Discover how the 1925 Victoria Cougars’ Stanley Cup glory sparked the birth of the Detroit Red Wings and changed hockey history forever.
When Victoria’s Hockey Kings Took Flight
A hundred years ago, on the misty rinks of British Columbia, a powerhouse team made hockey history. The Victoria Cougars, crowned Stanley Cup champions in 1925, weren’t just any club — they were a force that would set the stage for one of the NHL’s most iconic dynasties: the Detroit Red Wings.
“You could argue the Cougars were the world’s best hockey team in 1925 and 1926,” said Jason Beck, curator of the BC Sports Hall of Fame. And honestly, it’s hard to disagree.
From Victoria Glory to Detroit Greatness
Back then, the Cougars stunned fans by defeating the mighty Montreal Canadiens 3–1 in a best-of-five final, played partly at Oak Bay’s Patrick Arena. They nearly repeated the feat a year later, losing only narrowly to the Montreal Maroons.
But even as they soared, the Western Canada Hockey League was collapsing. Money was tight, travel was grueling, and arenas were expensive to maintain. So, when the league folded, Detroit saw an opportunity — and pounced.
“The Cougars were scooped up and transferred to Detroit,” Beck explained. “That team became the Falcons, and later, the Red Wings.”
The Birth of Hockeytown
The move wasn’t just a franchise swap — it was a migration of champions. Stars like Frank Fredrickson, Frank Foyston, and Harry Holmes brought their elite talent south. With them, Detroit instantly became a contender, and soon a cornerstone of the NHL’s ‘Original Six’ era, alongside Toronto, Montreal, New York, Boston, and Chicago.
Since then, Detroit has lifted 11 Stanley Cups, second only to Montreal. Yet few realize that the roots of Hockeytown trace back to Victoria’s rugged ice and the vision of the Patrick family.
How the Patricks Changed the Game
Before the Red Wings even existed, the Patricks were reinventing hockey in the west. They introduced the blue line, the forward pass, goalies dropping to their knees, and even the playoff system — rules that define modern hockey today.
“They were way ahead of their time,” Beck said. “Those innovations came straight out of the PCHA and Western Canada Hockey League.”
At the BC Sports Hall of Fame, you can still see relics from that golden era — from Lester Patrick’s skates to a beautifully hand-painted frame featuring portraits of the 1925 championship team. When it was displayed for the Cougars’ centennial, fans were amazed by its craftsmanship and history.
The Legacy That Lives On
In March, Victoria honored its long-lost champions — the last non-NHL and last B.C. team ever to hoist the Stanley Cup. But their legacy didn’t fade when they left; it evolved.
Today, as the Detroit Red Wings prepare for their 100th NHL season, their roster — led by young stars Moritz Seider, Dylan Larkin, and Lucas Raymond, plus veteran Patrick Kane — carries the spirit of those original Cougars.
When the Red Wings face the Canadiens on October 9, it’ll be more than just another game. It’ll be a full-circle moment — a century-long story of grit, innovation, and transformation that began in a small B.C. arena and grew into one of hockey’s greatest legacies.
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