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LIFFITON LIST

Artie Liffiton (1881 - 1954) and the Crescents

A few days after Arthur E. Liffiton arrived in New York City from Montreal in December of 1899, he appeared at Brooklyn's Clermont Avenue Ice Rink to try out with the Brooklyn Skating Club Hockey Team. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported the club had found in young Liffiton, the brother of one of the most famous Canadian hockey players, a skater of great promise. Artie played three years with that Brooklyn team and then was recruited to play for the Crescent Athletic Club of Brooklyn.

Both Brooklyn teams were part of the first American hockey league, the American Amateur Hockey League. It had been established in 1896, after the opening of three artificial ice rinks, two in Manhattan and one in Brooklyn, New York. The teams varied a bit from year to year, but the perennial league members included the New York Athletic Club, St. Nicholas Hockey Club, the Brooklyns, and the Crescents or "New Moons."

Initially the Crescents did so poorly the club did not ice a team in 1898 - 1899. By recruiting Canadian players however, the Crescents became competitive and dominated the league championships for several years.

By the time Artie was on the New Moon team, the club had won three championships. With Artie skating as right wing , the team won in 1905, 1907, 1908, 1910, 1911 and 1912. He was team captain in 1903-04.

The year Artie first played with the Crescents, 1903 - 04, he was second among the league's point leaders. In subsequent years he was second (1905 - 06), sixth (1908 - 09), and second (1911 -12). He was selected for the All New York team at least four times, once to play against his brother Charlie's visiting Montreal team. The Spalding Athletic Library featured photographs of Artie in at least two of the company's hockey guides, in 1909-10 and 1911-12.

Artie retired from ice hockey following an incredible triumph in the the 1911 - 12 season. However he did make at least one subsequent appearance on the ice, scoring a goal in 1915-16.

The 1905 - 06 Crescents with Artie Liffiton standing far left.

Artie's son, Donald Liffiton, said his father claimed his brothers, Charlie and Ernie, were the better skaters, but that all of the Liffiton brothers were fiercely competitive and hated to lose. Once a reporter described Artie as team captain playing goalie to lead a practice session. Frustrated with his teammates who could not score a goal, Artie in his goalie gear took control of the puck and skated the length of the rink to put the puck in the net.

The New York Sun described Artie on January 7, 1907. "The Crescent game followed. It was the last of the season for the Wanderers. In the first half Sprague Cleghorn jabbed his stick in Jackson's neck, but he paid for this as Jackson swung at him and cut his head. Later the Cleghorns tried to do up Liffiton and were put out of the game. Liffiton has been playing hockey here for several years and he is noted for his clean play and ability to keep out of any roughness." The Cleghorns, also from Montreal, would eventually play in the National Hockey League and be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Read about Artie Liffiton's incredible 1911-12 season.