to evolve financially in the years following 1922, eventually rebranding under Conn Smythe's ownership, but the core lineage of championship success was forged by this green-clad squad.
In Their Own Story
The air inside Mutual Street Arena was thick with steam and the scent of wet wool. It was March 1922, and the clock had long passed regulation time. The crowd, a sea of faces illuminated by the harsh electric glare of the rink, held its breath as Babe Dye skated toward the Vancouver net. The ice was chipped and scarred from hours of brutal checking. With the score tied, Dye received a pass near the blue line, spun away from a defender's stick, and unleashed a shot that seemed to hang in the frozen air forever before finding the back of the net. The roar that followed shook the rafters, a sound that would echo through Toronto history for decades, even as the green jerseys were eventually replaced by white and blue.
Reader's Guide
The 1922 Stanley Cup victory stands as the second championship in the franchise's history, achieved while the team was known as the Toronto St. Patricks. While the trophy is engraved with 'Toronto St. Pats,' modern fans often count this win toward the Leaf legacy. It remains a crucial bridge between the 1918 Arenas title and the 1932 Maple Leafs championship.
Did You Know?
- The team was called the 'Toronto St. Patricks' in 1922; they did not become the 'Maple Leafs' until 1927.
- Babe Dye scored the overtime winning goal in the decisive fifth game of the series.
- This was the last Stanley Cup final played against a team from the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA).
- The franchise's first championship was won in 1918 when they were known as the Toronto Arenas.