Chapleau Intermediate 'A' Huskies set new record for three goals scored in Northland Intermediate Hockey League in 1977

John Theriault photo

Three goals in 19 seconds!!!!

That's how long it took the Chapleau Intermediate "A" Huskies to score three goals in a game against the Hearst Lumberkings in Northland Intermediate Hockey League play at the Chapleau Memorial Arena in November 1977.

The Chapleau Sentinel  reported that the Huskies "exploded" for three goals late in the second period. League officials confirmed later that the three goals in 19 seconds smashed the previous league record of three in 27 seconds.

The Sentinel reported that the record setting performance was started by Ron Larcher with 3:17 left to play in the second period "when he scored a power play goal assisted by Dave McMillan and Jamie Doyle.

"Following a line change Paul Scheer took an excellent pass from Pat Swanson and beat Hearst netminder Simon Charbonneau just 12 seconds later.

"From the centre ice faceoff Pat Swanson took a pass from Bill Scheer and an easy shot from the left side dribbled past Charbonneau seven seconds after Paul Scheer's goal to set the record..."

The first place Huskies with Doug Prusky in his first year as coach, went on to defeat the Lumberkings 10-2.

Ron Larcher, (left) Bill Scheer  a John Theriault photo

They had to settle for a 7-5 win in a second game Sunday afternoon at the memorial arena.

At the time the Huskies were in first place with 11 wins and two ties with Calvert GMs and Kapuskasing As in second and third place respectively. The Huskies had an eight point lead in the standings.

Bill Scheer was the leading scorer with 25 goals and 21 assists followed by Pat Swanson with 14 goals and 25 assists and Paul Scheer with seven goals and 23 assists.  

In the second weekend encounter  Jamie Doyle notched two goals while singles went to Bill Scheer, Pat Swanson, Ted Swanson and Ron Larcher got singles.

Despite the team's success in early season play the Sentinel writer noted that the Huskies "seem to play just as well as required to win a hockey game which can't be faulted considering their record this season. However, they will have to watch for lapses during the second half of the season."  The lapse actually occurred in the playoffs when they were defeated in the semi finals by their archrivals the Timmins North Stars in six games, for the third consecutive year.

They finally defeated Timmins in the 1978-79 semi finals.

A couple of other notes from the article said that David McAdam and Glen Cappellani shared goaltending duties while Jamie Doyle "gave a fine exhibition of penalty killing Sunday which was described by one fan as "poetry in motion'.

I was the manager of the Huskies in the 1977-78 season and don't recall that we celebrated any more than usual when this league record was set. I found this article while going through old files.

A quick Google search indicates  that in the National Hockey League it appears that Bill Mosienko may hold the record for fastest three goals by one player at 21 seconds in a game between Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers in 1952. The fastest by a team may have been around 15 seconds so the Huskies were close!!  If anyone has further information, please email me at mj.morris@live.ca

Hockey remains great Canadian unifier as nation plans to celebrate its 150th birthday in 2017

Tee Chambers, Butch Pellow, Aldee Martel

In 2017, Canada will celebrate its 150th birthday as a nation, and my thoughts turned recently to an anecdote shared in a classroom where I was taking a course in twentieth century European history more than 40 years ago now.It was at Waterloo Lutheran University, now Wilfrid Laurier University.

 Dr Jacques Goutor had arrived in Canada more than 40 years ago now, and the first thing I learned from him was that hockey kept Canada together. Well, he didn't actually come out and say that exactly, but on the first day of class he told us about his arrival in Canada from France.

Dr Goutor told us that upon arriving in Toronto, he went out and bought the newspapers and the headlines were LEAFS WIN STANLEY CUP! It was 1967, our Centennial year as a nation, and the Toronto Maple Leafs had defeated their arch rivals the Montreal Canadiens in six games. It was to be the last time the Leafs would win Lord Stanley's mug.

All so typically Canadian for our Centennial year -- a team from the heart of English Canada wins the Stanley Cup but the focus for the celebrations of the centennial is on Montreal, the major French Canadian city which hosted Expo '67, and the cup is named after an Englishman who was Governor General at one time. Trust me on this one! It is such as this that contributes to keeping the country together and safe-- the invisible hand of Canadian compromise!  Of course, the weather is the other great unifier.

