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History of the A's |
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Scoring Ace Jim McNulty |
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ATHLETICS
SIGN SCORING
ACE JIM
McNULTY LED
ONTARIO IN 1954, BRITISH COLUMBIA IN 1955 The
St. Catharines Standard Tuesday
June 5, 1956 Jim McNulty, one of two players
in history to lead the Ontario and British Columbia senior lacrosse
scoring in successive seasons, was signed to a St. Catharines Athletics
playing certificate late yesterday afternoon. “I am confident that with
McNulty on our side we can bring the Mann Cup back to St. Catharines after
a 10-year absence,” stated Athletics President Jim Lomore this morning.
“We figured we had a real contender a few weeks ago but now that we’ve
got McNulty signed I can’t see anything standing in our way.” Unfortunately the younger half
of the lacrosse playing McNulty brothers (Joe signed with the A’s 10
days ago) will have to delay his debut in a St. Catharines uniform. Jim
sprained his thumb over the weekend, it has now swollen to almost double
normal size and he will not be able to play for at least a week. St. Catharines Coach Tank
Teather had hoped to use him tonight against Fergus Thistles at the Garden
City Arena, the only team so far this season to hand the A’s a defeat. The newest Athletic acquisition
is noted for his scoring feats due mainly to a tremendously hard but
accurate shot. In 1954 he led the Ontario
senior league in scoring with 98 points (50 goals, 48 assists) then moved
to Nanaimo British Columbia last year and led the B. C. league with a
phenomenal 79 goals and 33 assists for 112 points in just 30 games. McNulty played several of those
games handicapped by injury. The only other player to lead
both series was Billy Wilson who topped Ontario in 1936, the west in 1937. McNulty followed the usual
pattern among St. Catharines minor lacrosse players. He started with the C. Y. O.
minors then moved to junior “A” with the Athletics when they won two
Ontario and one Canadian championship in 1947 and 1948. The following
season he moved to Peterborough then returned to St. Catharines for senior
in 1950. The years 1951 and 1952 found
him with the Toronto Riverdales, then to Orillia in 1953. Lefty Jordan was
able to acquire his services in 1954 and it was Nanaimo, British Columbia,
last year. Now Jim is back where he
started and on his own admission “this is where I want to stop, get a
permanent job and settle down.” As McNulty states, “you can only keep
traveling for so long, then you realize it’s time to slow down.” He is also an outstanding
hockey player and at one time was offered a tryout with the Toronto Maple
Leaf farm club, Pittsburgh Hornets. What does he think of the 1956
Athletics? “I’ve only been out with
them for two or three workouts, but I think we can go all the way,” he
stated. “Seems to be a lot of spirit on the club with Nip O’ Hearn and
some of the other boys back and I really believe we could bring the Mann
Cup back to St. Catharines if everyone really digs.” With McNulty firing them, the
Mann Cup definitely looks nearer at hand. THROUGH
THE SPORTS GATE by
Jack Gatecliff The
St. Catharines Standard Tuesday
June 5, 1956 The news announced by Jim
Lomore last night that Jim McNulty had signed a playing certificate with
the Athletics brightened a lacrosse weekend which had been saddened
slightly by defeats to the senior A’s and the junior Norsemen. To say
that McNulty will add punch to the St. Catharines attack is perhaps an
understatement. In the past two years no player
in Canadian senior lacrosse can match McNulty’s record. In 1954 he led
the Ontario senior league while playing with the Hamilton Tigers, scoring
50 goals, 48 assists for 98 points. He duplicated this feat in the British
Columbia league last year scoring 79 goals (possibly a Canadian record)
and adding 33 assists for a total of 112 points. Jim had an interesting sidelight on his scoring with the Hamilton Tigers. When he signed with the Tabbies he was given the usual per game allowance with the added rider of 50 cents a point. Tonight the A’s meet the
Fergus Thistles at the Garden City Arena but unfortunately McNulty won’t
be in the lineup. A thumb injury will keep him out of action for
approximately a week. It’s still good to know that he’s back on our
side and goalies Bud Smith and Jack Timlock will back us in those
sentiments. The A’s have a score or two
to settle with the Thistles. Friday night in Fergus, Jerry Fitzgerald’s
club spoiled the hitherto unblemished St. Catharines record with a 9 – 6
victory. A win by the Athletics this evening would restore them to first
place with three wins, one defeat. Last year the Ontario senior
lacrosse league agreed mutually that paying players a definite amount each
game had to stop. Even the Peterboro Trailermen found that this play for
pay routine had gone far enough and was threatening the solvency of their
club. We were at a meeting when all teams clasped hands across the table
and made a gentleman’s agreement to this effect. With this in mind, there is a
rather interesting story in the May 10 edition of the Fergus News Record.
We quote in part, “Fergus is to have senior lacrosse again this year.
This will be good news for those who like their lacrosse. To run a senior
team takes money. Players are paid, so is the coach.” |