1932-33 WCHL EDMONTON ESKIMOS # 5 NORMAN "CHUBBY" SCOTT - GAME WORN JERSEY
This remarkable piece of hockey history was worn by the professional Edmonton Eskimos Hockey Club of the Western Canada Hockey League in 1932-33. The team photo attached shows the 1932-33 team wearing this exact style of jersey. Norman Chubby Scott is pictured 2nd from the left in this exact jersey. They were likely brand new at the time as this season marked the return of the professional Western Canada Hockey League. The Edmonton Eskimos Hockey team was first established in 1911 as a Senior League team. They became a professional franchise in 1919-21 with the Alberta Big 4 League then became a part of the WCHL/WHL from 1921-26. During this period they would compete for the right to represent the WCHL - PCHA leagues and compete for the Stanley Cup against the winner of the NHL. The Eskimos did in fact achieve this feat in the 1922-23 season and played the NHL Ottawa Senators in a best of three competition for the Stanley Cup. (Also referred to at the time as the "World Championship Series" - See the WCHL/NHL Memorandum of agreement in this Eskimo Collection). This was not a challenge situation like the early 1900's. This was part of an agreement made between the WCHL/PCHA and NHL for the period 1921-26.
This original Edmonton Eskimos sweater is the only known example to have surfaced. Two my knowledge the Hockey Hall of Fame still does not possess an original Edmonton Eskimos hockey sweater. The sweater has remained in remarkable condition with only a few holes which is very normal for hockey sweaters from this period. There is some light reddish staining which is from an undetermined source but likely from a combination of perspiration and a supplemental liquid. As the teams in this era would only play a total of 12-16 games in a season, this jersey was likely recycled for use in subsequent seasons. Norman "Chubby" Scott is known to have worn # 5 for the 1932-33 seasons and remained on the team until the conclusion of the 1933-34 season. It is not known whether he continued wearing # 5 for those additional seasons.
Norman "Chubby" Scott was a career professional hockey player who played in the AHA with the Kansas City Pla-Mors and St. Louis Flyers from 1926-32, the WCHL and NWHL Edmonton Eskimos 1932-34, the Portland Buckaroos, Calgary Consols and Seattle Seahawks 1935-42.
As evidenced in the original newspaper clippings from December 6th and December 8th, 1932, # 5 Norman Chubby Scott scored the first goal for the Eskimos this 1932-33 season in this jersey and the only goal in an opening night game vs the Calgary Tigers.
Players who played with this franchise that went on to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame include, Gordon "Duke" Keats, "Bullet" Joe Simpson and Eddie "The Edmonton Express" Shore.
Professional Hockey League jerseys from this era are very rare and seldom seen. This jersey is a cornerstone of the Canadian National Hockey Museum.