Cup for Amateurs

Sir H. Hontagu Allan in a letter to Mr. Blair Russell, yesterday stated that he had decided to offer a cup to be competed for by the amateur hockey clubs of Canada, and that he would be pleased to have the team winning the Interprovincial championship this year become the first holders of the cup and defend it should any challenges be received.

The idea behind Sir Montagu's gift is that there should be for the amateur clubs a trophy which will take the place of the Stanley Cup, now becoming a trophy for which professional clubs will alone compete. It offers a new feature of interest to the great Canadian winter sport and probably it will be a matter of only a couple of years until it will rival in public interest the older piece of silverware fought for in so many stirring contests.

Apart from his position as head of a big steamship line, as president of the Montreal Jockey Club and honorary president of the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association, as well as having been prominently identified from time to time with many matters of interest to Canadian sportsmen, Sir Montagu is known from end to end of Canada and the news of his gift to amateur hockey will be warmly received.

The conditions under which the cup will be competed for will be announced after the cup has been formally accepted by the Interprovincial Hockey Union. It is understood that the regulations laid down will be very strict and there will be no possibility of the cup ever being competed for by other than amateur clubs.

Copies of the letter are being forwarded to the various Interprovincial club secretaries by Mr. Blair Russel, president of the Union, and it is likely that the formal acceptance will be communicated to Sir H. Montagu Allan next week. The champions of the O.H.A. will be likely challengers when the donation of the cup is made known and there is a chance of two sets of games for two hockey trophies this spring. Sir Montagu's letter of donation was as follows:

Montreal, February 19.

Blair Russel, Esq., President Interprovincial Hockey Union:

Dear Sir: -- With a view to stimulating the interest in amateur hockey throughout Canada, I have decided to offer a cup to be competed for by amateur clubs. This cup, I hope, eventually will become to the amateurs what the Stanley Cup now represents to the professionals, with the undesirable features eliminated.

The Interprovincial Hockey Union, having been organized with the object of fostering the amateur spirit among hockey players, is, I think, deserving of every encouragement, and, if agreeable to your committee, I would be pleased to have the team winning the Interprovincial championship this year become the first holders of the cup and defend it should any challenges be received. If this meets with the approval of the Union, I will be glad to make known to you the name of the gentlemen who will act as trustees, and also the conditions governing the cup.

Awaiting your reply, I am,

Yours, very truly,

(Sgd.) H. MONTAGU ALLAN