History of the A's

Changes Made For "Make or Break" Year

SENIOR BOXLA OPENS TONIGHT

HAMILTON TIGERS MEET A’S

The St. Catharines Standard

Tuesday May 24, 1955

St. Catharines Athletics will be opening the 23^rd consecutive year of senior lacrosse tonight when they meet the Hamilton Tigers at Garden City Arena.

It was in 1933, four years after (boxla) lacrosse was introduced into Canada from Australia, that the Athletics, long known for their exploits in field lacrosse, first fielded a senior team (boxla).

Many members of that first team have long since left the lacrosse scene although Billy Fitzgerald still retains an interest as a member of the present executive.

In 1934 two or three “young sprouts” joined the senior club . . . Roy Morton, George Hope and Tank Teather.

With the exception of a few years of refereeing, Roy (Pung) Morton has literally grown up with the Athletic senior organization. He was a member of all five Mann Cup teams from this city . . . 1938, 1940, 1941, 1944 and 1945. This year he starts his first season as coach of the club he helped establish as the outstanding units in the history of box lacrosse.

Many things have changed since the introduction of senior lacrosse to St. Catharines.

The former seven-man game is now strictly “hockey-style” with a goalie, two defensemen, a centre and two forwards. The four quarters have been replaced by three 20-minute periods and perhaps most important of all from a St. Catharines standpoint, the site of the games has been shifted from Haig Bowl to the cleaner facilities of the Garden City Arena.

Important Year

This is an important year for lacrosse in Ontario.

Merv McKenzie, former senior star with Orillia, Hamilton and Mimico teams stated after his appointment as O.L.A. senior commissioner, “this season could either make or break the game for the senior teams.”

Few would claim that McKenzie is in error.

While the intermediate and of late the senior situation have declined, a further blow was struck three weeks ago with the withdrawal of the Mimico Mounties. However an emergency meeting accepted the entry of the Fergus Thistles and the TV-conscious Hamilton Tigers back in the fold along with the champion Petes and Athletics, this could be a year of revival for Eastern Canada’s only senior lacrosse league.

Mckenzie has promised to “dress the game up” and has given strict instructions that all teams must be prompt at arriving for games and wear clean, pressed uniforms. The rest is up to the players themselves.

Promising Club Here

This is also an important year for lacrosse in St. Catharines. Roy Morton took over the coaching duties from Doug Cove at a time when several players had decided to hang up their sticks and others left for the West Coast and the higher pay. However he has been drilling them long and hard, several players have reconsidered their retirement plans and with the addition of two or three outstanding junior players from last year, Morton feels that his club can give any team in the league some worries . . .“and that includes Peterboro.”

One of the biggest holes to plug is in goal. Doug Favell, after 13 years of senior lacrosse in St. Catharines and Hamilton, has asked to be replaced this year but has also promised that he will be available in an emergency.

Two Goalies

However the Athletics are fortunate in having two experienced netminders to take over from the veteran Favell. “Bud” Smith, a commuter to the Hamilton Tigers the past three years, has decided to remain in St. Catharines this season and he will share the goaling duties with Justin Howe. Howe has been very impressive in practice and although still junior age, is ranked second only to Moon Wootton as possibly the outstanding goalie in Ontario lacrosse.

Veteran players from last year include Don Moore, Fred Martin, Doug Smith, Al Frick, Ted Howe and Norm Corcoran. From the junior club Morton has added Les Howard, Bill Allan and Doug Baldwin while Ron Labatte joins the team after a season with Lewiston N. Y.

Late last week Frank Bird decided to attempt a lacrosse comeback after three years away from the game and he was joined in his try by Bib O’Hearn who was kept in shape with professional hockey duties but hasn’t had a lacrosse stick in his hand for several years.

There is also a possibility that Pete Saliken, now that he has completed his term at Western University, will play with the A’s. A big lad, Saliken would add a good deal of authority to the Athletics both offensively and defensively.

That is the not too dismal lacrosse situation in St. Catharines as the A’s meet the Tigers tonight at Garden City Arena. Game time, after brief opening ceremonies, is 8:30.

