The Vancouver Millionaires were a Institution of Ice Hockey Permanance.   

The Stanley Cup, first awarded in 1893 would see many changes to the game of Ice Hockey and it's Champions. Some of the most important rules of Ice Hockey started in Vancouver, Canada. These rules are still in effect today in the NHL and leagues across the world. The playoff system that was developed in Vancouver, is now used throughtout the world in many different leagues and ALL SPORTS.

The most exciting aspect of Ice Hockey "The Penalty Shot" was started in Vancouver and the PCHA. The Patrick family would change the game of Ice hockey forever. Frank & Lester Patrick backed by their father Joe, would be the founders of the Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association (PCHA), the FIRST league from Western Canada.                                                                                                                                                                     

Frank Patrick would be league president until 1924, also playing and coaching the Vancouver Millionaires from 1911 to 1918. The Vancouver Millionaires would win The Stanley Cup in 1915 at The Denman Arena in Vancouver.  

Lester Patrick was also a player and coach with The Victoria Senators (1911/13), The Victoria Aristocrats 1913/16, The Spokane Canaries 1916/17, The Seattle Metropolitans 1917, The Victoria Aristocrats 1918/22, The Victoria Cougars 1922/26 - all teams in the PCHA. The Victoria Cougars would win The Stanley Cup in 1925 at The Patrick Arena in Oak Bay, Victoria.

The PCHA would start Ice Hockey teams in Vancouver, Victoria, New Westminster, Spokane, Portland & Seattle. The Spokane Canaries would stay only 1 season before moving back to Victoria, Canada. The Portland Rosebuds would become the First American Ice Hockey team to play for The Stanley Cup in 1916. The Seattle Metropolitans would be the First American team to Win The Stanley Cup in 1917.

Here are some of the rules that started in Vancouver and the PCHA.

• The Blue Lines
• Sub-divided the rink into 3 zones
• The Goal Line between posts
• Forward Pass
• Face Off Circles
• Penalty Shots
• The Boarding Penalty
• The Raising of the Hockey Stick after a goal was scored
• Awarding Assists on Goals
• Allowing Substitutions at any time
• Banning Players from within 5 feet of The Faceoff
• Allowing the Kicking of the Puck, except into The Goal Net
• Seperate Referee Changing Rooms
• Numbers on the Back of Jerseys, along with a Game Program to Identify Players
• The First Drafting of Players to Teams
• Playoff Format
• Allowing Goalies to Drop to the Ice to Make Saves
• Developed the Farm System for Players
• The First Canadian League to Expand to The United States of America
• 3 Periods of Play
• Goal Judge off The Ice

The Sport of Ice Hockey owes a great debt to the Patrick family, The PCHA and The City of Vancouver, Canada.

Please view this 3:55 video of The Vancouver Millionaires from Canucks.com 

video.canucks.nhl.com/videocenter/console

Frank Patrick Bio: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Patrick_%28ice_hockey%29

Lester Patrick Bio: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lester_Patrick

PCHA History: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Coast_Hockey_Association