Northern Ireland Ice Hockey League 1940

Ice Hockey Northern Ireland Ice Hockey League

Final Table

 PWLTGFGAPts
*Harlandic Wolves6510281810
*Balmoral Tigers642029158
Raiders624011224
Wasps615013262

Compiled from Results: [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]

Playoffs

DateHome Team Away Team 
 Gaston Cup Final   
22.05.40Harlandic Wolves2Balmoral Tigers2
 Gaston Cup Final Replay   
29.05.40Balmoral Tigers2Harlandic Wolves4

Reference; [10][20]

Regular Season

DateHome Team Away Team 
17.02.40Harlandic Wolves4Wasps3
24.02.40Raiders3Harlandic Wolves4
02.03.40Balmoral Tigers5Raiders2
09.03.40Wasps2Balmoral Tigers7
16.03.40Wasps2Raiders3
23.03.40Harlandic Wolves3Balmoral Tigers8
30.03.40Raiders1Wasps3
13.04.40Harlandic Wolves7Raiders0
20.04.40Harlandic Wolves4Balmoral Tigers3
27.04.40Balmoral Tigers5Wasps2
04.05.40Wasps1Harlandic Wolves6
11.05.40Balmoral Tigers1Raiders2

Reference: [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]

Report

During World War 2, an Ice Hockey League was staged in Belfast’s King’s Hall. For 1 season in 1940, mostly Canadian Players stationed in Belfast for the duration of the War, though with some local players, played in a four-team League, sponsored by big Industries such as Harland & Wolff Ship-Builders & Short’s & Harland Airplane Manufacturers.

The Balmoral Tigers and Harlandic Wolves dominated the proceedings, winning all games against other opposition, except the Final League match, which was a shock Raiders win over the Tigers, lifting them above the Wasps into third, and handing the League Title to the Wolves.

The top two teams all season, the Balmoral Tigers & Harlandic Wolves, then met in the Gaston Cup Final, which was won 4-2 by the Wolves after a replay.

Sponsors

TeamSponsor
Balmoral TigersBelfast Ice Rink, Ltd.
Harlandic WolvesHarland & Wolff (Ship-Builders)
RaidersShort’s & Harland (Airplane Manufacturers)
WaspsThornton & Co.

Home Venue

TeamVenue
All MatchesThe King’s Hall, Balmoral, Belfast

References

Websites

Belfast Telegraph

[1] Anon. (1940) “Ice Hockey League | Wasps Lose Their Sting | Wolves Won by Odd Goal” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, February 19, 1940. pg. 4

[2] Anon. (1940) “Ice Hockey League | Early Lead by Wolves | Paved WAy for Victory” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, February 26, 1940. pg. 4

[3] Anon. (1940) “King’s Hall Ice Hockey | Balmoral Tigers Beat Wasps” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, March 11, 1940. pg. 4

[4] Anon. (1940) “Ice Hockey League | Balmoral Tigers’ Triumph | Greer well on the Target” Belfast Telegraph. Tuesday, March 26, 1940. pg. 4

[5] Anon. (1940) “Ice Hockey at King’s Hall | Raiders Defeated by Wasps” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, April 1, 1940. pg. 9

[6] Anon. (1940) “Ice Hockey in Belfast | Harlandic Wolves Victorious” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, April 15, 1940. pg. 4

[7] Anon. (1940) “Ice Hockey League | Most Thrilling Game of Series” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, April 22, 1940. pg. 3

[8] Anon. (1940) “Ice Hockey at Balmoral | The Wolves beat the Wasps” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, May 6, 1940. pg. 6

[9] Anon. (1940) “Ice Hockey at King’s Hall | Raiders beat Balmoral Tigers” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, May 13, 1940. pg. 6

[10] Anon. (1940) “Gaston Cup Final Replay | Wolves beat Tigers 4-2” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, May 30, 1940. pg. 4

Belfast News-Letter

[11] Anon. (1940) “Ice Hockey | Wolves League Game Win” Belfast News-Letter. Monday, February 19, 1940. pg. 3

[12] Anon. (1940) “Ice Hockey | Wolves beat Raiders | Close League Game at Balmoral” Belfast News-Letter. Monday, February 26, 1940. pg. 2

[13] Anon. (1940) “Ice Hockey | Balmoral Tigers Win | Thrilling League Game in King’s Hall” Belfast News-Letter. Monday, March 4, 1940. pg. 3

[14] Anon. (1940) “Ice Hockey | Wasps Lose Their Sting | Decisive Win for Balmoral Tigers in League Match” Belfast News-Letter. Monday, March 11, 1940. pg. 2

[15] Anon. (1940) “Ice Hockey | Tigers Reach League Top” Belfast News-Letter. Monday, April 29, 1940. pg. 2

[16] Anon. (1940) “Ice Hockey League | Keen Belfast Game | Wolves 6 Wasps 1” Belfast News-Letter. Monday, May 6, 1940. pg. 2

Northern Whig and Belfast Post

[17] Anon. (1940) “Ice Hockey | First Game in Local Leagues | Harlandic Wolves beat the Wasps | High Speed Battle” Northern Whig and Belfast Post. Monday, February 19, 1940. pg. 3

[18] Anon. (1940) “Ice Hockey | Wolves again successful | Last minute goal beats the Raiders” Northern Whig and Belfast Post. Monday, February 26, 1940. pg. 3

[19] Anon. (1940) “Ice Hockey | Raiders beat the Wasps | Keen Match at Balmoral” Northern Whig and Belfast Post. Monday, March 18, 1940. pg. 3

[20] Anon. (1940) “Ice Hockey | Cup Final Results in Draw” Northern Whig and Belfast Post. Thursday, May 23, 1940. pg. 2

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Malachy & Liz Connolly, Belfast.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 28 February 2019

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Resereved.

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