History of the A's

A's Upset By Mann Cup Bound Tigers

TIGERS  OUST  ATHLETICS  FOR  BOX  FINAL 

A’s LACKED POWER AND SHAPE IN 7^TH BOX BATTLE AS TIGERS NOSE OUT 9 – 8 WIN FOR FINALS 

The St. Catharines Standard 

Monday September 20, 1948 

Tigers are in and Athletics are out of the senior O.L.A. finals and perhaps Ontario title roles after Saturday night’s seventh and deciding game at Haig Bowl. Joe Cheevers and his gold-back Cats took the series game 9 – 8 and the most unfortunate part of it had to come with the biggest lacrosse turnout since the gala days of the 1938 – 1940 regime of the double-blue Mann Cuppers. With many turned away and every possible fan “squz” into a seat or standing, the two hard-hitting rivals catered to over 4,000 patrons. 

For those who sat in they require no telling why Tigers won and Athletics lost, for it happened in the last 31 seconds of play and that was a climaxing example of why A’s faded out of the boxla scene. Maybe it was the struggle of Friday night, maybe it was a bit of over-confidence that they never lost on home soil in playoffs to Tigers in more than a decade. Certain it was that Tigers got up and got back, in short, they had the legs and hard conditioning required. Athletics were off form and off color. In fact those who saw Tigers win the opener here at 11 – 10, saw just about a repeater in tactics and stamina. Tigers may have been lucky, but they made the breaks for themselves and A’s faced that handicap almost continually from start to finish. They just missed in consistency. 

Spark Missing 

Had they played half as well in the 17 – 4 win and saved some of those surplus goals, it would have saved them the open door into the finals. Fandom was amazed to find them slow of foot, looking tired and drawn (and playing with physical weakness at times). On occasion, when the going was hot, rough and tough, some A’s went down and stayed in sheer exhaustion. Tigers also went down, but it was mostly fake hurts that did not fool Refs. Peart and Murphy and the injured (?) Cats immediately resumed play, to fandom jeers. 

For some reason, known only to themselves and coach Jack McMahon, his blueshirts went only in spots. Barring the first goal, in 5 seconds, they trailed Tigers the rest of the way. They did tie it up twice in the game, but it was a stern effort and the last time for 8 – 8 must have taken too much out of Saints. They hung on for 5 minutes, with cagy work marking rival actions. Fan roars that echoed from Merritton to Lakeside Park greeted A’s when they ran in three in a row in the final, 2 in 30 seconds and 3 in 2:21, to knot it at 8 –8 from 8 – 5. It looked as if A’s were staging that famous rally of former years, with 4:11 of play remaining. Candidly, the game could have been won on either one of two plays that were perfect set-ups. Only it was not to be that way. 

Costly Breaks 

Gerry Fitzgerald set up Pat Smith in the clear, 20 feet out, at the 13-mark and he lost the ball. A’s were still pressing. Tigers fanned out on defence. On an intercept by Merv McKenzie in the northwest corner, two A’s went down and three of them were caught flatfooted on a five-man breakaway of the Tigers. Cats spread out, McKenzie faked a pass to Davidson, slid it to Love, who roared in on Whittaker and there it was. A’s were game enough for one last splurge in the dying seconds. Again it was a clear-cut set-up of Whitely to McMahon, ten feet from the crease and Doug Favell at his mercy. Alas, McMahon could not pick it up before Tigers got to him. 

Another tough break came with a slash penalty to Urquhart at 33 seconds of the second on Gair, who was not his check. In 6 seconds, Gair set up McDonald and 20 seconds later Gair bored a 50-foot high shot past Whittaker on his stick side. Cats were picking that side on Big Bill and nailing him to the mast on fanned drives. McDonald and Gair got him that way on their first two, that made it 2 – 1. Davidson rifled in a dirt shot between his feet. Gair got the 12^th on a high one, 50 feet out. Cheevers foxing him on the 11^th that was tagged when it left his stick. 

Failed To Force 

Those could not be charged to any defence laxity, when that far out. However, Whittaker had his triumphant moments. At close range he beat Tigers brilliantly, kiting shots in his best fashion. However, his mates were not getting goals for him to work on, failing to bore in as Tigers spread out fan-wise and forced A’s to shoot too far out, which was pie for Doug Favell. For instance, starting in the third after Cove made it 5 – 4 in 32 seconds on a loose ball whip-in that beat Favell easily, six of the A’s missed a loose ball around the home hut and the Cats got every rebound. In reply, Ken Croft had three tries and buried them all in the goal pads 

It was a brittle battle, checking as tough as they come and no quarter on demand. Tigers pulled every fake possible; Lee first, then Powers, then Gair. Powers gave Stu Scott a dirty hook at 6:45, but A’s could not click. Pat Smith having two passes intercepted. At 8:06, McMahon and Isaacs drew majors, then Madsen slashed Love and that put A’s 2 to 1 short. A’s stonewalled and Madsen came on for a long pass that made it 3 – 2. Cove’s goal from Fitzgerald set fans wild as it tied the opener at 3 – 3. 

