History of the A's

1934 - Junior Champion Athletics

In the early 1930’s the game of box lacrosse arose out of the ashes of the old, field game and a new cycle in the sport’s history was beginning its ascendancy. This was also a period when unemployment was high, money was short, families were hungry and prospects looked grim for a great many, but diversions such as movies and sports persisted in popularity despite the hardships that few were able to avoid. Maybe it was just the elixir needed to counteract some of the difficult times. 

In the pre-hundred-channel universe of 1934, the St. Catharines’ sporting public would continue to focus its attention on the local scene and find that its young heroes were picking up the fallen torch of an old game that seemed part of its own birthright. Many a tired old eye twinkled in 1932 when the city juniors won the very first provincial junior title in box lacrosse and reclaimed some past glories. The ongoing commitment to minor lacrosse of people like E. T. Sandell, Walter Westwood, Eddie England, Willie Hope and others would keep the game alive through some tough times, and this was about to pay dividends with the re-emergence of the old game in a new form. 

The city league A’s of coach Mel Soper and Marty Cahill’s “Tecs” would play before good crowds at the newly expanded lacrosse box at the city sports park in what was designed as a best three-out-of-five season series. After a tie game in the first contest, the next match would be played on June 14^th and would end in a narrow 6 – 5 victory for the Tecumsehs, the first loss since 1932 for the A’s in city league action. Bill Fitzgerald Jr. would notch 2 goals for the Tecs in that game while recently converted goaltender Roy “Pung” Morton would get 3 markers in a losing cause.

On August 1^st when the Tecumsehs registered a narrow 12 – 11 win, their 3 – 0 – 1 record versus the perennial champion Athletics meant that the Standard Cup would be going to the red-shirts in 1934. With the score tied at 11 in the late stages of that exciting finale, the Standard wrote, “it was only in the last minute of play that the Tecs turned the trick over the Soper squad of blue-shirts. A lucky break in catching the Athletics up the box supplied the thrust that gave Young a racing chance down centre and a pass to McMahon, who drew Hincks aside for the goal that proved the turning point of that thrilling struggle. With a minute left to play, Athletics forced the pace with everything at their disposal and it took the entire stiff body-checking and stonewall tactics of the Cahill red-shirts to withstand the pressure before the gong sounded.”

Meanwhile the traveling team would feature one-day Canadian Hall-of-Famers Carl Madsen, Joe Cheevers, Billy Fitzgerald and Jack McMahon from the Tecumsehs, plus Tom Teather, Roy Morton, George Urquhart and Doug Cove from the Athletics, and thoroughly dominate their games with the Brantford Shamrocks and Hespeler Orangeshirts of the Niagara-Brant grouping. The team opened up with a 19 to 4 victory in Brantford on Monday July 10^th before following that up with a 20 to 4 win at home against the Orangeshirts on the following Saturday.

On Saturday August 4^th, with six of their regulars playing with the senior team in Orillia, the juniors traveled to Hespeler and came away with an 11 to 5 win. The Standard would write, “Madsen and Johnson were forced to play the entire game without relief and turned in bang-up performances.” Later in that month, both the Brantford and Hespeler teams would drop out of the group and O. A. L. A. secretary Gene Dopp would announce that St. Kitts were group champions by default and would move on to the provincial play-downs beginning with home-and-home dates against the Hamilton Vi-Tones.

On Thursday August 30^th, St. Catharines took the first game by 16 – 10 in front of 1,000 fans at Hamilton’s H.A.A.A. grounds and the Standard reported, “Marty Cahill has the lads playing a systematic game and a repeat performance of last night should see them enter the second round. ‘On to Cornwall’ is their slogan and it’s going to take a mighty good junior team to topple them.”

The return match back in St. Kitts on the following Tuesday would be played in a heavy rainstorm. “Rain which started to fall late in the second session teemed down during the third and fourth quarters and when the players slipped and fell and became mud-soaked, the game gradually lost its interest.”  A 17 – 7 win put them Young Athletics up 33 – 17 on the round. 

