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History of the A's |
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Hard Times |
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1943
was a watershed year for Canada. Many Canadians were fighting and dying in
Italy while others were hurriedly preparing for an assault on fortress
Europe that was to come in northern France in a year’s time. Practically
everyone was involved or impacted by the war effort in some way. The
senior ranks of the O. L. A. had some hard decisions in even attempting to
operate in 1943. Lacrosse players in growing numbers were leaving for the
military, there were travel restrictions due to the urgent needs for
petroleum and even the high demand for rubber placed the supply of
lacrosse balls in serious jeopardy. But
the league decided to go ahead and would even have a team from the armed
forces, the “Army Bullets”. Many of these players of 1943 would soon
be involved in greater battles in 1944. ATHLETICS
DECIDE TO ENTER SENIOR O.L.A. IF LOOP
OPERATES TRAVEL
IS BIGGEST THORN BUT A’s ROSTER SCENT
MANN CUP TRIP CITY
PARENT BODY TO DEVOTE BEST EFFORTS TO
DEVELOP MINORS The St. Catharines
Standard
Thursday May 13,
1943
St.
Catharines Athletics propose to make another try at the senior O.L.A.
championship this summer. It will doubtless be the last for some of the
double-blues, but the practically unanimous decision of the players will
take that opinion to Friday night’s senior lacrosse caucus at Toronto,
even though that situation may be regarded as “quite up in the air.”
On the outcome of the discussion of Pres. Dan Millar, Secy. Gene Dopp and
their colleagues, will hinge the prospects for the 1943 season. If
Etobicoke drops out, as has been rumoured, Gene Dopp says Brampton-Mimico
Combines, Brampton Army (Basic Training Group) and the Garden City A’s
will be the three banner bearers. President-elect
E. H. Lancaster, K.C., handled his first caucus of the association last
night at the Welland House, when he voiced the thanks of his elevation to
the presidency. The night’s agenda centred largely around prospects for
1943 and Gene Dopp wrote that the senior O.L.A. would attempt a 24-game
schedule. There will be a four-team league at the Pacific coast and
insofar as C.L.A. Pres. Dopp could say, also a Mann Cup series next fall.
That was the “nectar” in the Athletics’ cup of good cheer…they
scent a possible trip to the west. However, they must first win the O.L.A.
and eastern Canada titles and the box public will be vitally interested to
discern whether veteran legs can respond to youthful ambition and make
such possible. Cool
On Industrial There
are a couple of flies in the lacrosse ointment. If the proposed 26 – 30
year old draft of married men goes through by the military authorities, it
was revealed that only two of the present Athletics would miss that
category. The other “if” is the O.L.A. set-up. If clubs figure they
cannot see the proposed travelling hardship, Athletics will consider the
suggested industrial senior league here at home. But, just the same, the
player personnel were not highly enthused over that prospect. Most of them
figure it a drop in prestige to revert back to a city loop and are
doubtful of its popular appeal. It also might deter the efforts of the
city minors and such could not eventuate. In truth, the parent body was
much up in the air and not one single thing can be done officially, until
the solons convene tomorrow night in the Queen City. Minors
Come First Personally,
he was more vitally concerned about developing and sponsoring the city
minors, he stated. The present uncertainty of senior continuation was a
factor and he also voiced expressions of the lacrosse public that it must
be remembered that the Athletics’ personnel was one year older than 1942
– with all due respect to their individual ability. The
whole future of lacrosse here hinged upon the sponsorship and development
of minors and the future senior challengers of 1945-6 must be considered.
Just as was the case of 1935-6 when the former Athletic champions grew up.
President Lancaster stressed that success in minors hinged on just what
efforts the city senior executive dispensed in the youngsters’ behalf. There
was but one senior player attending the parent session last night. But
senior O.L.A. or not, industrial or not, the city minors will carry on and
bear the lacrosse torch. SPORT
DONE BROWNE by
CLAYTON BROWNE The St. Catharines
Standard
Thursday May 20,
1943
Here,
Pres. Dan Millar, is a suggestion (absolutely free) for the coming 1943
season. In fact on second and third thoughts, it might be a doggone good
idea for you and Secy. Gene Dopp to “liven up” the game. Reports from
Montreal and Baz O’Meara of their Daily Star say the Quebec boxla
brethren will inaugurate six-man lacrosse this summer. This scheme is to
sharpen the sport, make it faster and more attractive. Teams
just eliminate the rover position; the same as they did in major hockey
way back when. The west takes credit for six-man hockey style, but it was
George Kennedy of Canadiens who started it during the last world war.
Then, it was figured the idea was put across to save the salary of an
extra puckchaser. It was also wartime and players were scarce, but the
west coast kept seven-man in vogue until 1922, when they also switched
over to the present roster of six. This
agent thinks the six-man boxla team is sound. No guessing about it, the
manpower shortage is felt already and by the first of June or July it is
definitely certain to be a lot tougher when the call goes out for married
men in the 26-30 class. We are looking at it from a strictly St.
Catharines Athletic standpoint where it will be found every effort will
have to be strained and constrained to round up box warriors. There’s
also the angle that two less men will prevent cluttering up of smaller
bowls and while it puts a premium on agility, there is no denial that it
would open up the game from the fan’s viewpoint. In short anything or
everything that will tend to make lacrosse more attractive in 1943 and
then hope and pray the war will be over and back to normalcy in 1944. SP by
CLAYTON BROWNE The St. Catharines
Standard
Tuesday June 8, 1943So
far, Secy. Jay MacDonald has not been advised that the 1943 O.L.A. will
operate with six men or seven. The homester twin blues feel that six may
place a premium on stamina in Haig Bowl, which is the largest set-up in
the senior circuit. At Mimico and Brampton, the six-man team would be
ideal, since quarters are badly cramped. This agent may have the wrong
slant on the six-or-seven, but what advantage there is certainly favours
Athletics, since it is their home crease. Still, it cannot be seven men a
side here and six elsewhere, so make up your minds boys. LACROSSE WILL OPEN
TONIGHT FOR ATHLETICS
The St. Catharines
Standard
Friday June 11, 1
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