Hockey Melee - Ernest Caven Atkins
oil on canvas
signed and dated 1941 and on verso titled and inscribed "CGP, AGT 42, Art Association of Montreal" / "502" / "Box 5 - 42 March 2"
36 x 42 in 91.4 x 106.7cm

Exhibited:
Art Gallery of Toronto and the Art Association of Montreal, Canadian Group of Painters, 1942
Art Gallery of Windsor, A Retrospective Exhibition of Selected Works by Caven Atkins Spanning Fifty Years of the Artist's Life, September 23 - October 28, 1979, catalogue #23.

This scene depicts the Boston Bruins, winners of the 1941 Stanley Cup, in a valiant struggle to defend their goalie. Player #17 is Bobby Bauer, #8 Des Smith, and the figure that seems to be player #5, whom we can just see at the back of the melee, is either team captain Aubrey “Dit” Clapper or player #15, Milt Schmidt. Bruins goalie #1 Frank Brimsek dives into the net. The 1941 Stanley Cup semifinals featured the Boston Bruins against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but not enough detail is seen of the opposing team’s jerseys to be certain of the match depicted.

Capturing a rare moment in art and sport history, Hockey Melee is an outstanding work, depicting the rough-and-tumble of the struggle at the goal line with strength and surety.

This painting sold at www.heffel.com on May 25, 2016 for $23,600.00 CAD (including buyer's premium)
Estimate was: $12,000 ~ $16,000 CAD