October 7th "Alberta Hockey League" and October 13th, 1921 "Big Five Hockey League" letters from President E.L. Richardson to K.C. MacKenzie, Esq. Edmonton, Alta.
These letters reveal that the name of the Hockey League to which the Edmonton Eskimos were to participate in for the 1921-22 season was going to be called the Alberta Hockey League. This was the name of the League from the previous season. Also referred to as the Alberta Big 4. Interestingly though, the league would temporarily change it's name to the Big 5 Hockey League this very month of October before settling on The Western Canada Hockey League.
The first of these two letters, October 7th, 1921 is signed E. L. Richardson, President, Alberta Hockey League. The second letter, written only one week later on October 13th, 1921 is signed E. L. Richardson, President , Big Five Hockey League. Both are addressed to Ken MacKenzie and are in reference to Edmonton Eskimos Hockey Team business.
To verify this fact, I have original player contracts from the 1921-22 Calgary Tigers on all three letterheads of 1) The Alberta Hockey League 2) The Big 5 Hockey League 3) The Western Canada Hockey League.
Also of note in the second letter is a reference to the contract with Duke Keats which "shall be assumed to be $1200.00.
This letter is on Calgary Exhibition Letterhead due to the fact that E.L. Richardson was also the Manager of the Calgary Exhibition Association. Noted at the top of the letterhead are administrators of the Calgary Exhibition Association.
- E.J. Dewey, President
- Fred Johnston, 1st Vice President - who incidentally signs as President of the Alberta Hockey League on the aforementioned 1921-22 Calgary Tigers Contracts
- E. D. Adams, 2nd Vice President
- E.L. Richardson, Manager
- Patrons: HRH The Prince of Wales and H.G. The Duke of Devonshire Governor General of Canada