Dr Goutor, who at the time had little knowledge of hockey and its importance to Canadians, said he decided to stay here because it had to be a safe place if the headlines were about a sporting event. He was raised in France and lived through the horrors of World War II and its aftermath.

To this day, I watch the headlines in Canadian newspapers, and headline writers are ecstatic on those days they can proclaim victory for their local hockey team when it wins a title or even a key game. 


They are beside themselves with joy when Canada wins internationally. But they know their audience. Hockey keeps it all together in this vast and magnificent land where we will travel great distances for a hockey game, and complain about the other great Canadian unifier, the weather.

In 1972, during the Canada-Russia series, for example, classes were cancelled at Chapleau High School, and students crowded around television sets to watch that key game which Canada won.

Our passion for hockey of course begins at the local level. Growing up in Chapleau, the  Huskies, in various incarnations were  the pride and joy for much longer than I have been around. Growing up there in the 1940s and 50s my hockey heroes were local, especially the late Garth ''Tee" Chambers, who to this day I believe was better than any NHL player who ever donned skates.

When I returned to Chapleau to teach, shortly thereafter I was "hired' by the 1970-71 Midgets to coach them. Yes, they actually "fired" their coach and I took over, and that is a story in itself. 

At that time though, the focus was on the Chapleau Junior "B" Huskies who played in the International  Junior "B"  League, and in 1967 won the league title, as well as NOHA title. It was their first year in the league too, and artificial ice had just been installed in the Chapleau Memorial Arena.

Chapleau Trappers 1949

The coaches of the day were the late Keith 'Buddy' Swanson, Lorne Riley, who had been an outstanding goalie, and Earle Freeborn, one real tough defenceman in his playing days who also served as the Mayor of Chapleau. Saturday nights were hockey night in Chapleau, and the great community unifier, especially when the Wawa Travellers were in town. 

A few years later, again after receiving a visit from hockey players, the Chapleau Intermediate "A" Huskies were born and our arch rivals in the Northland Intermediate Hockey league were the Timmins Northstars. 

Jr B Huskies 1966-67 Champions

For three years it was a struggle to beat them in the league semi-finals but in our fourth year we did, and it was like we had won the Stanley Cup. We won in Timmins but soon received reports that back in Chapleau, the celebration had begun with horns honking and a party underway.

And so, from local unheated hockey rinks, many of them called barns,which was surely the case in Chapleau until 1978, where rivalries among communities bring people together to cheer on their own team, to national and international championship series, Dr Goutor was right. It is a safe country in which to live.

At this Christmas time, in what often seems like a deeply troubled world, I hope we reflect on those things bringing Canadians together, yes. like hockey, rather than the things dividing us, and continue to make our nation the best place to live as we celebrate our 150th birthday.

It is likely too much to hope that the Leafs will win the Stanley Cup though. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

The Chapleau Trappers of 1949. a junior team sponsored by Mrs A.W. 'Hockey' Moore. Back from left H. Fortunato, Rev Howard Strapp, B. Collings, M.McAdam, C. McAdam, R. May, T. Godfrey, J. Dillon, F. Lucky, T. Collinson. Front from left R. Longchamps, Daddle Swanson, Tee Chambers, D. Chambers, R. Morin, Y. Morin, R. Burns.


Chapleau Jr B Huskies 1966-67  Back from l: Andre Rioux, Lorne Riley, Merrick Goldstein, John Babin, Ray Larcher, Mickey Jurynec, Greg Vaughan, Robert Morin, Reg Bouillon, Gerry Boucher, Jamie Broomhead; Front: Corky Bucci, Jean- Claude Cyr, George Swanson, Richard Morin, John Loyst, John Laframboise, Ted Swanson, Bud Swanson and missing Bruce Pellow, Bruce Fortin. 

Hockey Keeps Canada Together

I took a course in twentieth century European history from Dr Jacques Goutor, back in the 1960s and the first thing I learned from him was that hockey kept Canada together. Well, he didn't actually come out and say that exactly, but on the first day of class he told us about his arrival in Canada from France.

NOTE: "Hockey Keeps Canada Together" was one of my first posts on Michael J Morris Report after I founded it seven years ago

Dr Goutor told us that upon arriving in Toronto, he went out and bought the newspapers and the headlines were LEAFS WIN STANLEY CUP! It was 1967, our Centennial year as a nation, and the Toronto Maple Leafs had defeated their arch rivals the Montreal Canadiens in six games. It was to be the last time the Leafs would win Lord Stanley's mug.

