The majority of these employees were young males and came from Nova Scotia where hockey was started and developed. Many of these young men brought the sport of hockey with them and were very instrumental in having hockey become a permanent sport in Newfoundland. Individuals, mainly from Montreal, who came to Newfoundland with the Reid Company that was building the trans-island railways, included some experienced hockey players, and they joined the bank employees in bringing competition to Newfoundland. There is a serious contention that the financial commitments generated by the trans-island project played a major role in the bank crash. The situation came together when the St. John's Hockey League was formed in 1899. Its objective was to improve local players as well as the bank and Reid personnel. While the new Prince's Rink was open, there was a general demand for public general skating to the deterrent of hockey. The first league games were played during mealtimes so as not to interfere with skating. It should be noted that Don Johnson, who exerted a large influence on hockey within Newfoundland and Labrador and even within Canada, came to St. John's from his native Halifax because of a Bank of Nova Scotia transfer in 1959.