The
Montreal Maroons were a professional ice hockey team based in
Montreal,
Quebec, Canada. They were a member of the National Hockey League (
NHL) from
1924 to
1938. The team was established after the success of the
Montreal Canadiens, with the intention of creating a rivalry between the two
Montreal-based franchises.
The Maroons had a strong start to their
NHL journey, winning the Stanley Cup in just their second season,
1925-
1926. They continued to be a competitive team throughout the late
1920s and early
1930s, with several playoff appearances and strong performances. One of their most notable players was their goaltender, who became the first netminder to win the Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player.
However, despite their initial success, the
Montreal Maroons faced financial struggles during the Great Depression. Attendance at their games declined, and the team struggled to compete with the more established
Montreal Canadiens for fans and revenue. The combination of financial difficulties and declining on-ice performance led to the Maroons ceasing operations after the
1937-
1938 NHL season. Their players were dispersed to other
NHL teams, and the franchise folded.
Though the
Montreal Maroons are no longer around, their impact on the
NHL and the city of
Montreal cannot be overlooked. They provided fierce competition to the Canadiens, and their Stanley Cup victory remains a significant moment in
NHL history. While their time in the league was relatively short, the Maroons' legacy lives on in the memories of hockey fans and historians alike.