New York Americans 1925-1940

Brooklyn Americans 1941-1942

Home of "The Curse Of The New York Rangers"

www.newyorkamericans.com

When the team was closed owner Red Dutton placed a curse on the New York Rangers that they would never win the Stanley Cup in his lifetime a curse that lasted for over fifty years when the New York Rangers won the Stanley Cup in 1994 seven years after Red Dutton's death.

The Rangers had also burned their old contracts in the top of the Stanley Cup after the closure of the New York Americans to commemorate them being the only team to play in Madison Square Garden and it is said be part of the curse.

History Of The New York Americans

In 1923 Thomas Duggan received three NHL options to build new NHL teams in the United States when the NHL hockey league was expanding into the United States from Canada in the 1920's.

Before this time there were no NHL teams in the United States.

Thomas Duggan who was a sports promoter was helping the NHL form new teams in the United States, the first team they created was the Boston Bruins the first NHL team in the United States, then the New York Americans and New York Rangers.

The New York Americans entered the NHL hockey league with the Pittsburgh Pirates hockey team and were the second and third United States teams in the NHL and later the New York Rangers were formed in 1926.

The first new NHL team option sold by Thomas Duggan was given to Charles Adams, grocery magnate, who formed the first NHL team in the United States the Boston Bruins.

The second option was sold and given to Tex Rickard owner of Madison Square Garden and later became the New York Rangers but did not start right away because of the construction of the new Madison Square Garden and began play as the New York Rangers in 1926.

The third option for a new NHL team was sold to Bill Dwyer a New York City Bootlegger during prohibition and became the New York Americans who played in Madison Square Garden as the second team in the area to the New York Rangers who also owned the stadium.

The deal that was made by Thomas Duggan to expand the NHL into the United States formed two teams to play in New York City at Madison Square Garden.

This first team was the New York Americans who were under contract to play in Madison Square Garden as the tenant who rented the arena starting in 1925 and were the first actual NHL team to play in Madison Square Garden. The second team was owned by Madison Square Garden and was the New York Rangers but did not start play until the 1926 season because of the construction of the area.

This let the New York Americans play first in the new Madison Square Garden starting in 1925 then the New York Rangers began play in 1926.

The original players for the New York Americans were bought from the Hamilton Tigers NHL team who had finished first in their division the previous year.

Visit Hamilton Tigers Tribute Page at www.hamiltontigers.com . 

Previous to this the Hamilton Tigers were the Quebec Bulldogs NHL team, the Bulldogs moved to Hamilton to become the Tigers then the players sold to the New York Americans.

Hamilton had first attempted to buy the Montreal Wanderers but the team shut down after their stadium burnt down so Hamilton bought the Quebec Bulldogs instead.

The Hamilton Tigers had went on strike because they were not being paid extra for the NHL schedule expansion from twenty four to thirty games meaning they had to play more games for the same money, the team was then closed.

Bill Dwyer did not buy the Hamilton Tigers Franchise which closed, his was a new franchise expansion team sold to him by Thomas Duggan and Bill Dwyer acquired the players only from the Hamilton Tigers for $75,000 who became the New York Americans.

Thomas Duggan

Sports promoter who brought the NHL into the United States in the 1920's by creating the NHL's first United States team The Boston Bruins along with the New York Americans and New York Rangers

Controversy Of The New York Americans

Owner Bill Dwyer was a known alcohol bootlegger in the United States during prohibition and funded the team through illegal alcohol sales, although he had verbal agreements to be the only NHL team in Madison Square Garden  Thomas Duggan had already sold Tex Rickard an NHL franchise which became the New York Rangers and were the home team of the stadium.

Bill Dwyer's New York Americans ran into financial trouble and had continual fees in rent increases and fees under their contract to play in Madison Square Garden most likely from their success as a fan favourite team in New York City and Madison Square Garden wanted a piece of their revenue.

Later as prohibition ended Bill Dwyer was not able to pay the fees to Madison Square Garden and the NHL because of his lack of income when alcohol was legalized. He amounted a massive debt that he could not pay to the NHL and Madison Square Garden and he put the team up for sale.

Before this a merger had been attempted with Ottawa Senators who were also suffering financial difficulties but was rejected by the NHL, the Ottawa Senators later because the St. Louis Eagles for one season.

Later the team was then taken over by the NHL due to unpaid debts and given to player / coach Red Dutton and then renamed the Brooklyn Americans.

The team was then supposed to relocate to Brooklyn, New York to continue to play but was closed by the NHL after playing one season at Madison Square Garden in 1942 as the Brooklyn Americans.

Bill Dwyer

Owner of the New York Americans

Eddy Shore

Lorne Carr

Roy Worters

Tommy Anderson