This Day in Hockey History – October 21, 1949 – Dan Bain, Canada’s Athlete of Latter 19th Century

Oct 21, 2019

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The election of Donald “Dan” Bain to the International Hockey Hall of Fame was announced by its president John B. Gavin, on October 21, 1949. This was not the only honor Bain was to receive. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1945, the Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, 1987, Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum and the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame, both in 1981.

Donald Henderson Bain was born February 14, 1874 in Belleville Ontario, Canada, the sixth child born to Scottish immigrant parents, James Henderson Bain and Helen Miller. The family moved from Belleville to Winnipeg Manitoba when Bain was a young child, where he attended school and earned a degree from Manitoba College.

Dan Bain was competitive and highly skilled in many sports. His first taste of victory was in 1887, at the age of 13, winning the Manitoba roller skating championship, skating a 3-mile race. He continued his championship ways by winning the Manitoba provincial gymnastics competition at age 17, and three Manitoba cycling competitions at age 20. He was also a strong Lacrosse player in the province. He was to have said, “I couldn’t see any sense in participating in a game unless I was good. I kept at a sport just long enough to nab a championship, then I’d try something else.” He did try something else, hockey.

In 1895, the Winnipeg Victorias of the Manitoba Hockey League, placed an ad seeking new players. Bain answered it. Despite a short tryout, using a broken hockey stick held together with wire, he made the team. Bain showed himself a strong player in Center and soon established himself as a leader of the team. On February 14, 1896 the Winnipeg Victorias played the Montreal Victorias for the Stanley Cup. Bain led them to victory by scoring the winning goal in the 2-0 game earning Winnipeg the Cup. The Winnipeg win was the first time a team outside Quebec had won the Stanley Cup. The team returned to Winnipeg victorious. Upon their return to Winnipeg they were greeted by fans and then the team led in an open sleigh parade

In December of 1896, the Victorias faced Montreal again for the Stanley Cup. Montreal took the Cup back with a 6-5 win over Winnipeg, despite Bain’s scoring two goals. The game was described by local press as one of the greatest sporting events in the history of Winnipeg. As team captain and manager, Bain and the Victorias faced Montreal again in 1898, playing before record 7,000 fans. In 1899 the Victorias challenged Montreal again for the Stanley Cup, but were unsuccessful. A year later, the Victorias met the Montreal Shamrocks. Despite Bain scoring four goals in three games, the Shamrocks defeated the Victorias 11-10 in the total goal series.

In 1901, the Victorias once again faced the powerful Montreal Shamrocks in a two-game series. Bain was the hero of the series by scoring a goal in overtime to take the series. Bain was the first person to score a Cup-winning goal in overtime. It was also in 1901, Bain earned the nickname “masked man” from the press, as he wore a simple wooden mask to protect his broken nose.

Bain retired from hockey in 1902 but did not stay out of sports. He was the Canadian trapshooting champion in 1903. A devoted figure skater, he earned over 20 titles, the last one at age 56. He also earned medals in snowshoeing and lacrosse. Bain remained active in competitive sports until 1930.

In addition to sport, Bain was a well-known businessman, community leader and philanthropist. He owned a successful grocery brokers business with several offices. He was one of the founders of the Winnipeg Winter Club, member of the Freemasons, and served as lifetime governor of Winnipeg General Hospital. Dan Bain died in Winnipeg on August 15, 1962. At the time of his death his estate was valued at more than $1 million Canadian, over $8.3 million Canadian today. He left his estate mostly to charity and his employees. He was buried in the cemetery of St. John’s Cathedral in Winnipeg.

Additional Sources:

“Two members added to the Hall of Fame,” The Ottawa Citizen, Friday, October 21, 1949, p. 66.
Hockey Hall of Fame. “Montreal Victorias 1897–98”. HHOF.com.
Hockey Hall of Fame, “Dan Bain Biography“. HHOF.com.
“Ross One of Two New Men Elected to Hall of Fame,” Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Saturday, October 22, 1949, p. 18.
Michael McKinley, Hockey: A People’s History (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 2006), pp. 21–22.