The earliest play-by-play radio broadcast of a hockey game may have been this one from the Winnipeg Amphitheatre on February 22, 1923. Until then, the only way to get up-to-the-minute details of a game was to go to the office of the local newspaper, where telegraph reports sent directly from the rink were transcribed and posted in the window. Note how the Free Press places the story in a radio entertainment context, not a sporting one.

Running Story of Falcon-Port Arthur Match Transmitted

The first radio broadcast of play-by play description of a hockey game told from the side of the ice, was successfully transmitted last night by C J C G when thousands of radio fans listened to a running story of the Falcon-Port Arthur game at the Amphitheatre rink. Description of every play of the game reached the ears of listeners-in as fast as the plays were made. Many of the radio fans declared the broadcast was the first successful transmission from an outside source achieved by local stations.

The popularity of the service which enabled the many who were unable to attend the game to keep posted on the entire play as fast as it took place was shown in the enthusiastic reports from city and outside points from listeners-in who declared they heard every word of the bulletins perfectly. The transmission was effected by announcements made from the side of the ice which carried to the Free Press operating room by special wire, through the radio transmitter, and out to the world in direct transmission without relay.

A splendid midnight programme of dance music supplied by George Poot's orchestra completed the evening of radio entertainment. The popularity of recent midnight concerts was repeated last night, many of the radio audience expressing their enthusiastic approval of the playing of the orchestra. Composed of six individually talented musicians, the orchestra performed in finished manner, combining their efforts to excellent advantage. Incorporating in their interpretations of a repertoire of the latest dance music a thorough appreciation of the spirit of the popular numbers played, they delighted listeners-in with the programme presented. As a musical organization the orchestra showeddistinct merit. Members of the organization are George Poots, piano; Harry Gurney, banjo; George Woolley, saxaphoine; W. G. McPherson, cornet; George Cullison, trombone, and Mickey Werhan, traps.