History of the A's

Memories Abound At Old-timers Game

MEMORIES  HAUNT  HAIG  BOWL  DURING  OLD  TIMERS  GAME 

SHADES OF THE PAST 

The St. Catharines Standard 

MONDAY JUNE 12, 1954 

The old army song “Old Solders Never Die” could very well be changed to “Old Lacrosse Players Never Die,” in fact to all intends they don’t even “fade away.” 

Saturday night at Haig Bowl close to one thousand lacrosse fans witnessed the second production of the Old Timers’ game and went away absolutely amazed at the skill shown by the players who more than a decade ago wrote box lacrosse history in St. Catharines. With another week or so of conditioning many of the so-called old timers looked as if they could step back into the senior league without missing more than a couple of strides. 

It was a night of memories for most of the spectators and certainly all the players. Sure the timing was off on a good many of the plays but you could still recognize that characteristic hop, step and jump of Gus Madsen, the uncanny skill of Cheevers and Urquhart at the faceoff circle, the drives in on goal by Roy Morton, Wandy McMahon’s change of pace, the solid checking of Hopey and Frank Madsen, Bill Wilson’s deadly accurate shooting, Tank Teather’s shuffling run down the side boards, the solid unruffled play of Harry Green, the rubber-ball bounce of Doug Cove, Bill Fitzgerald’s daring dashes through the middle, and Ed Kelly’s steady, heady play. 

In goal Bill Whittaker, the incomparable, looked just as sharp as he did ten years ago while his stand-in for years was at the other end, Walt Coupland made many stops which would astound many of the younger netminders in lacrosse today. 

In the “enemy camp” many of the visiting players also showed they still know what the game was all about. Bill Isaacs was still the peerless runner and ball hawk of old, Joe Murphy and Piper Bain seemed to enjoy every moment on the crease and Bob Jamieson, although now carrying twice the weight he did when last in an Athletics uniform in 1937 still had his characteristic drive. 

The score? That was almost incidental to the game itself. The final score on the board read 10-9 for the Athletics, the clincher coming from Wandy McMahon in overtime. 

Probably the hit of the night was the tremendous play of George Kalls, all-time great field lacrosse star early in the century who traveled from his home in Lockport, N.Y. to play once again in an Athletic jersey. 

This man, who will be 70 years of age next month, is an absolute athletic marvel. Sprightly on his feet (he could out-run half the opposition) Kalls was in on every play during his regular shift, handled the ball as if he had just retired a week ago and had the stamina of a man half his years. 

Kalls scored a goal for the Athletics early in the third period and therein lies a story. 

Unfortunately he had one foot in the crease when his good bounce shot beat Walt Coupland and the officials in charge promptly ruled it “no goal”. However, at a meeting immediately after the game it was decided that Kalls was playing under the old lacrosse rules which allowed running in the crease and therefore his goal was strictly legal. 

The final count officially read 11-9 for the Athletics and Kalls is probably the oldest man in history to score a goal in a regulation lacrosse game. 

Rex Stimers, one of the most enthusiastic fans of the Athletics in their “golden years” of the late thirties and early forties, acted as Master of Ceremonies prior to the game and in his usual capable manner introduced the players of both clubs. Also assisting in getting the game underway were Mayor John Smith and Police Chief Duncan Brown. 

The spontaneous applause as each player of the Athletics and Visitors was announced caused a chill or two to run up and down the spine of 90 per cent of the spectators who for one night at least relived in full the championship days of the double blue. 

“VISITORS” – goal, Coupland; defence, Bain, Murphy; centre, Williams; rover, Isaacs; forwards, A. Dixon, Jamieson; alts., Wright, G. Teather, Gatecliff, B. Frick, N. MacDonald, Mackie, Gair. 

ATHLETICS – goal, Whittaker; defence, C. Madsen, F. Madsen; centre, Cheevers; rover, Wilson; forwards, Morton, T. Teather; alts., Hope, Cove, Millar, Fitzgerald, Kalls, McMahon, Urquhart, Green. 

REFEREES – Bill Nelson, Nello Antici, Max Peart 

1^ST PERIOD

 Penalty – Whittaker (slash)   14:25

 2^ND PERIOD

Penalties – Murphy (stalling) 2:02; Murphy (checking in the crease) 19:28 

3^RD PERIOD

Penalties – C. Madsen (charge) 8:41; Morton and Murphy (roughing) 12:54; B. Frick (trip) 19:56.

RETURN