On September 19^th, the Standard’s Clayton Browne would write, “it simmers down to the cold, hardpan substance that unless red-blooded and sporting citizens rally around the light and dark blue banner, they may have to default the Cornwall series that involves the Ontario title. Can that situation be tolerated? Is the old, fighting spirit and love of our national pastime to be forgotten when the provincial honors await such competition as the city is prepared to sponsor?”

But next up on the team’s “road to Cornwall” were the Brampton Excelsiors. The first match was played on Saturday September 22^nd and resulted in a 31 – 11 win for the Young Athletics in front of 300 spectators in St. Catharines, Billy Fitzgerald collected 8 goals and “Wandy” McMahon another 6. 

The return match in Brampton just two days later would be closer with the A’s taking the game 18 – 13 and the series 49 – 24. After playing most of their games on dirt floors, the A’s seemed to have a hard time adjusting to the floor in Brampton. “A narrow asphalt floor, which sent balls bouncing into the beams of the arena, into the crowd and almost anywhere one never expected it to go, would combine with a more determined Brampton Excelsior team to cool the efforts of the Young Athletics…‘Shy’ Manning (A’s goaltender) was undoubtedly the victim of many tricky bounces off the floor.”

The provincial semi-finals would be played the following night against the Toronto Tigers. Unlike all the previous series for the A’s, this would be a one game showdown and be played at neutral site Burlington. The Tigers were actually converted football players, but  showed up well against the junior Athletics. “Their defense was strong and they staged many effective rushes, but their downfall came in their failure to pass the ball.” The game would end 18 – 10 for the A’s with “Wandy” McMahon recording six tallies and Doug Cove scoring another four despite suffering through a fractured bone in his right hand from the previous game in Brampton.

This set the stage for the long-anticipated final against Cornwall in a home-and-home series beginning in St. Catharines on Saturday September 29^th. O. A. L. A. secretary Gene Dopp warned the A’s President Dan Millar, “Cornwall has a strong team. I have seen them play and I don’t think that you will have an easy time with them.” 

Meanwhile, the Standard’s Clayton Browne was just bubbling about this series. On September 28^th he wrote, “Just think of it, you loyal residents and lacrosse lovers. The fact of the double blue boys representing their native Garden City should be sufficient incentive, but the real magnificent display for all to witness is the essence of pure joy. So, let that pave the way for the biggest crowd that ever welcomed the national pastime in this ancient city that always played the game on its merits. Cornwall, that habitant town of Eastern Ontario that breeds “lacrossists” second only to St. Catharines and has been kept alive by Joe Lally and his stick factory, is no doubt just as proud and keen as is our own city. To those who witnessed the finals last time these great little rivals met, there needs no explanation of the merits or caliber of the easterners.”

But while Browne beamed about the final series, he also warned, “St. Kitts Association officials need money as badly as can be for the return trip to Cornwall. Their revenue will be derived through patronage tomorrow here…on such an occasion as this; it is the loyal duty of all to stand behind the team. Be not derelict then and rest assured the team will do their part for a box crown.”

The strategy of the Cornwall Canadiens in game one was clear enough to all of the 1,000 spectators in attendance…rag the ball at every opportunity, keep the scoring down to a bare minimum and then try to win it all in the second match in Cornwall. Clayton Browne would write, “They went out to hold the goals down. Stall after stall, walking back and forth behind their net in possession, refusing to open up, ragging the ball, killing time on every play, playing bar the door lacrosse and if there was anything else they could get away with, it was included in the Cornwallian cunning.” 

This tactic seemed to play out to Cornwall’s satisfaction for much of the game as the Young Athletics held margins of only 3 – 1 after one quarter, 6 – 3 at the half and 10 – 5 at the end of three quarters. But in the fourth quarter the A’s then erupted for eight goals to Cornwall’s one and finished the match with an 18 to 6 score. 

But then in the Wednesday October 3^rd edition of the St. Catharines Standard, a small ad appeared that mysteriously stated that ten seats on the team bus for the trip to Cornwall were available to any interested supporter. Surprisingly, it now seemed that not only were the Young Athletics going to indeed make the trip to Cornwall to play for the Ontario title, but they were also going in style on a large, comfortable N. S. & T. motor coach. 

