September 19th, 1923 Letters addressed to Hal Winkler and Herb Stuart, Goaltenders for the Edmonton Eskimo Hockey Club.
This letters appears to be a drafts as both were unsigned. These drafts reveal the contract proposals for the upcoming season. The letters are very revealing and give a tremendous insight into the way in which Ken MacKenzie dealt with his players. He appeared to be very considerate of their thoughts and needs in the matter.
ie (To Hal Winkler) - " I wish to say that ever since you joined my club your work has been very satisfactory." " You know your own business best and if you can make more money by staying out of hockey I certainly do not expect you to leave your position."
ie (To Herb Stuart) - "I saw a clipping in the Free Press where you turned down my offer and intended going into business in Brandon. I have decided to make you a new offer and will give you $4500 for two years. Think it over and see if it is not much safer than taking a chance with business as it is at the present time. Things are none too good as I feel sure you will agree. Of course I do not wish to tell you what to do, on that must do as you feel is best for yourself".
Very interesting that both these drafts were drawn up on the same day for the two goaltenders.
Hal Winkler did end up signing with the Edmonton Eskimos for the 1923-24 season as proposed in this draft. He was the previous season's goaltender, leading the team to the Stanley Cup Final. He had started with the Edmonton Eskimos in 1921-22. After his career with the Edmonton Eskimos, he played two seasons with the WCHL Calgary Tigers before playing three seasons in the NHL. He started in the 1926-27 with the NY Rangers, playing 8 games before being traded to the Boston Bruins where he finished his NHL career in 1928-29. He then went on to the Minneapolis Millers of the AHA, Seattle Eskimos of the PCHL and the Boston Cubs of the C-AHL.
Herb Stuart, on the other hand, remained in Brandon Manitoba and played the 1923-24 season with Brandon Hockey Club of the Manitoba Senior Hockey League. He did eventually sign with the Edmonton Eskimos for the 1924-25 and 1925-26 seasons. He shared duties with Norman Hec Fowler and William Tobin in 1924-25 and then was the sole goaltender for the team in the 1925-26 season. He would then go on to play for the NHL Expansion Detroit Cougars in 1926-27 upon the demise of the Western Hockey League Edmonton Eskimos Hockey Club.
I have included images of both goaltenders. Hal Winkler is pictured as a member of the Melville Maple Leafs Sr. and Herb Stuart with the Detroit Cougars