679:
634:
616:
57:
664:
649:
96:
411:
shortly before the protest was heard, refused to accept the decision and announced that it would not face the
Eskimos for the league championship. The Calgary teams expanded their protests, arguing that two other players were also ineligible, and recommended the matter be brought before a judge. When the Edmonton teams refused, the league collapsed on February 24, 1921.
217:, who scored 32 points in 12 games, the Eskimos finished at the top of the league standings. They faced the second place Wanderers in a home-and-home, total goal series for the championship. After a 6–1 victory in Edmonton, the Eskimos defeated the Wanderers 2–1 in the second game in Calgary to win the title by an 8–2 score.
573:
Interest in professional hockey grew in wake of the Big-4 controversy. Although many doubted whether the then relatively small prairie cities could compete at the major professional level, talks nevertheless begun to create a prairie league that would compete with the NHL and PCHA. The former Big-4
394:(AAHA) president Frank Drayton responded to the charges by stating that the Alberta league was one of few in the country operating as true amateurs, and attacked other associations, arguing that both Saskatchewan and Manitoba had submitted illegally professional teams to the Allan Cup tournament.
397:
Although it was facing growing criticism over the accusations, the Big-4 ignored requests to offer evidence in its defence, arguing it had no right to compel its players to testify. The CAHA sided with
Patrick and declared the Big-4 professional. The league, while publicly continuing to defend
410:
had not lived in
Alberta long enough to qualify for amateur status in the province, and thus was an illegal player. A three-man panel was formed to rule on Tobin's status, and sided with the Edmonton club. The Tigers, upset that the panel had replaced a neutral panelist with one from Edmonton
130:
senior-amateur championship, the league's existence was marred by accusations that its teams were secretly paying their players. The Big-4 lost its amateur status after its first season and operated as an independent league until further accusations of the use of ineligible players led to its
389:
wrote a letter to the CAHA charging that the Big-4 was operating as a semi-professional league, paying many of its players in secret. He asked that the CAHA declare the Big-4 as a professional circuit and disqualify it from competing for the Allan Cup.
418:
championship. The Tigers won the first game in
Calgary, 2–0, but lost the second to the Eskimos 2–1 at Edmonton. The Calgary club was declared the winner on the strength of a 3–2 aggregate score.
406:
As the season's end approached, the Tigers were in first place while the
Canadians trailed the Eskimos for second place. The Canadians filed a protest against the Eskimos, alleging that goaltender
578:
in the summer of 1921. The two
Calgary teams subsequently chose to merge into one team, continuing on under the Tigers name, and joined with the Edmonton Eskimos,
378:(CAHA) sanction so as to be eligible for Allan Cup competition. The league attempted to become the Big-5 as president Allan McCaw attempted to add a team from
167:
had been established as the new amateur championship in its place. The Big-4 was established in 1919 with the intention of bringing the Allan Cup to
Alberta.
1014:
1009:
1004:
370:
as
Calgary's representatives. Additionally, the league chose to adopt the six-man rules for the 1920–21 season, eliminating the
817:
678:
209:
Two teams represented
Calgary in the Big-4: The Columbus and the Wanderers, while two represented Edmonton: the Dominions and
633:
615:
375:
366:
The
Columbus and Wanderers both withdrew from the league after the first season and were replaced by the Canadians and
663:
985:
160:
1024:
648:
625:
254:
210:
176:
136:
86:
575:
414:
Though the league had collapsed, the Tigers and Eskimos, without Tobin, finally agreed to hold an informal
140:
386:
574:
teams openly declared their professionalism and joined with two teams from Saskatchewan to create the
398:
itself against the charges, chose not to appeal and operated as an independent league in 1920–21.