How was it that the cash-strapped, depression-era junior lacrosse team could experience such a dramatic reversal in their financial picture in such a short time? 

Clayton Browne would reveal the secret in the Friday newspaper, “St. Catharines Lacrosse Association owes a real debt of gratitude to David B. Mills of Montclair, New Jersey. A native son of the Garden City and a lover of sport, the millionaire philanthropist was successfully appealed to for transportation funds to Cornwall. Such generosity on the part of Mr. Mills is appreciated to the utmost by a previously distressed company of officials, financially embarrassed to the point of soliciting aid from a lacrosse-loving citizenry. That Mr. Mills immediately responded is mute testimony of the affection with which he regards his native St. Catharines.” 

So, the team slogan of “On to Cornwall” was coming to fruition with a last-minute cash influx of $150 from an unexpected source, and another chance at the coveted Iroqouis Cup, emblematic of Ontario junior box lacrosse supremacy, was in the waiting for the young double-blue “lacrossists” from the Garden City.

And the rest is history.

ATHLETICS ARE OUT FOR TITLE

TEAM OF 16 PLAYERS LEFT TODAY IN SEARCH OF JUNIOR BOX TITLE

The  St. Catharines Standard

Friday October 5, 1934

 “ON To CORNWALL AND THE CHAMPIONSHIP – THE ST. CATHARINES JUNIOR LACROSSE TEAM.”

That is the wording of two huge banners attached to the side of the Canadian National motor bus which roared out of the city this morning headed for Cornwall carrying the O. A. L. A. junior championship hopes of sixteen young men. In addition to the players, President Dan Millar, Vice-president Jack Manning, Coach Marty Cahill, Trainer Jack Dunnett, Mascot Norm MacDonald, a Standard representative and five passenger fans were in the party. In Toronto, referee Jerry Kendall and “Scotty” Armstrong, both of Brampton, joined the group.

Nine home players, five defensemen and two goalies comprised the players category, but as only thirteen men are allowed to be in uniform, the definite starting line was uncertain this morning. The players: H. Manning, B. Lamb, G. Hope, C. Madsen, H. Johnson, H. MacLean, W. Fitzgerald, D. Cove, J. Cheevers, R. Morton, G. Urquhart, T. Teather, T. VanAlstyne, V. Baker, and W. Roberts.

The team scheduled to arrive in Cornwall this evening and as the game will not be played until 8:30 Saturday evening under lights in an open-air box, the players will be given an excellent chance to rest up. Officials today before their departure suggested the possibility that the team may hold a light work out Saturday morning in the Cornwall box.

ATHLETICS  CLIMAX  BRILLIANT  LACROSSE  SERIES  BY  ANNEXING  JUNIOR  BOX  LAURELS

PRECIOUS LEAD ON ROUND WAS THREATENED BUT ONCE

FINAL TIED AT 15 – 15 BY CANUCKS

THRILLING BATTLE FOR TITLE SEES SCORE TIED SIX TIMES

by LOU CAHILL

The  St. Catharines Standard

Tuesday October 9, 1934

CORNWALL – Nearly two months of brilliant, undefeated campaigning was culminated here Saturday night when the dauntless Young Athletics, playing the greatest game of their careers, brought the battered Iroquois Cup, emblematic of the Ontario junior lacrosse championship back to St. Catharines after an absence of one year.

Thirty Garden City fans who came by private motor, bus, truck and freight train helped swell the number of spectators who watched the game played under flood lights at the Athletic park here to more than 200. Deeply moved by this courageous display of their followers who traveled 700 miles to cheer them on to victory the Athletics went out determined to give their best and they did.

The championship victory was a personal triumph for Coach Marty Cahill in bringing two St. Catharines teams through to titles, undefeated in successive years. Last season the juveniles took the Ontario laurels while this season the most evenly balanced squad ever to bear the double-blue colors earned the junior honors.

