1950 Minto

When the Junior Athletics of 1950 held their first practice at the Haig Bowl on June 8^th, the big concern for Coach Doug Cove may have been the continual stream of junior-aged players that he was losing to senior ball. There was so much good, young talent coming out of St. Catharines in those days that the senior O.L.A. teams were all too eager to put them into their uniforms as soon as they could.

Leo Teatro, Jim McNulty and 17-year-old goalie Ralph Speck all began their senior careers with Peterborough in 1949. And likewise Harry Wipper and Tony D’Amico with the Senior Athletics in the very same year. Now Frank Bird and Steve Oneschuk made the early jump to the senior ranks in the spring of 1950 and one would only wonder how any junior organization could seriously compete with so many defections. These seven players certainly would have been the nucleus of a great Minto Cup contending team for the second-year coach.

But “Covey” needn’t lose too much sleep. As good as these players were, in the summer of 1950 there were plenty more where they came from. For the fourth consecutive year the double-blues would win the Ontario crown and play for the Minto Cup.

The Junior Athletics of 1950 would feature future Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame inductees Derry Davies, Doug Smith, Jim "Peewee" Bradshaw and iron-man Ted Howe, plus sixteen-year professional hockey player Norm Corcoran (mostly AHL). But the real strength of this team was built on its depth, as good players such as Max Woolley, Don Moore, Al Frick and more rounded out this well-balanced team. St. Catharines Standard cub reporter Jack Gatecliff would report in 1950 that he “believed this year’s club to be the best all-around team of the four post-war championship junior clubs from St. Catharines.”

The A’s would battle all season with the Brampton Excelsiors for first place in the eight-team league and the two teams would finish the regular season in a dead heat. Determining first place in 1950 meant a home-and-home, total-goals-to-count series between the two rivals. The A’s would win both ends to claim first place, then proceed to win handily over Mimico in the semi-finals and then meet Brampton once again in the Ontario finals.

The double-blue machine was only getting better and better as the season wore on and they would beat the Excelsiors in the best of five series by convincing scores of 16 – 6, 20 – 6, and 17 – 5 to cap the Ontario title and the long trip west.

The OLA then insisted that they add five elite players from other Ontario clubs and as in previous years, Fred Conradi and the coaches objected. Why mess with a good thing? But with Norm Corcoran off to the Boston Bruins training camp and Bill Picton headed to the Royal Military College, the A’s accepted three additions, Brampton Excelsior expatriates Don Sutherland, Len Caruso and Bob Sibbald.

In British Columbia they would quite handily sweep the Vancouver Burrard Juniors in three straight and be awarded the Minto Cup, only to then learn that they still needed to prove themselves against the Winnipeg All-Stars on the return trip home. Would the champions of Manitoba do what the best of B.C. and Ontario couldn’t do, and stop the big blue machine? Or would the time-worn tradition of a welcome-home lacrosse parade through the streets and thoroughfares of the Garden City be resurrected for one last time?

"With two of their players unable to make the trip west because of school and hockey duties, St. Catharines junior Athletics were bolstered by the addition of three Brampton players as they seek to regain the Dominion junior title last won by them in 1947. In an all-star game played at Haig Bowl the past weekend, an OLA selection committee, comprised of Secretary C. W. Rowan and executive members Ed McDermott of Mimico and Art Brown of this city, chose Bob Sutherland, Len Caruso and Bob Sibbald (all of Brampton) to join A's for the next three weeks as they head towards Vancouver, British Columbia, and another crack at the Minto Cup. Athletics co-captains Emil Uhrynuk (left) and Doug Smith are pictured above laying out the welcome mat for the Brampton trio. Athletics leave tonight and will be in Vancouver in time for the first game scheduled for Saturday, Sept 9th.

- Staff Photo, Standard Engraving." The St. Catharines Standard, Sept 5, 1950

JUNIOR A’s SWEEP MINTO CUP FINALS IN THREE STRAIGHT TO END TWO-YEAR COAST REIGN

VANCOUVER, Sept 14 (C.P.)—British Columbia’s two-year reign as the stronghold of junior lacrosse was snapped last night by a fighting bunch of Youngsters from St. Catharines, Ont.

