1926–27 Detroit Cougars season

Founding

On May 15, 1926, the Townsend syndicate of investors was granted a conditional expansion NHL franchise, to begin play in the upcoming season if their arena was ready. For players, the syndicate decided to purchase one of the most successful teams from the bankrupt Western Canada Hockey League, the Victoria Cougars, who had won the Stanley Cup in 1925. On September 25, 1926, the NHL made the franchise purchase permanent, although the arena was not ready. The expansion club kept the Cougars name. The club played in Windsor for the entire season.

Regular season

Olympia Stadium wasn't finished being built in time for the 1926–27 season, so the Cougars began play in Border Cities Arena right across the Detroit River in Windsor, Ontario. The team struggled as the players adjusted to the style of play in the NHL and the team finished with only twelve wins on the season and over 80,000 USD in debt.

The team's first game, a "home" game in Windsor, was played on November 18 before a sell-out crowd of 6,000. Starting goaltender Hap Holmes took ill two hours before game time and substitute Herb Stuart gave up two goals in the first three minutes before shutting down the Boston Bruins for the rest of the game. However, Detroit could not score on Doc Stewart in the Boston net and lost 2–0.

Haldor "Slim" Halderson scored the first goal in franchise history in the third period of a loss to Pittsburgh on November 20. The team won its first game on November 24, defeating expansion cousins Chicago Black Hawks, 1–0, in Chicago. Frank Frederickson scored the game's only goal. On November 30, Russell Oatman had the first multiple goal game in franchise history, scoring two goals in a 4–0 victory over the Maroons. In the same game, Hap Holmes recorded the first shutout in franchise history.

On January 1, 1927, the Cougars suspended Oatman and Hobie Kitchen for "breaking training." The Cougars then shook up their line-up that week by selling Oatman to the Maroons and trading Frank Fredrickson and Harry Meeking to the Bruins for Duke Keats and Archie Briden.

After 33 games, the Cougars replaced Duncan as coach with Keats. Duncan has a record of 10–21–2. Keats record was 2–7–2.

Final standings

For complete final standings, see 1926–27 NHL season

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

|- | 1 || November 18 || Boston || 2–0 || Detroit || || 0–1–0 || 0 |- | 2 || November 20 || Detroit || 1–4 || Pittsburgh || || 0–2–0 || 0 |- | 3 || November 24 || Detroit || 1–0 || Chicago || || 1–2–0 || 2 |- | 4 || November 27 || NY Americans || 2–4 || Detroit || || 2–2–0 || 4 |- | 5 || November 30 || Detroit || 4–0 || Mtl. Maroons || || 3–2–0 || 6

| Legend:

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

*Stats reflect games played with Detroit only.

Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Transactions

The Cougars were involved in the following transactions during the 1926–27 season.

Trades

References

;Notes

References

1. "Detroit Red Wings Historical Moments". SportsEcyclopedia.com.
2. "Detroit Red Wings Written History". Detroit Red Wings.com.
3. (November 19, 1926). "Early Attack Won For Boston 2 To 0". Montreal Gazette.
4. (November 21, 1926). "Detroit Cougars Are Beaten By Pittsburgh Pirates". Detroit Free Press.
5. (November 25, 1926). "Cougars Hand Chicago Team First Defeat: Frederickson Scores Only Goal of Game to Give Detroit Initial Victory". Detroit Free Press.
6. (December 1, 1926). "Cougars Gain Easy Victory Over Maroons". Detroit Free Press.
7. (January 7, 1927). "Trade Is Announced". Montreal Gazette.
8. Hahn, Beam(2008), p.212
9. "1926-27 Detroit Cougars Schedule".