Cornwall officials claimed Saturday’s match as the most intensely interesting game played in their city in years and featured the good refereeing of Jerry Kendall and “Sox” Collins, the fixture was a typical championship display. Faced by what proved to be the impossible effort of overcoming a twelve-goal deficit, the Canadians did not attempt to “rag” the play as in their first game and from the opening whistle both teams staged sally after sally and for the entire sixty minutes the play alternated with lightning speed.

Championship Lacrosse

Intent on keeping their undefeated record intact and to protect their margin, the Athletics had to play championship lacrosse at all times to eliminate the Canucks, who threatened momentarily in the third quarter when they cut the Saint’s round lead to eight goals. The Canucks did not lessen their rough tactics very much and they possibly spoiled their chances with penalties of which they served twenty of the thirty-four called. However, the blue-shirts did not receive any serious injuries and most of the rests meted out were for minor happenings. One slight flare-up occurred in the second period when “Wandy” McMahon and Jerry Connell exchanged blows and received major penalties for their actions.

Blues at Best

Everyone of the Athletics players who saw action were stars and they had to be, but certainly Bill Fitzgerald, Jack McMahon, “Pung” Morton, George Hope and “Shy” Manning stood out.

and started the A’s on their rally which overcame Cornwall’s lead on the game. He was closely checked all the time, but playing his steady, effective style, he was a big threat.

While not as noticeable as Fitz, McMahon earned a position with the leaders. He scored two goals and collected one assist and was a dependable performer. Morton was the high scorer with three goals and three assists and he earned every one of these points. Two of his goals were of the most spectacular variety scored in the Cornwall box this year and every minute that he saw action he was in the thick of the play.

Manning Stars

Goalie Manning was one big reason why the Canadiens did not win the game and he struck his regular stride to stop twenty-two shots. Besides he generalled the play, shooting the ball far up the field to catch the Cornwall attackers out of the play and one of those shots produced a goal by Morton.

“Tank” Teather, who is one of the team’s hardest workers, copped second place in the scoring honors with a pair of goals and three pretty assists. He was checked heavily by the losers but was a big threat and similar to wing mate Morton, scored one particularly clever goal.

Playing his first game since he was injured nearly three weeks ago, Joe Cheevers was a star at centre, getting the draw many times and contributing one goal which he scored from the face-off starting the final period.

Doug Cove and George Urquhart were equally as effective on the home. Cove, hampered by his broken hand, did not start until late in the game, but from then on he played brilliantly, getting one goal.

A heavy morning rain made the open air box greasy and slippery, particularly in the centre and had the footing been more sound it was the consensus of opinion that the blue shirts, who rely on a fast passing and moving game, would have scored many more goals. As it was they had two goals disallowed, one of which by Fitzgerald was pure robbery, as the Cornwall goal umpire claimed it was not in even when the Cornwall management admitted it was.

Playing under assumed names the Cornwall team had two players from the Alexandria senior team in uniform. One of which, Bonneville, scored four goals, while the other tallied three times.

Dan Millar and Jack Manning of the Athletic management knew of this offense but did not take any action as they were sure that the superb manner in which their blue-shirted boys were playing they could have beaten the entire Alexandria team.

Moore, Lavigne and Connell scored two goals apiece, while Whitford and Debank contributed singles. These played along with Lauzon in goal, who turned back twenty-five shots, were best for Cornwall.

The Saints led 2 – 1 at the first period, but the homesters went ahead 5 – 4 at half-time. The winners rallied strongly in the third session outscoring the Cornwall team 6 – 4 to take a 10 – 9 at he period end.

The teams:

Cornwall – Goal, Lauzon; defense, Connell, Desjardins; rover, Lavigne; centre, Petry; wings, Moore, Debank; subs, Lemire, DeGray, Whitbank, Collins, Bonneville, Lalonde.

Athletics – Goal, Manning; defense, Hope, Madsen; rover, Fitzgerald; centre, Cheevers; wings, McMahon, Cove; subs, Morton, Teather, Urquhart, Johnson, VanAlstyne, MacLean and Lamb.

Officials – “Sox” Collins, Cornwall; Jerry Kendall, Brampton.

^{special thanks to Nickerson Appliances of St. Catharines for the original photos (modified by AthLax.com)}

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