1019:
724:
621:
407:
594:
156:
155:
was no longer awarded to the top amateur team in Canada, reserved instead for the professional
598:
590:
8:
126:
for two seasons between 1919 and 1921. Created with the intention of competing for the
371:
981:
669:
111:
583:
579:
455:
391:
367:
191:
132:
99:
74:
998:
790:"Robbed of his source of supply for Coast League, Patrick attacks Big Four".
684:
379:
859:"Disruption threatened in Alta. Big Four as result of protest decision".
654:
152:
928:"Alberta will have pro hockey next winter for sure, says Lloyd Turner".
639:
214:
28:
835:"Big Four through with Amateur Union; to run as independent league".
385:
Following the defection of some players to the Big-4, PCHA president
164:
127:
119:
597:, before disbanding and seeing some of its teams forming the new
123:
115:
95:
62:
102:
was one of the former PCHA stars lured to Alberta by the Big-4
978:
The Battle of Alberta: A Century of Hockey's Greatest Rivalry
913:"Alberta likely to fall in line with pro hockey project".
760:"Wanderers beaten in final game by Edmonton club, 2–1".
609:
Some of the players who played in the Big-4 League:
565:Calgary Tigers vs Edmonton Eskimos 3-2 (2-0, 1-2)
996:
775:"Big Four prepared for another hockey season".
898:"Tigers nose out Esks for inter-city honors".
958:"Western Canada pro hockey opens Dec. 12".
803:
801:
710:
708:
706:
131:collapse in 1921. Two of its teams, the
943:"Calgary pro hockey clubs join forces".
882:
874:"Big Four Hockey League has collapsed".
843:
94:
798:
703:
997:
975:
1015:Defunct ice hockey leagues in Alberta
727:. Edmonton Oilers Heritage Foundation
601:, which disbanded after two seasons.
725:"The Big 4 League—Amateurs or Pros?"
818:""Big Four" league has backed down"
376:Canadian Amateur Hockey Association
13:
717:
392:Alberta Amateur Hockey Association
361:
14:
1036:
401:
204:
139:went on to form the professional
1010:1921 disestablishments in Canada
677:
662:
647:
632:
614:
568:
55:
951:
936:
921:
906:
891:
867:
852:
1005:1919 establishments in Alberta
828:
810:
783:
768:
753:
738:
589:The WCHL would be renamed the
188:Calgary Columbus Club: 1919–20
1:
745:"Big Four League standings".
692:
421:
576:Western Canada Hockey League
533:
507:
481:
453:
332:
306:
280:
252:
141:Western Canada Hockey League
7:
220:
200:Edmonton Dominions: 1920–21
146:
10:
1041:
672:with the Calgary Wanderers
657:with the Edmonton Hustlers
604:
534:
508:
482:
454:
333:
307:
281:
253:
197:Calgary Canadians: 1920–21
185:Edmonton Hustlers: 1919–20
182:Calgary Wanderers: 1919–20
962:. 1921-11-10. p. 18.
932:. 1921-06-14. p. 14.
917:. 1921-04-23. p. 11.
902:. 1921-03-19. p. 28.
878:. 1921-02-25. p. 24.
863:. 1921-02-22. p. 17.
839:. 1920-12-13. p. 16.
824:. 1920-12-09. p. 15.
794:. 1920-11-10. p. 16.
779:. 1920-08-25. p. 14.
642:with the Edmonton Eskimos
80:
68:
50:
42:
34:
24:
593:for its fifth and final
170:
114:league that operated in
16:Senior ice hockey league
976:Sandor, Steven (2005).
687:with the Calgary Tigers
382:but was unsuccessful.
103:
1025:Ice hockey in Calgary
599:Prairie Hockey League
591:Western Hockey League
374:position, and sought
98:
888:Sandor, 2005, p. 25
849:Sandor, 2005, p. 24
807:Sandor, 2005, p. 22
714:Sandor, 2005, p. 20
21:
980:. Heritage House.
