1958/59 Elmvale Juveniles Narrative


Article by Mike Townes

The 1958-59 Elmvale Lions Club Juvenile Hockey team won the second-ever OMHA championship for Elmvale. After a bit of arm twisting, Bill Crawford took the coaching job while Harry Rowley again joined the staff as manager.

The team had no league to play in so they only played exhibition games all winter to prepare for the OMHA playoffs.  The team was matched against Burk Falls and lost to them in the first round. Following the series it was established that Burk Falls was playing with a large number of ineligible players from Sundridge so Elmvale was awarded the series and allowed to advance to the next round.

The boys played Little Britain and, with the help from some under-aged players, won 4-3. They scored late in game two for a 6-6 tie to win the total goal series 10-9. With injured players returning, Elmvale took on Caledon East (Nobleton). The boys won game one 5-4 and game two 10-8 to win the total goal series 15-12. Elmvale was now in the finals for the championship against a team from Lucknow.

Elmvale had to move their home games to Collingwood when the natural ice melted. They also found out that their opponents had a hot prospect by the name of Paul Henderson playing for them. Moving to the big ice surface proved to be a big advantage for the local boys as they won game one of the best-of-three series by a score of 11-3. They then took game two by a 7-4 score to win Elmvale’s second Juvenile championship.

Members of the team included Russ Ritchie, Nelson Jordon, Dave Cooper, Tory Stephens, Bob Greenlaw, Dave Campbell, Gilbert Hall, Wayne McArthur, Bill Large, Lealand Rowat, Ross Heacock, Ross French, Bill Marley, Larry Simpson, Andy Copeland, Elvie Frankcom. John Crawford was the stick boy while Bill Crawford and Harry Rowley ran the team from the bench. 

 

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