History of the A's

1942 Ontario Juvenile Champions

After the “red-jacketed” Tecumsehs beat out the “maroon and white” Alerts for the championship of the juvenile St. Catharines city league in 1942, many players from those two teams would form the nucleus of a squad that went on to capture the O. L. A. title. 

That provincial championship team of 1942 had two, future Canadian lacrosse hall-of-famers in their lineup, Stu Scott and Bobby Thorpe. Scott would be an important component of the Athletics 1946 Mann Cup team, while Thorpe would be part of four Mann Cup championship teams in Peterborough in the early 1950’s 

 "Tecumsehs Bring St. Catharines Only Lacrosse Title of the Year"

ST. KITTS ALERTS SNARE BOX FINAL BY SEVEN GOALS 

TROUNCE MIMICO 16 – 9 IN JUVENILE TITLE CONTEST 

BIG SECOND PERIOD COUNTS IN VICTORY 

CITY SLUMPS TWICE, THEN RALLIES; BLANK STARS IN A’s NET 

The St. Catharines Standard 

Wednesday October 21, 1942 

St. Catharines Alerts went seven goals up on Mimico Mounts at Haig Bowl here last night in the triple-postponed opener of their O. L. A. juvenile box lacrosse finals, when the maroon-white squad of Coach Hal Manning trounced Jack Campkin’s double-blue team 16 to 9. The return game of the last series to be decided in provincial championship competition goes at Mimico on Friday night and the Garden City youngsters will have to play as good lacrosse as they did in the second period here to emerge with the only title to repose in the Garden City. 

For the victory and lead, they can thank masked Jimmy Blank in the Alert rigging, as after a shaky start that saw him fan on the first two tallies, the home minder proceeded to turn in a genuine sensational game, breaking the hearts of Mounts snipers time and again. Mounts romped in to an early lead, when Alerts reverted to individual play and the first period ended with the Campkin crew in the lead by 3 to 1. However, when the second got under way, it was different. Paced by Bob Thorpe and Skip Essery, and getting smart aid from the alternate line, Alerts zoomed seven goals in a row past Saint in the visitors hut, without return. That changed the complexion of the game by a lead of 8 – 3 at the gong. But Alerts were not done yet. They whipped two more past Saint to run the count to 10 – 3 and go up seven goals on the round, before Mounts dented the hemp behind Blank. After the homester’s ninth tally, Saint was so disgusted that he burned the ball right at team-mate Reddy, kayoing him for one of the quintet of stoppages of the game for injuries. 

Alerts Take Slump 

However, after the 13^th goal of the night, Alerts fell back into loose and individual play, watched the man and not the ball as in the first period and before they could shake off the slump, Mounts had beaten Blank twice at 10 – 5. A pair of return counters by Alerts in the last two minutes of play ended the third quarter at 12 – 5 and for the second time Alerts were leading by seven goals in the round. 

Going into the final, it was to see the Garden City maroons go even worse than in the third and Mimico capitalized quickly with four goals in a row to whittle the advantage back to 12 – 9. A penalty to Reddy for kayoing McClelland by boarding started Alerts back on the victory whirl again, with Bob Thorpe snapping the jinx. He made it again from Essery, then the latter zipped in a third register and also potted the final of the night with Thorpe aiding. 

The game was comparatively clean, with only three minors meted out, but it may by much brisker at Mimico on Friday. Mounts showed smarter passing and artistry in the early and late stages, but suffered from loss of subs and were forced to change players frequently. The game also was 45 minutes late starting due to the non-arrival of Max Peart, whom Sec. Dopp appointed for the chore, not knowing that the Port Colborne official was engaged in military duties then. However, George Cleverley was pressed into action and beyond one squabble with Jack Campkin over interpretation of illegal checking, all was peace in the bowl. 

Mimico Mounts: Goal, Saint; defence, Drupina, Brooks; rover, Woods (3,0); centre, McKay; wings, Needham (1,1), Reddy (4,1); subs, Christie (1,1), Gouzacky, Haney, Stone (0,1). 

St. Kitts Alerts: Goal, Blank; defence, Scott (3,1), Gamble (2,1); rover, Caton (1,3); centre, Thorpe (4,3); wings McClelland (1,1), Essery (4,1); subs, Inkol, Budd, Wignall, Nealin (0,1), Campus (1,0), Angus, Olsen, Prodger. 

Referee: Geo. Cleverley, St. Catharines.  

 GARDEN CITY TECS LIFT JUVENILE ONTARIO BOX TITLE OVER MIMICO BY 24 – 17 

TECUMSEHS CAPTURE JUVENILE LACROSSE TITLE OF PROVINCE 

HAL MANNING’S CITY SQUAD OUSTS MIMICO IN FINAL CONTEST 

GAME TIED AT 8 – 8; TECS ROUND 24 TO 17 

ONLY BOXLA HONORS TO COME TO ST. KITTS THIS SEASON 

The St. Catharines Standard 

Saturday October 24, 1942 

St. Catharines Tecumsehs accomplished what no other lacrosse unit of the Garden City could last night at Mimico bowl when Hal Manning’s youngsters captured the Ontario juvenile championship from Mimico Mounts. It was the only box title to come to this city for the 1942 season and the score was a deadlock at 8 – 8 on the return game. Following Tuesday’s victory here by 16 – 9 for Tecs, the tally on the two-game goals to count series stood at 24 to 17 on the round. 

Tecumsehs, who again sported the white-maroon togs of their sister Alerts for the title series, had to be exceptionally keen to retain their lead and capture the provincial honors, as Coach Jack Campkin dressed his strongest roster, after missing Merrick in the opener here. He also added Walton and Douglas for the home stand, but that did not deter the Garden City juveniles from displaying sturdy box tactics to offset them. The first period was stalemated at 2 – 2, with Tecs in the pan at 4 – 2 at halftime. Mimico showed to better advantage in the third chapter when they pared the lead of Tecs back to 6 – 5 by outscoring the visitors 3 to 2, and duplicated that feat in the final by the same register for the final tie. 

The game was closely checked but not rough, as only three penalties were meted out in the hour of play. Coach Manning rostered a team of real champions last night, with no player being outstanding except Jimmy Blank in the Tecs rigging, while Saint in the Mimico net turned in a sparkling game as well. Every player of Tecs was brilliant both ways in the return game, and that’s what won the title. Coach and players of the champs are asked to meet at the clubhouse, Haig street, Monday night at 7 o’clock to sit for their photo. 

St. Catharines Tecumsehs—Goal, Blank; defence, Gamble (1,1), Scott (0,1); rover, Caton (1,0); centre, Thorpe (0,1); wings, Essery (3,0) and McClelland (2,1); subs, Wignall, Nealin, Budd (1,0), Inkol, Campus, Angus, Olsen, Prodger. 

Mimico Mounts—Goal, Saint; defence, Merrick, Gouzacky (1,1); rover, Woods (0,1); centre, Reddy (3,0); wings, Needham (0,1), Christie; subs, McKay (1,0), Walton (1,0), Haney (1,0), Stone (1,1), Brooks, Douglas.

related reading: An Interview With Stu Scott

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