A Championship Interrupted
The 1919 Stanley Cup Finals between the Montreal Canadiens and Seattle Metropolitans became a battle of endurance. After five grueling games, with the series tied 2-2-1, exhaustion and illness struck both teams. Canadiens defenseman Joe Hall fell feverish mid-game, a harbinger of worse to come.
The Spanish Flu Strikes
Unbeknownst to many, the Spanish flu was resurging. By April 1, 1919, five Canadiens and their coach were hospitalized, along with several Seattle players. Game 6 was canceled. Joe Hall, one of hockey’s first enforcers, succumbed to the flu days later, his death shocking fans and players alike.
The Only Unfinished Stanley Cup Final
The series was declared incomplete, a unique moment in Stanley Cup history. Both teams are memorialized on the trophy with the engraving “SERIES NOT COMPLETED.” Seattle’s enthusiasm for hockey endured, but the Metropolitans disbanded by 1924 after financial struggles.
In 1919, the Stanley Cup Finals between the Montreal Canadiens and Seattle Metropolitans ended in tragedy. With the series tied 2-2-1, Canadiens defenseman Joe Hall left Game 5 exhausted and feverish, unknowingly battling the Spanish flu. Days later, the Finals were abruptly… pic.twitter.com/Ins7jlXgxc
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) December 13, 2024