OPENING ARRANGED FOR GAME TONIGHT

The St. Catharines Standard

Tuesday May 24, 1955

The schedule of events prior to the opening OLA senior game at Garden City Arena tonight is listed as follows:

ATHLETICS OPEN 1955 SEASON WITH 12 – 8 WIN OVER TIGERS

SMALL CROWD SEES VICTORY

The St. Catharines Standard

Tuesday May 24, 1955

St. Catharines Athletics and Hamilton Tigers, lacrosse rivals more than 20 years ago, got together at the Garden City Arena last night for the opening of the 1955 senior “A” season. To put it concisely, it was a typical Tiger-Athletic game.

The Athletics, playing their first game under Coach Roy Morton, dumped the Tabbies 12 – 8 but were given a real run for their money by the Hamilton team which, also in traditional style, came down with just three spare players. At times the game reached near mid-season form in sheer ferocity of the checking and if the brand of lacrosse continues on as high a level the senior series should be in for the long awaited arrival.

Only disappointing feature of the game was the attendance. Just fewer than 500 fans turned out but despite the humidity the arena was surprisingly cool. The heating system used during the winter was turned on, drawing in cool air and the complaints of the spectators heard last year were noticeably absent.

The cloudburst that hit the arena five minutes before the game was finished would have caused severe discomfort (to put it mildly) had the game been at the Haig Bowl. Inside the arena, few realized the intensity of the storm.

A Tight Fight

The Tigers, although handicapped by the lack of manpower, gave the Athletics plenty of trouble.

Backed up by the splendid goaltending of Joe Tomchishen, former Mimico guardian, the Tigers were never out of contention and as late as the third period claimed a one-goal lead.

Norm Corcoran, using Al Frick as a feint, zipped an underhand shot for the opening St. Catharines goal less than five minutes after play started and the A’s finished the first period on the long end of a 4 – 2 score.

The Tigers made their big bid for victory in the second period.

Take The Lead

Led by their ageless veteran, school-teaching Jack Dorney, the Tigers struck for three straight goals mid-way in the second period while Doug Smith was serving a slashing penalty, then added a single by Les Digby to take the lead for the first time in the game.

Smith atoned for his penalty by putting the Athletics back on even terms on an over-hand drive but Dorney gave the Tigers a 7 – 6 period lead when he shifted to beat Justin Howe on a fairly long shot.

Ted Howe on Smith’s pass, then Smith again on a pass from Don Moore while Les Digby was doing time for slashing restored the Athletics lead and they never looked back.

Five Straight

Les Howard, Al Frick and Smith with his third of the night gave the Athletics five consecutive goals and that clinched the first two Athletic points of the season.

Both goalies, Joe Tomchishen and Justin Howe turned in excellent games particularly on breakaway plays when the early season lack of condition showed up in the back-checking department.

Point-wise, top man for the Athletics was Doug Smith, the league scoring champion two years ago. Smith scored three goals, assisted on two others for five points. Norm Corcoran had three and one, Ted Howe and Al Frick two goals apiece.

For the Tigers, Jack Dorney scored three goals and assisted on one other. Jim McIntyre and Al Doyle had two each.

Thursday night in Hamilton the same teams will open the Hamilton lacrosse season in the Forum. The game will be televised over channel 11 starting at 9:30. Next Tuesday it’s the champion Peterboro Trailermen at Garden City Arena.

Opening Ceremonies

In the brief opening, Master of Ceremonies Tom Garriock introduced the playing personnel of both teams and the Boy Scout Pipe Band performed a colorful flag breaking ceremony.

Those taking part in the traditional face-off were Col. E. H. Lancaster, St. Catharines Parks Board Chairman; Ontario Athletic Commissioner Merv McKenzie; St. Catharines Athletic President Jim Lomore.

St. Catharines Athletics: goal, J. Howe; defence, Smith, Moore; centre, Corcoran; forwards, T. Howe, Frick; alternates, Labatte, Howard, O’Hearn, Cox, Allan, Welch, Convery, Teal.

Hamilton Tigers: goal, Tomchishen; defence, C. Brown, Digby; centre, Dorney; forwards, Ruse, Meeke; alternates, McIntyre, Doyle, J. Brown.

1st Period

Penalties: Dorney (slash) 11:52; Welch (trip) 17:13

2nd Period

Penalties: Smith (slash) 0:30; Doyle (charge) 4:07; McIntyre (high stick) 5:02; Smith (slash) 10:46

3rd Period

Penalties: Digby (slash) 3:15; Howe (slash) 12:24; Doyle (misconduct) 10:17; Martin (charge) 17:46

RETURN