Dr Jacques Goutor

All so typically Canadian for our Centennial year -- a team from the heart of English Canada wins the Stanley Cup but the focus for the celebrations of the centennial is on Montreal, the major French Canadian city which hosted Expo '67, and the cup is named after an Englishman who was Governor General at one time. Trust me on this one! It is such as this that contributes to keeping the country together and safe-- the invisible hand of Canadian compromise!

Dr Goutor, who at the time had little knowledge of hockey and its importance to Canadians, said he decided to stay here because it had to be a safe place if the headlines were about a sporting event. He was raised in France and lived through the horrors of World War II and its aftermath.

To this day, I watch the headlines of Canadian daily newspapers, and headline writers are ecstatic on those days they can proclaim victory for their local hockey team when it wins a title, and are beside themselves with joy when Canada wins internationally. But they know their audience. Hockey keeps it all together in this vast and magnificent land where we will travel great distances for a hockey game, and complain about that other great Canadian unifier, the weather.

MJM in 1978 at Chapleau Carnival

Tee Chambers, Butch Pellow, Aldee Martel, circa 1954

Our passion for hockey of course begins at the local level. I was raised in the northern Ontario town of Chapleau, where the Chapleau Huskies, in various incarnations were  the pride and joy for much longer than I have been around. Growing up there in the 1940s and 50s my hockey heroes were local, especially the late Garth ''Tee" Chambers, who to this day I believe was better than any NHL player who ever donned skates.

When I returned to Chapleau to teach, shortly thereafter I was "hired' by the 1970-71 Midgets to coach them. Yes, they actually "fired" their coach and I took over, and that is a story in itself. At that time though, the focus was on the Chapleau Junior "B" Huskies who played in a Junior league, and in 1967 won the league title, as well as NOHA title.

Chapleau Jr B Huskies 1966-67

 The coaches of the day were the late Keith 'Buddy' Swanson, Lorne Riley, who had been an outstanding goalie and Earle Freeborn, one real tough defenceman in his playing days who also served as the Mayor of Chapleau. Saturday nights were hockey night in Chapleau, and the great community unifier, especially when the Wawa Travellers were in town.

A few years later, again after receiving a visit from hockey players, the Chapleau Intermediate "A" Huskies were born and our arch rivals in the Northland Intermediate Hockey league were the Timmins Northstars. For three years it was a struggle to beat them in the league semi-finals but in our fourth year we did, and it was like we had won the Stanley Cup. We won in Timmins but soon received reports that back in Chapleau, the celebration had begun with horns honking and a party underway.

And so, from local unheated hockey rinks, many of them called barns, where rivalries among communities bring people together to cheer on their own team, to national and international championship series, Dr Goutor was right. It is a safe country in which to live

I welcome your comments. Please feel free to add them or email me at mj.morris@live.com

Chapleau Intermediate 'A' Huskies dominated regular season in 1977-78 but failed in playoffs

Bill Scheer with Ron Larcher on his right

When the Northland Intermediate Hockey League released its 1977-78 season statistics, it showed that the Chapleau Intermediate Huskies dominated several categories, according to the Chapleau Sentinel.

But, for the third successive year, the Huskies failed to defeat their arch rival Timmins North Stars in the semi-finals losing in six games. The North Stars went on to win the league championship.

In regular season play, the Huskies won 24 games, lost four and tied two for 50 points, a first place finish 18 points ahead of the Calvert GMs.

The North Stars were in third place with 14 wins, 13 losses and three ties. The Kapuskasing As had 30 points, based on 14 wins, 14 losses and two ties for fourth place.

The expansion Cochrane Commandos and Heasrt lumberkings did not make the playoffs.

Bill Scheer of the Huskies won the league scoring title with 41 goals and 43 assists for 84 points, while Ivan Fournier of Calvert was second with 43 goals and 39 assists.

Pat Swanson was in fourth spot in league scoring with 30 goals and 45 assists.

Paul Scheer, who was named league Rookie of the Year was in fifth spot with 22 goals and 46 assists. Paul also set a league record for assists.

David McAdam and Glen Cappellani of the Huskies had the best goaltending average in the league with a combined average of 3,70 goals against.

