History of the A's

Athletics Fold (Almost)

After 33 Years, Senior Team Folds

Through the Sports Gate

by Jack Gatecliff

The St. Catharines Standard

Tuesday May 3, 1966

The announcement from Athletic president Jim Lomore yesterday that there would be no senior lacrosse team in St. Catharines this summer was not unexpected. As reported here last week, Mr. and Mrs. Lomore, Joe McNulty and Joe Cheevers have kept the team alive here despite an increasingly difficult situation.

This spring the word “difficult” can be substituted for “impossible.”

For the past three or four years there have usually been a minimum number of players available for home games, while on the road the team has considered itself fortunate if 10 or 12 turn out. This is highly unfair for the fans that pay to watch the games and also for the handful of players who do nor report regularly for the games and practices. After all who in Brampton for instance, wants to watch a game where the visiting club has six players on the floor and only a couple on the bench? And this has happened time and time again, not only in Brampton but in every city in the senior league.

“I was the last one who wanted to pack it up,” said Lomore. “I’ve been connected with the senior team here since 1951, and while there have been problems, I’ve enjoyed the association with the players and fans. But this year we just couldn’t see our way clear to carry on.”

The first deadline for players to report was two weeks ago. Only five or six turned out and the “final decision” was delayed another week. The number had grown by this time to a dozen, still not enough to field a competent team, but Lomore decided to give it one last try.

“Joe (McNulty) and I decided that if we didn’t have at least eight players with previous senior experience signed by our first outside practice Sunday, we’d have to cancel out,” he said.

There were only three who has agreed to play and even with 10 over-age juniors, this was not enough to form a contending club. There was no alternative than to inform the Ontario Lacrosse Association that the six-team league had shrunk to five. Lomore added that he received “all kinds of advice from well-meaning people” as to how the senior team could continue. “Unfortunately,” he said, “none of them came up with an answer as to how we could play games without players.”

The team president left a loophole for a possible local entry. “If anyone wants to take over, they’re welcome to everything the team owns,” he said. This includes money realized already from the advertisers in the 1966 program, a fair amount of equipment and, best of all…no debts. However we would suggest that at the moment there would be no real merit in fielding a club that couldn’t hope to hold its own with the opposition.

Certainly there were enough players living in the area to form what Lomore describes as “one of the best teams we’ve had in years.” But if they won’t play, they might as well live in Nome, Alaska or Nanton, Alta., as far as any good they’ll do for the Athletics.

The decision to disband ends St. Catharines’ association with senior box lacrosse that goes back 33 years. It was in 1931 that the Ontario Lacrosse Association decided to change from the old field game to box lacrosse; a sport that it is claimed by some sports historians was originated in Australia. Two years later, St. Catharines entered its first club in the OLA senior B series. President was Jack Manning, secretary Danny Millar and coach Herb Millar. Included on that team were players such as goaltender Lick McGregor (the first to wear shin pads as far as we know), Steve Lines, Roy Barnard, Irv Lounsbury and George MacArtney.

“The following year we stepped up to the big time in the senior A division against Hamilton, Orillia and Oshawa.” Danny Millar recalled yesterday. “Some thought we were going out beyond our depth, but I guess we proved the doubters wrong.”

In 1937 many of the players who had won numerous junior championships for St. Catharines graduated to the senior division and that year they lost a close final playoff series to the Orillia Terriers. In 1938 the Athletics brought this city coast-to-coast fame by winning the Canadian senior championship over the New Westminster Adanacs, ending Orillia’s three-year hold on the Mann Cup. Team members were Bill Whittaker, Walt Coupland, Roy Morton, Bill Wilson, Joe Cheevers, Bill Fitzgerald, Carl and Frank Madsen, Tank and George Teather, George Urquhart, Eddie Kelly, George Hope, Harry Green, Roy Barnard and Winston Millar. With additions such as George Coles and Sid Wright, but formed basically of the same players, the Athletics won four straight Ontario championships between 1938 and 1941 and finished with the Mann Cup three of those years.

There may be a difference of opinion in Peterborough, for instance, but we’re convinced this was the best team in the history of box lacrosse.