St. Catharines took the Dominion Junior Lacrosse Championship and the Minto Cup in three straight games from Vancouver Burrard Juniors.

Score of the game that ended it all was 17 – 8. The final followed the pattern of the two previous frays, with the invading Easterners supreme in speed and strategy.

Even the scores were similar, and the outcome was not unexpected. The visitors established themselves as favourites Saturday night by taking the first game 18 – 9. Then they consolidated their gains Monday night with a 14 – 9 victory.

With the Minto Cup in Eastern possession for at least another year, the St. Catharines players leave tonight by train for their homes. Presentation of the cup was made by Bill Easterbrook, vice-president of the Canadian Lacrosse Association.

Leading snipers for St. Catharines last night were Derry Davies, 19-year-old, 175 pounder, who potted four goals and took an assist, and Max Woolley and Ted Howe, with three goals each. Al Frick scored one goal and was credited with two assists.

St. Catharines led 5 – 2 at the end of the first quarter, 11 – 3 at half-time, and 14 – 5 at the end of the third quarter. Burrards rallied early in the final quarter, potting two goals. Then St. Catharines came back. Last goal was scored by Davies, assisted by Len Caruso, at 14:17.

Goalie for St. Catharines throughout the series was Ted Braciuk, a fast-moving 18-year-old of senior ability. Vancouver used two goalies last night, Vic Grover replacing Maurice Woods at the beginning of the third quarter.

All games were clean-fought. Speed and strategy won the championship for the east, and few penalties were handed out in any one game.

St. Catharines—Braciuk, goal; Smith, Dewar, defence; Woolley, centre; Howe, rover; Frick, Moore, forwards. Subs—Convery, Uhrynuk, Davies, Culp, Caruso, Bradshaw, Sutherland.

Vancouver—Woods, goal; Simpson, Hibbert, defence; Calleti, centre; Redline, rover; Gowland, McLennan, forwards. Subs—Perfitt, Beaton, Elmer, Sinclair, Browning, Vance, Radonic.

Front Row: Vern Cottrell (trainer), Doug Smith, Ted Howe, Joe Convery, Don Moore.

Second Row: George Cleverly (manager), Bob Sibbald, Jim Bradshaw, Bob Sutherland, Doug Cove (coach), Len Caruso, Max Woolley, Ted Braciuk, Emil Uhrynuk.

Third Row: Al Frick, John Dewar, Don Culp, Derry Davies, Bill Daniels.

WINNIPEG, Sept 19 (CP)—St. Catharines Athletics last night won the Dominion Junior Lacrosse Championship defeating Winnipeg All-Stars 9 – 7 to win the best of three series in two straight games. Athletics won the first game 21 – 16 Saturday.

T. J. O’Brien of Winnipeg, President of the Lacrosse Association of Canada, presented the Minto Cup, emblematic of the junior boxla title, to the St. Kitts aggregation.

It was the second time in a week the cup has been handed to the Easterners. In Vancouver last week they were given the trophy after beating Vancouver Burrard Juniors in three straight games. However, it was ruled only a semi-final.

A welcome worthy of champions greeted the St. Catharines Junior Athletics shortly before noon today when they arrived home carrying the coveted Minto Cup which goes with the honor of being 1950 Canadian Junior Lacrosse champions.

The team of 18 juniors captured the Dominion and world Junior Lacrosse title in play-off series in Vancouver and Winnipeg beginning September 9. Today they are basking in the glory that comes from being champs.

A crowd of excited wives, sweethearts, children, parents and well-wishers gave the boys a hearty cheer as they stepped off the train at the St. Catharines depot, led by Coach Doug Cove who carried the heavy silver cup. Also on hand to congratulate the team were Team Manager Fred Conradi, Lt.-Col. George Begy of the St. Catharines Lacrosse Association, and Ald. Ed. Moir, who welcomed the champions on behalf of the City Council.