Paul, Bill, Pat and Jamie Doyle with 25 goals and 26 assists, were the only players on the Huskies to score more than 20 goals in regular season play. But David McMillan was close with 19 goals and 30 assists.

Jamie and Dave finished in 11th and 12th spots respectively in league scoring.

Tom Laframboise of the Huskies led the team penalty parade with 65 minutes followed by Pat with 63 placing both of them in the league top ten. 

However, the Huskies coached by Doug Prusky, were the second least penalized team in the league with 485 minutes while the North Stars led with 802 minutes. Kapuskasing was least penalized with 428 minutes.

According to league statistics Ted Swanson was the only member of the Huskies to play in every game of the schedule. In fact, Ted was the only player to participate in every game over the team's four years in the Northland League.

And, with the end of the 1977-78 season, the Chapleau Memorial Community Arena closed its doors after serving the community for 27 years. It was opened in February 1951 and the A.W. Moore Arena, named after "Mrs. Hockey" Moore, part of the Chapleau Recreation Centre was officially opened 37 years ago on June 29, 1978.

And please, after all these years, don't ask me "how come" the Huskies failed in the playoffs after such a  successful regular season. Even though I was the manager, I couldn't figure it out then, and all these years later, sure can't now. 

But I can tell you, they remain the best of the best to me 37 years later. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Photos by John Theriault

Full agenda of activities for all ages in Chapleau during winter of 1973-74

Ann Card Morin

The 1973-74  winter sports and recreation activities seemed to start all at once prompting Margaret Costello, writing in the Sault Daily Star to quip, "Who says there is nothing to do in Chapleau?"

Maggie, as she was fondly known, pointed out that "Until fairly recent times in the younger groups the boys have had the best of the winter activities ... minor hockey."

But the times were changing, she wrote, with the formation of the Chapleau Figure Skating Club some years earlier, "with the blessing" of J.M. 'Jack' Shoup, when he was chair of the Chapleau Recreation Committee. I believe Maggie was referring to the establishment of the club, as there had been figure skating in Chapleau, at least back to the 1930s... maybe earlier!

For the 1973-74 season, the figure skating instructor was Patricia Poulin of Timmins. Miss Poulin had an impressive record including the Gold Medal for ice dancing from the Canadian Figure Skating Association.

The club had 100 members who would be working hard in preparation for the annual figure skating show.


Now, a new activity had appeared on the local scene which was beginning its first season under the direction of Lucille Pilon. The lessons included ballet, tap and other dances.

There were also dance classes held at the Mooose Hall with Giselle Mick of Timmins as the instructor.

The Chapleau Curling Club had started its season in November 1973 and the men's and mixed leagues were in full swing.

 

Minor hockey was underway and Maggie commented that "youngsters in hockey uniforms are becoming a familiar sight at almost any time during the day."

 

The Chapleau Junior "B" Huskies of the International Junior "B" Hockey League had started its ninth season with Earle Freeborn as manager and George Swanson as coach.

Steve Prusky, Glen Cappellani, Jamie Doyle win Jr B awards

 

Touching on skiing, Maggie noted  that although there was not enough snow yet, the club members were planning and preparing for the season, which she added "should be just around some corner or other".

 

Bowling was also popular in Chapleau, in fact there were so many bowlers, there was not a single open night at the alleys. Bowlers also included senior citizens.

 

Although Maggie doesn't mention them, there were also very active broomball and mercantile hockey leagues in Chapleau in the 1970s, as well as an Intermediate hockey team that played annually in the Northern Ontario Hockey League playoffs. The Intermediate "A" Huskies of the Northland Intermediate Hockey League were founded in 1975.

 

Meanwhile, the Chapleau Sentinel was reporting that renovations were underway at the Chapleau Memorial Community Arena with a Local Initiatives Program grant from the federal government led by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.

 

The arena would also be introducing special programs for senior citizens and handicapped persons. Earle Freeborn had been named part-time arena manager earlier in 1973.

 

Yes, Chapleau was a very busy place in the Winter of 1973-74 -- plans were also being made for the Chapleau Winter Carnival. 

 

As an aside, I wrote this column about Winter activities in Chapleau from Orlando, Florida. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

 

Michael 'Pat' Swanson: "Go Huskies Go!"

Chapleau Int A Huskies

For more than 20 years, Michael 'Pat" Swanson was among the leading players who greatly defined Chapleau hockey at three different levels.

