Steamer Maxwell

Frederick George "Steamer" Maxwell (May 19, 1890 – September 11, 1975) was a Canadian amateur ice hockey player. He played rover in the days of seven-man hockey at the turn of the 20th century, spending six seasons with the Winnipeg Monarchs of the Manitoba Hockey League (MHL) between 1909 and 1915. Considered one of the top players of his era, he won two Manitoba provincial championships with the Monarchs and was a member of the team that won the 1915 Allan Cup as Canadian senior amateur champions. Maxwell spurned multiple offers to turn professional and ultimately quit playing hockey when he learned some of his peers at the senior amateur level were getting paid.

A long-time coach at the senior level, Maxwell led the Winnipeg Falcons to an Allan Cup championship in 1920; the team went on to win an Olympic Gold medal as Canada's representative in the 1920 Olympic ice hockey tournament. He coached into the 1930s, leading several teams to senior and junior championships. Maxwell is an honoured member of the Manitoba Sports and Hockey Halls of Fame and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1962.

Playing career Quick on his feet, Maxwell's skating ability at rover earned him the nickname "Steamer". He began his senior career in 1909–10, appearing in one game with the Winnipeg Monarchs of the Manitoba Hockey League (MHL). In 1910–11, he scored six goals for the Monarchs in five games and was named to the league's second All-Star team. He scored seven goals in seven games for the Monarchs in 1911–12, and by the following season had been named the team's captain.

Maxwell scored three goals and two assists for the Monarchs in the 1913–14 season as the team won the city and provincial championships. The game, held March 11, 1914, was ultimately played and Maxwell's speed and skating helped lead the Monarchs to a 6–2 victory. The team was unable to defend the trophy against a second challenge, played two nights later against the Regina Victorias. Maxwell scored a goal in a 5–4 defeat. Winnipeg Monarchs in 1915. Steamer Maxwell is sitting second from right with the Allan Cup between his legs. The Monarchs repeated as Manitoba provincial champions in 1914–15 as Maxwell again scored three goals and two assists during regular league play. but the Monarchs overcame a two-goal deficit in the second match to win 4–2 and win the series on an aggregate total of seven to six. There were no further challenges, and Maxwell and the Monarchs ended the season as Allan Cup champions.

Coaching career

Maxwell remained in the game, turning to coaching. He served two seasons as coach of the Winnipeg Monarchs before moving to the cross-town rival Winnipeg Falcons. His business interests outside of hockey prevented Maxwell from travelling to Belgium with his team;

Maxwell coached several Winnipeg teams throughout the 1920s and 1930s. He led the Winnipeg Rangers, Winnipeg Winnipegs and Elmwood Millionaires to Manitoba provincial senior championships in 1926, 1927 and 1930, respectively. He led the Millionaires' junior team to a provincial title that same season.

Coaching the senior Monarchs, Maxwell led the team to the Manitoba Championship in 1933–34. However, as with 1920, Maxwell was unable to travel to Europe with his team. That honour followed his 1962 induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. The company, which focused on plywood supply, was successful and ultimately made Maxwell a millionaire. Genevieve was herself a champion tennis player in Western Canada.

An avid baseball fan, Maxwell was among the founders of the Winnipeg Arena baseball club in 1908, and became the team's manager in 1912. At its peak, the team drew as many as 5,000 fans per game. As a player, manager or general manager, Maxwell was a member of eight Arena teams that won the Winnipeg city championship between 1908 and 1923. He was known for his quick, and often barbed, wit; His friends often told a story of an Arenas baseball game where, after failing to convince the umpire that it was too dark to play, Maxwell sent his players onto the field with lighted candles. In his later years, he served on the advisory board of the Winnipeg Goldeyes professional club.

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1909–10 Winnipeg Hockey Club MHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 1910–11 Winnipeg Monarchs MHL 5 6 0 6 — — — — — — 1911–12 Winnipeg Monarchs MHL 8 7 0 7 — — — — — — 1912–13 Winnipeg Monarchs MHL 8 2 0 2 — — — — — — 1913–14 Winnipeg Monarchs MHL 8 3 2 5 6 2 1 0 1 6 1914–15 Winnipeg Monarchs MHL 7 3 2 5 22 1 1 0 1 6 Senior totals 37 21 4 25 28 3 2 0 2 12