They were raising the Empire State Building during the 1930-31 NHL season. Source.
The New York Americans visited Ottawa on February 3rd, 1931. The Amerks were fourth in the Canadian Division with 29 points, Ottawa fifth with 12.
The NHL had been divided into Canadian and American divisions in 1926 and from the start the New York Americans were part of the Canadian Division. You would hope that Dorothy Parker or Alexander Woollcott made some kind of remark about it. Why put the Amerks in the Canadian Division and not, say, Detroit? What was the strategy behind having teams from both divisions in Madison Square Gardens but two Canadian Division teams in the Montreal Forum?
A Madison Square program of the time advertises “Games every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday night”. Saturday has never been hockey night in the USA. But Saturday was not hockey night in Ottawa either. In 1930-31 the Senators played thirteen home games on Thursday, six on Tuesday and only two on Saturday.
Yip Radley was the only Ottawan on the 1930-31 Amerks roster, and he only appeared in one game (not tonight’s). He spent the rest of the season with the Can-Am League New Haven Eagles. He had played for the Rideaus and Montagnards in the Ottawa City Hockey League. He later played 17 games for the Montreal Maroons in 1936-37.
The Senators’ Harry Connor played for the Amerks in 1928-29.
First period: goals by Kilrea (Ottawa), Cox (Ottawa), Ayres (Amerks) and Carson (Amerks).
Second period: goals by Burch (Amerks) and Sheppard (Amerks).
Third period: no scoring.
Final score: New York Americans 4, Ottawa Senators 2.
Montreal Senior Group:
Game 25, January 26: Columbus 1 – 1 Montreal AAA
Game 26, January 26: McGill 4 – 1 Canadiens
Game 27, February 2: Columbus 3 – 0 Canadiens
Game 28, February 2: McGill 2 – 2 Victorias
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