A civic reception on the City Hall steps awaited the team when they arrived by car amidst the confusion of blaring horns, the skirl of bagpipes and cheers of the bystanders. They were met at the doors of the flag-draped Municipal Building by Mayor Richard M. Robertson, who shook hands with each team member. They were also greeted by Ald. John Franklin, W.W. Walker, and Peter J. Grammer and Reeve Frank Colton of Port Dalhousie.

Cup-carrying Doug Cove once again led the team and he seemed to be having difficulty holding the giant cup with the heavy base as he mounted the steps. The champs shook hands quietly with the civic dignitaries, then lined up on the steps beneath the bright red, white and blue sign which fairly shouted: “Welcome Home, Champions! We are proud of you.”

“We have watched your progress with great interest,” Mayor Robertson told the victorious Athletics in his brief address. “We are proud and happy to welcome you home not only as the Dominion junior lacrosse champions but as world champions.”

Before introducing Reeve Frank Colton of Port Dalhousie, the mayor read congratulatory telegrams from the Hon. Charles Daley, Ontario labor minister and keen lacrosse enthusiast, and Harry P. Cavers, M.P. Reeve Colton welcomed the team on behalf of Port Dalhousie and added that “a fine calibre of lacrosse is developing in St. Catharines.”

Speaking for the players, co-coach and co-manager George Cleverly, who accompanied the team to the west coast on Sept. 5, said that the boys had proven themselves “perfect gentlemen all the way.” He reported that telegrams are coming to St. Catharines from managers of two hotels at which the team stayed, confirming this fact.”

“Both managers told me that they had never had a better bunch of boys at their hotels.” The co-manager finished.

Brief words of welcome were spoken also by Team Manager Fred Conradi and Art Brown, president of the St. Catharines Lacrosse Association.

Following the ceremony, the team marched to the Welland House where they were guests of the Rotary Club at luncheon. The parade was led by the police squad car, with siren blaring, and three members of the St. Catharines Pipe Band, led by Pipe Major Dick Macpherson.

Seated on the fenders of the first car were Emil Uhrynuk and Doug Smith, co-captains of the champion team. Each held the shining Minto Cup aloft for all to see and admire. The St. Catharines Junior Athletics won the Minto Cup the first time in 1947, and since then it has been won by west coast teams. This is the fourth straight year that the Athletics have won the Ontario Junior Lacrosse championship.

Players on the team are:-Emil Uhrynuk, Doug Smith, John Dewar, Bill Daniels, Don Moore, Jim Bradshaw, Ted Howe, Al Frick, Ted Braciuk, Max Woolley, Derry Davies, Joe Convery, and Don Culp. Two St. Catharines players, Bill Picton and Norm Concoran were unable to accompany the team to the coast. Brampton players who played with the local team for the championship were: Bob Sibbald, Len Caruso and Bob Sutherland. Daniels, Moore, Braciuk and Davies are from Port Dalhousie. Trainer is Vern Cottrell of Port Dalhousie.

AthleticsLacrosse.com footnote: On Friday September 22, 1950, the Junior Athletics were the guests of honour at the Senior Athletics deciding playoff semi-final game against the Hamilton Tigers. The crowd of 4,000 at this contest was the largest for a game at the Haig Bowl in ten years. Perhaps no crowd approaching that size has ever attended a single sporting event in St. Catharines since that autumn day long ago.

Incidentally, the A’s won the game by 19 – 7. Home-brews Jim McMahon and Tony D’Amico each scored four.

The Minto Cup, the Seniors on the march again, four-thousand paying fanatics shoe-horned into the Haig Bowl, and a seemingly endless stream of talented young lacrosse players coming up each year. Yes, there was plenty of reason for optimism in all of Clayton Browne’s “lacrossedom”.

But not one of the 4,000 in attendance that day would have guessed that the next Minto Cup wouldn’t come to the Garden City for another forty years. Or that there wouldn’t be another Athletics Mann Cup team in the current millennium.