My first memory of Pat was watching him head behind the Chapleau goal, pick up the puck from Doug Prusky and be in full stride as he skated past goaltender David McAdam, with wingers Garry Prusky and Ernie Chambers in position for another Chapleau Huskies power play.

The crowd, likely over 1,000 in the Chapleau Memorial Arena started to chant "Go Huskies Go" and away these players from the Chapleau Junior "B" Huskies of the International Junior "B" Hockey League went, scoring another power play goal.

I was the referee that night in the Chapleau Memorial Arena, having recently returned to Chapleau and was teaching at Chapleau High School. 

Here is a quick glimpse from those years in which Pat was at the centre of the action.

 Pat and his fellow players really emerged on the Chapleau hockey scene in 1965-66 their first year as Bantams when they won the Division 'B' Championship in the popular Lasarre Tournament. They repeated in 1966-67 and in 1967-68 topped it off winning the Division 'A' title as well as the Nothern Ontario Playground Hockey Association championship. David Mizuguchi and David Futhey coached and managed these teams.

 I recall having coffee with Don and Olive Card in their kitchen when I would be home for a visit ands they would tell me these "kids are good". Don and Olive, who were involved in minor hockey for years, were right.

By the 1970-71 season in the International Junior 'B' Hockey league the  Huskies were off to a fast start with Earle Freeborn as coach, finding themselves "all alone in top spot" after two weeks of play, according to Keith 'Buddy' Swanson, who doubled as hockey writer for the Chapleau Sentinel and team manager at the time. 

Buddy, Pat's older brother  noted that the Huskies were "keyed up by their already high scoring trio of Pat Swanson, Ernie Chambers and Garry Prusky" who accounted for 10 of 12 goals. They defeated their archrivals the Wawa Travellers to gain first place.

Buddy was instrumental in founding the Junior 'B' Huskies of the International Junior 'B' League in 1966-67, with Tom Welch and Lorne Riley.

By 1974, the Bantams were now overage for Junior hockey, and some were away at  school and others were working.

A delegation visited me in 1974 and asked if I would assist them in reviving Intermediate hockey. In 1975, we attended the annual meeting of the recently formed Northland Intermediate Hockey League, and were accepted.

It was not supposed to be but in the beginning I was coach and manager.

Very few people know that the Chapleau Intermediate 'A' Huskies may have folded after their first game in Timmins against the Northstars, who became their archrivals, had it not been for Pat Swanson.

After being soundly defeated by the Northstars I sat on the bench alone thinking it all over, and Pat appeared.

Pat was attending Sheridan College at  the time, but had come home for the opening game.

"We need some players," he said, expressing the obvious, even though we had the core team. "I can get us some," Pat said. At that moment, Pat became chief scout and recruiter.

David McMillan and Paul 'RP' McDonald were the first to arrive, both of whom were attending college with Pat. The rest is history. Others came. The team lasted four years just long enough to defeat the Timmins Northstars in the semi finals, which was like winning the Stanley Cup.

Pat  and Paul also coached a minor hockey team in the 1978-79 season and it participated in a tournament in Senneterre. 

Pat, back top left with Senneterre team

In a recent exchange of emails with Danny Vaughan who joined the team, we were reminded of a trip to Florida several of us made at the end of one season, packed into Pat's International Jeep. This was long before GPS and texting, so my job was to talk with truckers on the CB Radio to get us through traffic jams. Danny also caught a shark and sea turtle.

In Florida, Pat "Huskies Hockey"

Throughout its history, Chapleau has had many outstanding hockey players and teams who warmed up many cold Winter nights in the first outdoor community rink to the old rink to the Chapleau Memorial Arena to the Mrs A.W. Moore Arena in the recreation centre. Pat and his generation were certainly among them

I had my last conversation with Pat in January 2012 when he sent me a message. Let me share a bit of it.

"How are things MJ", to which I replied fine and asked how he was.

Pat shared that he had some health issues but was recovering, adding that although some things were going slow, "I even went for a skate yesterday for the first time in four years."

Bill Scheer, Pat, Graham Bertrand playing(?) donkey baseball

He told me he couldn't find a puck but had a hockey stick so used a ball --- later he went and bought some pucks.

I teased him a bit about maybe we should start another Intermediate 'A' team to which he replied, "OK, can I be the captain?"  When I replied, "You can be captain", Pat said, "Thanks Chief".

