In November 1908, the Montreal Victorias resigned from the ECAHA and proposed to set up a new amateur ice hockey league.

The teams began play in January 1909 with a four-team league of the Victorias, Montreal Hockey Club, Ottawa Cliffsides and Toronto AAC.

[4] In February 1909, it was announced that a new championship trophy for Canadian amateur teams was donated by Sir Montagu Allan.

The Cliffsides would lose the Allan Cup in a challenge to Queen's College of Kingston, Ontario.

[5] Following IAHU players were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame post-career † Allan Cup champion