William Duval (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
William "Peg" Duval was a Canadian
professional ice hockey
defenceman
who played for the Ottawa Hockey Club and the Pittsburgh Victorias in the late 1890s and early 1900s. He was a member of the Canadian champion 1901 Ottawa team and captain of the Ottawa team for the 1902 season. He was one of the first professional players in ice hockey.
, Canada
, Duval played intermediate hockey for the Ottawa Aberdeens and Ottawa Atlantic Railway teams before joining the Ottawa Hockey Club in the 1899–1900 season. He played two further seasons for Ottawa, and was named captain prior to the 1902 season. He then turned professional with the Pittsburgh Victorias
of the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League
(WPHL) in 1902–03, before joining the Pittsburgh Pros of the International Professional Hockey League
for 1904–05.
Duval died due to alcoholism on June 7, 1905. Duval had been acting in an unusual manner in the weeks previous, and had been drinking heavily. The reason for the heavy drinking was not fully disclosed publicly, However, a letter arrived at his boarding house after his death from his sister, advising Duval that the "girl and the baby were doing well and that he should not be downcast." Duval had been suspended in December 1904 without pay by the Pros team for not being in condition to play although he returned to the team in time to score the winning goal in a game against Hod Stuart
's Calumet team on January 7, 1905. He was released by the team in February 1905 for being unable to stay in condition to play. A Pittsburg Press newspaper report at that time said that "'Peggy' when in condition can hold his end up with any of them, but the wine when it is red seems to have a fascination for him, hence his downfall." At the time of death, Duval was working for the Pennsylvania Railroad. Duval had previously worked for the Canada Atlantic Railway
in Ottawa.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
defenceman
Defenceman (ice hockey)
Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring...
who played for the Ottawa Hockey Club and the Pittsburgh Victorias in the late 1890s and early 1900s. He was a member of the Canadian champion 1901 Ottawa team and captain of the Ottawa team for the 1902 season. He was one of the first professional players in ice hockey.
Playing career
Born in OttawaOttawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Duval played intermediate hockey for the Ottawa Aberdeens and Ottawa Atlantic Railway teams before joining the Ottawa Hockey Club in the 1899–1900 season. He played two further seasons for Ottawa, and was named captain prior to the 1902 season. He then turned professional with the Pittsburgh Victorias
Pittsburgh Victorias
The Pittsburgh Victorias were an ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and were members of the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League. The team lasted until 1904, when the WPHL disbanded its teams to form the Pittsburgh Pros. In the 1902 the WPHL became the first professional ice hockey...
of the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League
Western Pennsylvania Hockey League
The Western Pennsylvania Hockey League , was a semi-professional ice hockey league from the early 1900s. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the league was the pre-eminent ice hockey league at the time in the United States...
(WPHL) in 1902–03, before joining the Pittsburgh Pros of the International Professional Hockey League
International Professional Hockey League
The International Professional Hockey League was the first fully professional ice hockey league, operating from 1904 to 1907. It was formed by Jack 'Doc' Gibson, a dentist who played hockey throughout Ontario before settling in Houghton, Michigan. The IPHL was a five team circuit which included...
for 1904–05.
Duval died due to alcoholism on June 7, 1905. Duval had been acting in an unusual manner in the weeks previous, and had been drinking heavily. The reason for the heavy drinking was not fully disclosed publicly, However, a letter arrived at his boarding house after his death from his sister, advising Duval that the "girl and the baby were doing well and that he should not be downcast." Duval had been suspended in December 1904 without pay by the Pros team for not being in condition to play although he returned to the team in time to score the winning goal in a game against Hod Stuart
Hod Stuart
William Hodgson "Hod" Stuart was a Canadian professional ice hockey cover-point who played nine seasons for several teams in different leagues. He also played briefly for the Ottawa Rough Riders football team...
's Calumet team on January 7, 1905. He was released by the team in February 1905 for being unable to stay in condition to play. A Pittsburg Press newspaper report at that time said that "'Peggy' when in condition can hold his end up with any of them, but the wine when it is red seems to have a fascination for him, hence his downfall." At the time of death, Duval was working for the Pennsylvania Railroad. Duval had previously worked for the Canada Atlantic Railway
Canada Atlantic Railway
The Canada Atlantic Railway Company , the creation of lumber baron John Rudolphus Booth, was for a short period an important participant in the development of trans-Canada railway systems at the end of the 19th century...
in Ottawa.