Paul Jacobs

Who is Paul Jacobs?

Paul Oronhyatekha Jacobs was a Canadian professional ice hockey and lacrosse player. Jacobs played one game in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Arenas during the 1918–19 NHL season. Jacobs may have been the first aboriginal ice hockey player in the NHL.

Jacobs was a resident of the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory, south of Montreal. Jacobs was proficient as a youth playing lacrosse. Photographs exist of Jacobs as a member of the reserve lacrosse team in 1910.

Jacobs was also proficient at ice hockey. He is first recorded on a hockey team with Dominion Bridge Company team in the 1912-13 season. Records exist for Jacobs playing for various teams from 1912 through 1916 and from 1917 through 1925, the last recorded team being the amateur Cleveland Ohio Blues of the USAHA.

Jacobs' record in the NHL is unclear. Jacobs was invited to the Torontos' training camp in December 1918. Jacobs potentially earned an opening-day roster spot but an announcement in the Toronto Globe indicated he was returning to the Montreal area instead. Jacobs played several games for the Montreal Stars of the Montreal Hockey League that season.