He also shared that he had his children and grandchildren near him and commented, "They are priceless".

Our conversation ended with Pat's comment "Don't be a stranger Michael. Take care and talk at you later". We planned to meet at the Chapleau High School reunion in 2012 but it didn't happen.

Pat, my friend, you will never be a stranger to me or Chapleau hockey fans who watched you and your teammates from Bantam, to Junior to Intermediate bring great hockey to our community for over 20 years. Thanks for the memories and "Go Huskies Go!".

Michael 'Pat' Swanson died on July 2, 2014. He was 61.

My email is mj.morris@live.ca 

Ice time in Dundas as Charlie Purich and Jason Ward involved in Allan Cup hockey championship

The winner of the 2014 Allan Cup will be decided in Dundas, Ontario in 2014 and two Chapleau boys will be involved.

 

The Allan Cup, a part of Canada's history since 1890 is the Canadian Men's Senior AAA Hockey Championship.

 

Charlie Purich, known as the "catalyst" of the Chapleau High School hockey team in the 1960s when Dr. Karl A. Hackstetter was principal, who then played at Laurentian University, and for numerous teams in Dundas over the years where he lives will be a volunteer.

 

And Jason Ward, who was born in Chapleau on January 26, 1979, and went on to play in the Ontario Hockey League, National Hockey League and American Hockey League is winding down his career playing for the Dundas Real McCoys who will be participating in the Allan Cup.

 

Jason started his NHL career after he was picked by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round, 11th overall in the 1997 draft. He also played for the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings and Tampa Bay Lightning. While playing in the AHL in 2002-2003 he won the Les Cunningham Award as Most Valuable Player.

 

Jason had the remarkable distinction of scoring his first NHL goal on his first shot, in his first game in Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers on December 3, 1999.

 

He also played on Canada's Silver Medal team in the World Championship in 1999.

 

Interestingly, from 1968 to 1971, Charlie played for the Dundas Triple Intermediate 'A" team, and now another Chapleau boy is there playing in the Allan Cup competition. Charlie says Jason is "a stalwart" on this year's team, and they met recently -- both born in Chapleau but not knowing each other.

 

"The chat about Chapleau was wonderful," Charlie said.

 

Charlie was in touch  by email to tell me the news, and shared some Chapleau hockey memories. Charlie paid tribute to Keith 'Buddy' Swanson for his encouragement about hockey and life.  He continues to play in two leagues near his home in Ancaster and still enjoys pulling off the "Buddy Swanson Taught" move--"deke to the left and whatever happens!!!"

 

Chapleau players from back in the day will understand what happens after the deke to the left.

 

Charlie added that any time any time one gets to talk about hockey in Chapleau, one gets the "nostalgic feeling" of "having played with Earle (Freeborn), Buddy (Swanson), Zeno (Andre Rioux), Dave Futhey, the Mizuguchi's (Roger, Mark, David), the Bignucolo boys (Albert, Eddy, Joey) and many, many more."  I have added full names where needed.

 

Even when Charlie would return home and watch hockey he never failed to be impressed with the similarity between J.C. Cyr and Reggie Sonego doing their "end=to-end crowd standing rushes". Great comparison Charlie!

 

Charlie's email continued. "Playing Intermediate hockey in Southern Ontario casts a comparison to any of the Intermediate teams from Chapleau. They would be great matches, even today. Talking about hockey in Chapleau reminds us of what's important, like heading to the old Chapleau Arena to play at 6:00 am at 30 below or trying to dodge the 3 inch cracks on the natural ice that was the base for the skills we learned about hockey."

 

Jason's parents are Steve and Irene (Fortin) Ward. His grandfather Bill Ward was manager of the Royal Bank in Chapleau from 1970 to 1975.

 

Charlie and Jason will both be at the Allan Cup. If you are in the Dundas area from April 14 to 19, try to stop by and chat with about "ice time" with two Chapleau boys. Thanks for the memories Charlie and all the best Jason at the Allan Cup.  My email is mj.morris@live.cau

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapleau Huskies coached by Buddy Swanson win Max Silverman Trophy as NOHA Intermediate 'B' champions in 1965

Names at bottom

Charlie Purich gives Keith J. 'Buddy' Swanson the credit for teaching him the "fine art of goal scoring" back in the 1960s when he was playing for the Chapleau Huskies. 

