Two years later, Kennedy died. He was also the owner of the team. A bidding war ensued between three groups. The first, headed by NHL President Frank Calder offered $8500. The second, headed by Dandurand with two other prominent Montrealers, authorized businessman Cecil Hart to bid $10,000 for them while they were in Cleveland on business. The third party, Tom Duggan placed 10 bills, each $1000 in front of Kennedy's widow. She asked if Hart would match it, so he called the group in Cleveland and asked them. They called it very big for a hockey team (this was 77 years ago) but agreed to bid $11,000. At the end of the year, they made $18,000 and later sold it to the Canadian Arena Company for the bargain $165,000.
Next week, I'll start on the NHL era for the hockey power, with info on Howie Morenz, the Rocket and the Montreal Forum.
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