Oxford Canadians: The First Hockey Team to Represent Canada by Wearing a Red Maple Leaf

Credit:  Library and Archives Canada / C-002028
Oxford Canadians European Champions 1909/1910

The Oxford Canadians were the first hockey team to represent Canada by wearing a red maple leaf on their jersey, around 1910! The team, one of the oldest, was formed at Oxford University by Canadian students studying there on Rhodes Scholarships. They were previously called the Oxford Rhodies. The club was a founding member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. They later became the Oxford Blues. They have a very impressive alumni of Canadians who played for them,  including:

·         Rt. Hon. Lester B "Mike" Pearson (Canadian Prime Minister and Nobel Peace Prize winner)

·         Rt. Hon. Roland "Roly" Michener (Governor-General of Canada)

·         Hon. Dr. George Stanley (Lieutenant-Governor of New Brunswick and designer of the Canadian Flag)

·         Clarence Campbell (NHL President)

·         Premier Hon. Danny Williams (Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador)

·         Hon. Allan Blakeney (Premier of Saskatchewan)

·         Gen. Peter Dawkins (Heisman Trophy Winner)

·         James E. Coyne (Governor of the Bank of Canada)

·         Hon. Mr Justice Ronald Martland (Canadian Minister of Justice)

·         Hon. Otto Lang (Canadian Minister of Justice)

For more on this great team in hockey history visit Oxford University Ice Hockey:

Oxford Men’s Blues