With the exception of the years 1958 and 1959 when Fred Conradi moved the Athletics from St. Catharines to Welland, senior lacrosse was played continuously at either the Haig Bowl or Garden City Arena. According to our calculations, 10 St. Catharines teams have won the Ontario senior championship; half of them went on to the Canadian title. The first was the 1938 team that defeated New Westminster, the last in 1963 when they lost to Vancouver in the Mann Cup series played in Cornwall.

There were good years such as the late 1930’s and through the 40’s when crowds of 4,000 packed the Haig Bowl. And there were disappointing years when attendance dipped to 300 or fewer. But they’ve all been interesting seasons regardless of the win and loss record or the number of fans in the stands.

We trust it won’t be too long before a senior team again represents St. Catharines. 

Senior Lacrosse – Final Attempt To Form Team

The St. Catharines Standard

Friday May 6, 1966

A final attempt to save senior lacrosse in St. Catharines will be made this weekend.

St. Catharines Athletics, who had played continuously in the Ontario Lacrosse Association senior series since 1933, withdrew earlier this week because of a lack of playing material. However team president Jim Lomore left the door ajar by offering equipment and other assistance to anyone interested in carrying on. He was contacted Thursday by Sid Wright, a former St. Catharines senior player and one-time member of the Ontario Lacrosse Association executive, who said he would call a meeting of players Sunday.

“I really don’t know what to expect,” said Wright. “However if enough players show up, we’ll do our best to form a club.” He added that he hoped Lomore and manager Joe McNulty would continue in the same positions they held last year if it was found feasible to operate.

OLA president Gord Hammond of Toronto had given St. Catharines until midnight Saturday to reconsider their earlier decision to quit the league. However it is expected that this deadline will be extended until Sunday midnight.

20 Players Attend Meeting

Athletics Reverse Earlier Decision, Return To Senior Lacrosse Series

The St. Catharines Standard

Monday May 9, 1966

The 1966 senior lacrosse season in St. Catharines will open right on schedule. The decision to carry on was reached at a meeting of players and officials called by former defenseman Syd Wright Sunday afternoon at the Haig Bowl.

A week ago president Jim Lomore and manager Joe McNulty informed the Ontario Lacrosse Association that the Athletics would not operate this year because of lack of interest among the players. Several practices had been called but fewer than a dozen players turned out. However both Lomore and McNulty offered equipment and assistance to anyone else interested in trying to form a team in St. Catharines.

Approximately 20 players, including several who had indicated earlier that they would retire, attended the meeting yesterday and agreed to sign 1966 certificates.

“I think that when they realized the team was definitely folding, many of the older players felt it was their responsibility to play at least one more year to give the younger fellows a chance to continue in the game,” said Wright. At least half of the team this year will be formed of recently graduated juniors.

Wright said that he hoped Lomore and McNulty would continue in their positions as president and manager. “I’m willing to help wherever and whenever I can,” he said. “However the players are unanimous that they want the same executive as last season.” It is understood that Bob Ormston, a former St. Catharines lacrosse official who returned to this city a few months ago after several years in Peterborough, will assume the duties of secretary-treasurer.

OLA president Gord Hammond of Port Credit who attended the meeting here yesterday with vice-president Ivan Davies of Whitby, said that he was “very pleased” that St. Catharines would again have a team. “It just wouldn’t have been senior lacrosse in Ontario without a St. Catharines club,” said Hammond. “By looking over the players here I’d say that the Athletics would again be strong contenders.”

Players at the Haig Bowl included Tom Teather, Gary Moore, Bob McCready, Sandy Doberstein, John Bergsma, Bob Marshall, Art Graham, Gary VanSchagen, Terry Boyd, Brian Thomson, Brian Woods, Dave Hall, Jack Gallaway, Justin Howe, Gary Hind and several players who will be making their first attempt at senior lacrosse.

The Athletics will hold their first full practice at the Haig Bowl tonight at 9 o’clock and are tentatively scheduled to meet the Toronto Maple Leafs, a new entry in the senior series, here next Sunday. A coach will be named within the next two or three days. The regular season for the Athletics opens in Brampton Saturday May 21 and the first home game Sunday afternoon, May 22 against Huntsville.

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