Came the second and the two costly penalty goals. Edmonds tripped Whitely at 2:20 and Love conked Madsen at 6:10, but in neither case could the A’s make good on the odd man. 

Elmer Is Hot-Up 

Elmer Lee, who runs hay-wire at times, told Max Peart off on a stalling face-off and got a misconduct. It didn’t hurt the Tigers or didn’t help the A’s any. A’s shots were off the net, passes not clicking and forwards not boring in. Tigers were up 5 – 3 at the gong. 

After Cove’s starter, Nelson starred on a solo dash to McMahon to tie it 5 – 5. After Cheevers gave T’s the lead again, Nelson was kayoed on a shot to the wind by McKenzie. On Gair’s  7 – 5 goal, Mackie was jugged on the play. Fans roared when Love dropped Madsen 15 feet out, as 3 Tigers piled on, but no penalty. Why, after other ones, is a mystery. 

McDonald out-ran Croft to make as odd man on Tigers 8^th as a tagged counter. Isaacs shoved Myers, who was carried off with a bad knee. Then Tigers faked hurts on every check. A’s got their last big spark, the heat was on and they clicked – at last. Whitely rounded Lee for 8 – 6. Uruqhart set up Nelson for 8 – 7 and Stu Scott faked a pass and made it 8 – 8 and on all three it was a Favell fan-out. Then came the stamina-less closure, for 4:21, punctuated by Tigers winning goal and the dimming of the A’s box lamps, seemingly on sheer exhaustion or unable to capitalize on breaks that come once, that’s all. 

Hamilton Tigers: Goal, Favell; defence, McKenzie, Powers; rover, Teather; centre, Cheevers; forwards, Masters, McDonald; alternates, Gair, Edmonds, Davidson, Isaacs, Lee, Love, Doyle. 

St. Catharines Athletics: Goal, Whittaker; defence, Cove, Fitzgerald; rover, S. Scott; centre, Nelson; forwards, Urquhart, Croft; alternates, Myers, Madsen, G. Scott, Smith, McMahon, Whitely, Mackie. 

Summary

First Period

Penalties: Isaacs (major), McMahon (major), Madsen.

Second Period

Penalties: Urquhart, Edmonds, Love, Lee (misconduct).

Third Period

Penalty: Mackie.

Fourth Period

No Penalties

Goal saves: Favell (5-3-2-2) 12; Whittaker (4-6-6-3) 19.

SHARP  TROPHY  TO  FITZGERALD  AS  BEST  FOR  A's

The St. Catharines Standard

Monday September 20, 1948

If fan approval counted, as a criterion, the selection of Jerry Fitzgerald as most valuable player on the senior Athletics for the 1948 season met with popular approval. "Fitz" was awarded the Med Sharp Trophy at half time Saturday night, on individual prowess during the regular O.L.A. season, on a basis of 3 points for first choice, 2 for second and 1 for third. He scored 8 points, Bill Whittaker 7, Frank Madsen 2, Jim McMahon and Stu Scott 1 each. To win the first "award of merit," Fitzgerald got two firsts and a second and Whittaker a first and two seconds. The trophy was presented by J. H. Campbell, K. C. former city magistrate, who with Rex Stimers and this desk, formed the trio of adjudicators during the past season. Through the courtesy of Ath. Dir. Charlie Box and Coach Johnny Metras of Western University, Fitzgerald was enabled to play in every game for his double-blue club until the elimination on Saturday night. Fitzgerald is a freshman at Western and a candidate for their frosh Colts in football and basketball.

Young Jerry Fitzgerald

SPORT DOWN BROWNE

by CLAYTON BROWNE

The St. Catharines Standard

Tuesday September 21, 1948

Lacrosse lovers took the elimination of senior A's better than we expected. It is no denial that the city is bitterly disappointed, but repercussions feel it is better for boxla as a whole to spread the laurels around. Pres. Russell Kelly has been knocking at the door for years and not since their era of 1933 have they won the Ontario crown, then went on to the national title and resultant Mann Cup.

If memory serves right, Tigers were swept by Mimico last term, when we put Owen Sound away. Candidly, Tigers face a tremendous task and there is no need to tell Joe Cheevers. He knows it full well and what resources and assets Chuck Davidson and Mimico has to call on. Mounts got a load off their minds (and chests) when they were rid of Brampton Excelsiors.

Don't sell Excelsiors short in 1949. We only wish (along with thousands here), it was the twin blues who could gallop for an hour at top speed and take it without raising a bead of sweat on their brows.

Kendall's crew all worked on farms, ran tractors, etc., all day and when night arrived, it was an hour off their real work and just child's play. You boxla fans can deny or affirm but it is fan consensus here that legs paid off with Bengals. We have no wish to criticize. The boys gave all they had and if they hadn't the physical assets, there is not a thing in the world their backers could do about it.

The answer? That's something A's officers have to deal with in the off-season. It could mean the end of the road for some of the gallant A's who have served their club and city most nobly...a term of twelve years to be exact, when they lifted the junior O.L.A. title then went senior. Patrons will recall them in the years to come just as they have Billy Wilson, Carl Madsen, Billy Fitzgerald, Jack McMahon, George Coles and others who have hung up their sticks and decided to call it a day.

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