535:Edmonton Dominions
104:
84:Calgary Tigers (1)
19:
560:
559:
509:Calgary Canadians
359:
358:
308:Edmonton Hustlers
282:Calgary Wanderers
112:senior ice hockey
93:
92:
1032:
991:
964:
963:
955:
949:
948:
940:
934:
933:
925:
919:
918:
910:
904:
903:
895:
889:
886:
880:
879:
871:
865:
864:
856:
850:
847:
841:
840:
832:
826:
825:
814:
808:
805:
796:
795:
787:
781:
780:
772:
766:
765:
757:
751:
750:
742:
736:
735:
733:
732:
721:
715:
712:
681:
666:
651:
636:
626:Edmonton Eskimos
618:
584:Saskatoon Sheiks
483:Edmonton Eskimos
426:
425:
334:Calgary Columbus
255:Edmonton Eskimos
225:
224:
177:Edmonton Eskimos
137:Edmonton Eskimos
110:was a top level
87:Edmonton Eskimos
61:
59:
58:
22:
18:
1040:
1039:
1035:
1034:
1033:
1031:
1030:
1029:
995:
994:
988:
967:
957:
956:
952:
942:
941:
937:
927:
926:
922:
912:
911:
907:
897:
896:
892:
887:
883:
873:
872:
868:
858:
857:
853:
848:
844:
834:
833:
829:
816:
815:
811:
806:
799:
789:
788:
784:
774:
773:
769:
759:
758:
754:
744:
743:
739:
730:
728:
723:
722:
718:
713:
704:
695:
688:
682:
673:
667:
658:
652:
643:
637:
628:
619:
607:
580:Regina Capitals
571:
424:
404:
364:
362:1920 off-season
223:
207:
173:
149:
85:
70:
56:
54:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1038:
1028:
1027:
1022:
1020:Hockey Alberta
1017:
1012:
1007:
993:
992:
986:
972:
971:
966:
965:
960:Calgary Herald
950:
945:Calgary Herald
935:
930:Calgary Herald
920:
915:Calgary Herald
905:
900:Calgary Herald
890:
881:
876:Calgary Herald
866:
861:Calgary Herald
851:
842:
837:Calgary Herald
827:
822:Ottawa Citizen
809:
797:
792:Calgary Herald
782:
777:Calgary Herald
767:
762:Calgary Herald
752:
747:Calgary Herald
737:
716:
701:
700:
699:
694:
691:
690:
689:
683:
676:
674:
670:Mickey O'Leary
668:
661:
659:
653:
646:
644:
638:
631:
629:
620:
613:
606:
603:
595:1925–26 season
570:
567:
558:
557:
554:
551:
548:
545:
542:
539:
536:
532:
531:
528:
525:
522:
519:
516:
513:
510:
506:
505:
502:
499:
496:
493:
490:
487:
484:
480:
479:
476:
473:
470:
467:
464:
461:
458:
456:Calgary Tigers
452:
451:
448:
445:
442:
439:
436:
433:
430:
423:
420:
403:
402:1920–21 season
400:
363:
360:
357:
356:
353:
350:
347:
344:
341:
338:
335:
331:
330:
327:
324:
321:
318:
315:
312:
309:
305:
304:
301:
298:
295:
292:
289:
286:
283:
279:
278:
275:
272:
269:
266:
263:
260:
257:
251:
250:
247:
244:
241:
238:
235:
232:
229:
222:
219:
206:
205:1919–20 season
203:
202:
201:
198:
195:
192:Calgary Tigers
189:
186:
183:
180:
172:
169:
163:leagues. The
148:
145:
133:Calgary Tigers
100:Barney Stanley
91:
90:
82:
78:
77:
75:Calgary Tigers
72:
66:
65:
52:
48:
47:
44:
40:
39:
36:
32:
31:
26:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1037:
1026:
1023:
1021:
1018:
1016:
1013:
1011:
1008:
1006:
1003:
1002:
1000:
989:
987:1-894974-01-8
983:
979:
974:
973:
969:
968:
961:
954:
947:. 1921-11-08.
