Note — many sporting events did not take place because of World War I
1917 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.
American football College championship College football national championship – Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (coached by John Heisman) Camp Randall Stadium, home of the Wisconsin Badgers, opens
Association football Europe There is no major football in Europe due to World War I Norway Foundation of Rosenborg BK at Trondheim
Australian rules football VFL Premiership: Collingwood wins the 21st VFL Premiership: Collingwood 9.20 (74) d Fitzroy 5.9 (39) at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) South Australian Football League: not contested due to World War I West Australian Football League: 15 September: South Fremantle 6.5 (41) defeats East Fremantle 3.8 (26) for their second consecutive WAFL premiership.
Bandy Sweden Championship final – IFK Uppsala 11–2 AIK
Baseball World Series 6–15 October — The Chicago White Sox (AL) defeat the New York Giants (NL) to win the 1917 World Series by 4 games to 2.
Boxing Events Ted "Kid" Lewis regains the World Welterweight Championship and holds it until 1919. Al McCoy loses the World Middleweight Championship title to Mike O'Dowd, who knocks him out in the 6th round at Brooklyn Benny Leonard, widely regarded as the greatest-ever lightweight, defeats Freddie Welsh at New York to win the World Lightweight Championship, which he holds until he retires in 1925 Another great champion, Pete Herman defeats Kid Williams over 20 rounds at New Orleans to take the World Bantamweight Championship, which he holds until 1920 Lineal world championsCyber Boxing Zone World Heavyweight Championship – Jess Willard World Light Heavyweight Championship – Battling Levinsky World Middleweight Championship – Al McCoy → Mike O'Dowd World Welterweight Championship – Jack Britton → Ted "Kid" Lewis World Lightweight Championship – Freddie Welsh → Benny Leonard World Featherweight Championship – Johnny Kilbane World Bantamweight Championship – Kid Williams → Pete Herman World Flyweight Championship – Jimmy Wilde
Canadian football Grey Cup not contested due to World War I
Cricket Events There is no first-class cricket in England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa or the West Indies due to World War I India Bombay Quadrangular – Europeans shared with Parsees
Cycling Tour de France not contested due to World War I Giro d'Italia not contested due to World War I
Figure skating World Figure Skating Championships not contested due to World War I
Golf Events All major championships are cancelled due to World War I
Handball The first official handball match was played on December 2 in Berlin, Germany.
Horse racing England Grand National – not held due to World War I 1,000 Guineas Stakes – Diadem 2,000 Guineas Stakes – Gay Crusader The Derby – Gay Crusader The Oaks – Sunny Jane St. Leger Stakes – Gay Crusader Australia Melbourne Cup – Westcourt Canada King's Plate – Belle Mahone Ireland Irish Grand National – Pay Only Irish Derby Stakes – First Flier USA Kentucky Derby – Omar Khayyam Preakness Stakes – Kalitan Belmont Stakes – Hourless
Ice hockey Stanley Cup 17–26 March — Seattle Metropolitans (PCHA) defeats Montreal Canadiens (NHA) in the 1917 Stanley Cup Final by 3 games to 1 Events Allan Cup – Toronto Dentals 10 November — after Eddie Livingstone, owner of the Toronto NHA team, refuses to sell, the NHA votes to suspend operations 26 November — in a secret meeting, several owners of the NHA form the National Hockey League (NHL) to force out the owner of the Toronto Blueshirts NHA team. Toronto's Arena Gardens will operate a temporary franchise in Toronto while Quebec Bulldogs becomes an NHL member but is suspended for the inaugural season. 19 December — the opening NHL games are played to begin the new league's inaugural season
Motor racing Events No major races are held anywhere worldwide due to World War I
Multi-sport events Far Eastern Championship Games Third Far Eastern Championship Games held in Tokyo, Empire of Japan
Rowing The Boat Race Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race – not contested due to World War I International Eight Boat Race - England v Australia. Rowed Putney To Hammersmith, London, 20th Oct. 1917. Won By Australia by 3/4 length.
Rugby league England All first-class competitions are cancelled due to World War I Australia NSW Premiership – Balmain (outright winner) New Zealand 1917 New Zealand rugby league season
Rugby union Five Nations Championship Five Nations Championship series is not contested due to World War I
Speed skating Speed Skating World Championships not contested due to World War I
Tennis Australia Australian Men's Singles Championship – not contested due to World War I England Wimbledon Men's Singles Championship – not contested due to World War I Wimbledon Women's Singles Championship – not contested due to World War I France French Men's Singles Championship – not contested due to World War I French Women's Singles Championship – not contested due to World War I USA American Men's Singles Championship – Lindley Murray (USA) defeats Nathaniel Niles (USA) 5–7 8–6 6–3 6–3 American Women's Singles Championship – Molla Bjurstedt Mallory (Norway) defeats Marion Vanderhoef Morse (USA) 4–6 6–0 6–2 Davis Cup 1917 International Lawn Tennis Challenge – not contested
References