Charlie, back in those days, was also referred to as "the catalyst" of the Chapleau High School (CHS-TEEM), which played in the town league and against other competition.

In a recent exchange of email telling me that Laurentian University was reviving its hockey program and that he would be travelling to Sudbury on March 28 for a fundraiser and alumni game, Charlie  also advised that as he played for Laurentian in 1965, he could just be "the veteran" on the blades. Charlie still plays in a Hamilton Oldtimers' League and is the leading scorer on his team.

When Charlie told me that Buddy had taught him the fine art of goal scoring, I got back to him, asking if he would once again explain the "breakaway pass" he learned from his hockey mentor.

Charlie replied: "Speed toward the net.  At the last second a hard drift to the left while the goalie flops.  Continue to drift until the goalie is flat on the ice.  Lift the puck over him and through the space between the post and his raised stick.  Keith Swanson special.  A thing of beauty to see him perform that move."

Buddy Swanson

As so often happens when talk turns to Chapleau hockey, one thing leads to another, and Charlie's sister Pat (Purich) Russell sent me photos of medallions and a team photo of the Chapleau Huskies from 1965.

Coached by Buddy Swanson and managed by Jimmy Dillon in 1964, the Huskies won the Northern Ontario Hockey Association (NOHA) Intermediate "C" title but upped the ante in 1965, the first year there was artificial ice in the Chapleau Memorial Arena, and entered the Intermediate "B" category, playing for the Max Silverman Trophy.

The Huskies won the Max Silverman Trophy defeating the Espanola KVees in a two game total goals to count series played on the new artificial ice in the memorial arena. They had  defeated the Wawa Ironmen three games to one in the semi-final series.

Obviously, Buddy taught the fine art of goal scoring to many players, including Jim St. Amand, who was 19 at the time and scored four goals in the final two game series.

In the finals, the Huskies played without Earle Freeborn, Merrick Goldstein and Gerard Pilon, all of whom had suffered injuries in the Wawa series.

To honour the champions, the Township of Chapleau hosted a banquet for the Huskies in the Legion Hall. In his welcoming remarks, Reeve F.A. 'Nick' Card said the victory meant a "new beginning" for hockey in Chapleau with artificial ice in the arena. He paid tribute to the players on winning a championship in their first season playing on artificial ice. It also meant a longer hockey season.

Reeve 'Nick' Card

J.M. 'Jack' Shoup, the community's longest serving councillor ever and longtime chair of the Chapleau Recreation Committee proposed a toast to Mrs. A.W. "Mrs. Hockey" Moore, without whom the artificial ice project would never have been completed.

Jim Dillon, the manager of the Huskies, noted that Mrs. Moore had raised a total of $17,000, with $12,000 going to the project. It was "the nucleus" for artificial ice, he said, according to a a report in the Chapleau Sentinel.

Mrs A.W. Moore

Andre Rioux, a player on the Huskies, paid tribute to Buddy Swanson for his efforts in coaching the team to its success. In 1966-67, Buddy, with his friend Lorne Riley teamed up as manager and coach respectively - and then Buddy took over coaching duties when Lorne became ill - to launch the Chapleau Junior "B" Huskies,and win the championship in their first year in the International Junior "B" Hockey League. They also won the NOHA championship.

At the banquet master of ceremonies Jim Lane read a telegram of congratulations from Mr. Silverman, who at the time was mayor of Sudbury. Mr. Silverman had coached, managed and owned the Sudbury Wolves, and been president of the NOHA.

Good luck to Charlie in the Laurentian University alumni game, and thanks to him, to Pat (Purich) Russell, and to Doug Greig, a special thanks for finding information on the 1965 champion Huskies. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Chapleau Huskies 1965. Winners of Max Silverman Trophy as NOHA Intermediate 'B' Champions Back:J.St.Amand,J.Babin,M.Goldstein,J.Bignucolo,D.Mizuguchi

Front: A.Bignucolo,C.Purich,J.Dillon-Manager,G.Pilon,K.Swanson-Coach,E.Freeborn,J.Grenon
Centre: A.Rioux,A.Madore,R.Bouillon,A.Martel,D.Futhey,R.Morin,A.Tremblay
 Absent:J.Hong,M.Mizuguchi,J.Paquette-Trainer (Courtesy Pat (Purich) Russell and Charlie Purich)