1906–07 MPHL season

Kenora signed Alf Smith and Rat Westwick of Ottawa, whose season with the ECAHA was already over, for the final game of the season and the playoffs to play in place of future Hall of Famers Art Ross and Joe Hall who were back playing for Brandon.

[5] - Goal scorers in both games are unknown As the Thistles were Manitoba champions for 1906, they were accepted as Stanley Cup challengers.

Aided by future Hockey Hall of Famers Tom Hooper, Tommy Phillips, and Art Ross, the Thistles came away with 4–2 and 8–6 victories for a combined score of 12–8 to win a two-game total goals series.

A "ringer", Ross was a member of the Brandon Wheat City team and was signed by Kenora for just the challenge games.

Kenora went ahead and used Alf Smith and Rat Westwick of Ottawa for the challenge, against the wishes of Stanley Cup trustee Mr. Foran.

It will remain in their possession till the various hockey leagues can educate themselves up to a standard where decent sport will be the order of the day.”[6]The teams went ahead and played the series.