The 1904–05 Manitoba Hockey Association (MHA) season was won by the Rat Portage Thistles. After the season the Thistles challenged Ottawa for the Stanley Cup, but lost in a three-game series.
Regular season
Highlights Tom Phillips returned to the Thistles after attending McGill University and a year in Toronto. Phillips brought along goaltender Eddie Giroux, with whom he had played with in the 1903–04 season for the Toronto Marlboros.
Final standing
Team Games Played Wins Losses Ties Points Rat Portage Thistles 8 7 1 0 14 Winnipeg Rowing Club 10 6 3 1 12 Portage la Prairie Bisons 10 4 5 1 9 Brandon Wheat City 10 4 6 0 8 Winnipeg Victorias 10 2 8 0 2 Source: Zweig, 2012.
Stanley Cup Challenges
After the season, the Thistles challenged the Ottawa Hockey Club in Ottawa
Rat Portage vs. Ottawa
In March 1905, the Rat Portage Thistles issued another challenge to the Senators. The Ottawa star Frank McGee did not play in the first game and the Thistles crushed Ottawa, 9–3. However, he returned to lead the Senators to 4–2 and 5–4 victories in games two and three, respectively. McGee scored the winning goal in the third game.
Date Winning Team Score Losing Team LocationMarch 7, 1905Rat Portage Thistles9–3Ottawa SenatorsDey's ArenaMarch 9, 1905Ottawa Senators4–2Rat Portage ThistlesMarch 11, 1905Ottawa Senators5–4Rat Portage ThistlesOttawa wins best-of-three series 2 games to 1
See also List of Stanley Cup champions
References