ˌɔn ɑːktˈoʊbɚ twˈɛnti sˈɛvən, nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd twˈɛnti sˈɪks, bᵻfˌoːɹ ðə ɹˈeɪndʒɚz hæd plˈeɪd ɐ ɹˈɛɡjʊlɚsˈiːzən ɡˈeɪm, hˈæmənd fˈaɪɚd smˈaɪð ɪn fˈeɪvɚɹ ʌv lˈɛstɚ pˈætɹɪk.
On October 27, 1926, before the Rangers had played a regular-season game, Hammond fired Smythe in favour of Lester Patrick.