946:
939:
931:
924:
916:
909:
901:
894:
885:
877:
870:
862:
855:
846:
838:
831:
823:
819:
813:
804:
802:
793:
786:
778:
771:
764:. 1920-02-21.
763:
756:
749:. 1920-02-14.
748:
741:
726:
720:
711:
709:
707:
702:
697:
696:
686:
685:Herb Gardiner
680:
675:
671:
665:
660:
656:
650:
645:
641:
635:
630:
627:
623:
617:
612:
611:
610:
602:
600:
596:
592:
587:
585:
581:
577:
569:Post-collapse
566:
564:
555:
552:
549:
546:
543:
540:
537:
529:
526:
523:
520:
517:
514:
511:
503:
500:
497:
494:
491:
488:
485:
477:
474:
471:
468:
465:
462:
459:
457:
449:
446:
443:
440:
437:
434:
431:
428:
427:
419:
417:
412:
409:
399:
395:
393:
388:
387:Frank Patrick
383:
381:
377:
373:
369:
354:
351:
348:
345:
342:
339:
336:
328:
325:
322:
319:
316:
313:
310:
302:
299:
296:
293:
290:
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284:
276:
273:
270:
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264:
261:
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256:
248:
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242:
239:
236:
233:
230:
227:
226:
218:
216:
212:
199:
196:
193:
190:
187:
184:
181:
178:
175:
174:
168:
166:
162:
161:Pacific Coast
158:
154:
151:By 1919, the
144:
142:
138:
134:
129:
125:
121:
117:
113:
109:
101:
97:
88:
83:
79:
76:
73:
67:
64:
53:
49:
45:
41:
37:
33:
30:
27:
23:
977:
959:
953:
944:
938:
929:
923:
914:
908:
899:
893:
884:
875:
869:
860:
854:
845:
836:
830:
821:
812:
791:
785:
776:
770:
761:
755:
746:
740:
729:. Retrieved
719:
608:
588:
572:
562:
561:
415:
413:
405:
396:
384:
380:Saskatchewan
365:
208:
150:
108:Big-4 League
107:
105:
20:Big-4 League
655:Wilf Talbot
179:: 1919–1921
153:Stanley Cup
81:Most titles
71:champion(s)
999:Categories
731:2010-07-08
693:References
640:Duke Keats
622:Bill Tobin
408:Bill Tobin
215:Duke Keats
213:. Led by
29:Ice hockey
698:Footnotes
624:with the
563:Playoffs:
416:intercity
194:: 1920–21
165:Allan Cup
128:Allan Cup
422:Standing
221:Standing
157:National
147:Founding
120:Edmonton
970:General
605:Gallery
211:Eskimos
124:Alberta
116:Calgary
51:Country
35:Founded
984:
368:Tigers
63:Canada
60:
43:Ceased
372:rover
171:Teams
25:Sport
982:ISBN
582:and
228:Team
159:and
135:and
118:and
106:The
69:Last
46:1921
38:1919
530:17
504:18
478:21
447:GA
444:GF
432:GP
429:Lag
329:10
303:16
277:16
246:GA
243:GF
231:GP
89:(1)
1001::
820:.
800:^
705:^
586:.
556:6
553:62
550:32
544:12
538:16
527:47
524:47
512:16
501:43
498:57
486:15
475:46
472:62
463:10
460:15
450:P
441:T
438:L
435:W
355:6
352:63
349:38
337:12
326:46
323:36
311:12
300:36
297:40
285:12
274:31
271:62
259:12
249:P
240:T
237:L
234:W
143:.
122:,
990:.
734:.
547:2
541:2
521:1
518:7
515:8
495:0
492:6
489:9
469:1
466:4
346:0
343:9
340:3
320:0
317:7
314:5
294:0
291:4
288:8
268:0
265:4
262:8
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