Gary Gardell's

 

 

 

established 1877

 

 

 

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Buddy Boy

 

The St. Catharines Athletics Lacrosse Club

 

 

 

Goaltending legend Ralph Speck passed away in March at the age of 77 as he was returning home from Florida. After anchoring the provincial bantam champions from St. Catharines in 1946, Ralph would make the colossal jump to Junior "A" the following year, and as a fresh faced 15-year-old, he became one of the real heroes of the extraordinary St. Catharines Athletics Minto Cup championship team of 1947. Speck was nothing short of incredible. Ralph would play again for the A's in '48 (the provincial champs) but then when Peterborough began a Senior "A" program in 1949, Ralph along with St. Kitts Jrs. Leo Teatro and fire-baller Jim McNulty were enticed to make the move up. As a 17 & 18 year-old, Ralph was the starting goalie for the Peterborough Srs. and was only displaced when the Petes brought in from Owen Sound the experienced and renowned "Moon" Wootten in 1951. Ralph played 2 or 3 more years of Senior "A" with the Fergus Thistles, and all told, played about 4 years of senior while he was still of junior age. He made a big impact at such an early age and then left the game when he still had some of his best lacrosse left. Ralph settled in Brantford, became successful as a salesman and a husband and father.

 

now available...

        (click on book to open)

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, what's the matter with the Athletics? . . THEY'RE ALRIGHT! . . if we send them again . . they will do just the same . . oh, what's the matter with the Athletics? . . THEY'RE ALRIGHT!                         a popular cheer heard often at the "old corner lot" during the 19th century . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . players in this historic photo . . . . top row (L to R)      James Mitchell     Walter D. Swayze     Harry M. Blight (captain)     James Spence     and     Angus McKay          middle row:    Henry O' Loughlin     Thomas D. Wells     Albert O' Loughlin     John S. Carlisle          bottom row     James Douglas     James C. MacGregor     James D. Adie             

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