Celebrating Golden Moments in Chapleau hockey history after Canada wins at Winter Olympics

"My gosh. This is great. Canada wins hockey GOLD, and it becomes a virtual Chapleau reunion," I wrote on Facebook  moments after Canada defeated Sweden at the Winter Olympics in Russia.

My Facebook page had erupted in virtual cheers as Chapleau folks from all over the place celebrated the victory.

I added: "Thanks for all the comments. So many bring back memories from home. You have made it a GOLDEN MOMENT."

Linda Tebbutt had commented that she noticed the "management team" from Canada "intently chewing gum" and she asked me if I knew what kind it was.

Linda had recalled that when I was coaching hockey in Chapleau, "I do recall seeing a pack of wrappers at your feet at a game or two."

What a memory, and true. I have only chewed gum on the bench, (and while refereeing)  and it was usually several packs, but I really don't know the  brand the Canadians were chewing, but I can relate to them even all these years later since I coached hockey.

It got me thinking about Chapleau hockey moments which  started shortly after the community was established in 1885. Although it was an outdoor rink at first located on Lorne Street across from the CPR shops, we know that in 1893 a local team travelled to Sudbury to play. It lost but may have been the first road trip.

By 1910 there was a local league  playing for the McEwen Cup. According to Vince Crichton in Pioneering in Northern Ontario Robert McEwen operated at pressing and tailoring shop starting about 1905, and later he worked for the CPR pressing uniforms.

Through the years there were many teams in Chapleau, playing in a very competitive town league, first in the old old rink, then the Chapleau Memorial Arena, both located on Lorne Street, then in the Moore Arena at the Chapleau Recreation Centre.

The Moore Arena was named after Mrs. A.W. 'Hockey' Moore one of the community's biggest supporters of hockey teams, who was also largely responsible for raising the money to put artificial ice in the memorial arena in 1965.

One of Chapleau's greatest golden hockey moments surely was in the 1966-67 season when the Chapleau Junior "B" Huskies, in their first year in the International Junior "B" Hockey League won the league and Northern Ontario Hockey Association titles. The team was first coached by Lorne Riley who was replaced by Keith 'Buddy' Swanson after Lorne became ill -- they simply reversed roles as Buddy coached and Lorne managed the team.

At Winter Carnival time starting in the 1950s after Ernest 'Sonny' Bignucolo, an outstanding goaltender was killed on active service in Canada's armed forces, there was an Intermediate level tournament for the Ernest 'Sonny' Bignucolo Memorial Trophy. It was the major highlight of the carnivals and fans were literally "hanging from the rafters" in the memorial arena.

By the 1930s Chapleau High School had hockey teams, coached by John 'Mac' McClellan, who was at the school for 30 years as teacher and principal. The last CHS teams played in the 1960s ending with the coincidental arrival of the Junior "B" Huskies and the move to the "new" school on the hill in 1966.

The Chapleau Intermediate "A" Huskies played in the Northland Intermediate Hockey League from 1975 to 1979, and it was those years to which Linda was referring when I became a gum chewer. The team never won a league championship but in its fourth year finally defeated their archrivals the Timmins Northstars in the semi finals, and Chapleau celebrated.

Chapleau minor hockey teams have been successful in winning tournaments and championships over the years. In fact, Bantam teams, coached by David Mizuguchi and David Futhey enjoyed much success in the 1960s and provided many of the players for the Junior "B" and Intermediate "A" Huskies.  Mrs. Olive M. Card, who became known as "Mrs. Minor Hockey" served as secretary treasurer for 25 years from 1947 to 1972.

So, while Chapleau never had a hockey team in the Winter Olympics, it has been able to celebrate many "CHAPLEAU GOLD" moments almost from its founding thanks to the dedication of players, coaches, managers, executives, businesses, fans and all the community who have contributed.

Thanks to all of you on Facebook for the reunion. If I had thought of it, I would have posted a video of "Heart of My Heart" by the Four Aces, the theme song of the 1953-54 Bantams on our road trips to Sudbury sometimes in our own private passenger car on the CPR. Those were the days my friends. My email is mj.morris@live.ca 



Names for photos

Robert McEwen donated the McEwen Cup Here is the first winning team in 1911. Photos are numbered: 1, Peter Moran; 2, Gordon Sheppard; 3, Simon Kruger; 4, Harry Morris (my grandfather); 5, Omer Lahay; 6, Oscar Tremblay; 7, Ken McFadden ;8, Charles Mulligan (my great great uncle); 9, Herb Merrick and 10, Robert McEwen.

 Chapleau Junior 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.

The CHS team of 1956.A highlight of the year for the Chapleau High School team of 1956 was a trip to Terrace Bay. Back row from left: David McMillan, Doug Sleivert, Stan Barty,Thane Crozier, Clarence Fiaschetti (teacher and coach), George Lemon (principal) Second row: Doug Espaniel, Roger Mizuguchi, Bill Cachagee . Front are Jim Hong, Bert Lemon, Harry Pellow, Ken Schroeder, Robbie Pellow (Mascot) Marc Boulard, Harry Hong, Jim Machan, Ron Morris. Note that Clarence played Junior and Intermediate hockey in Chapleau  and was also first CHS student to return as teacher.

GO CANADA GO at the Olympics while Justin is being Justin

MJM photo by Michael Pelzer

By Michael J Morris

My hunch is that most Canadians are much more interested right now in the Winter Olympics in Sochi than the biennial conference of the federal Liberals in Montreal, but I just can't resist mixing metaphors.

In 1967, when Dr. Jacques Goutor, who was one of my favourite History professors, arrived in Canada from France, the headlines in the first newspapers he saw were LEAFS WIN STANLEY CUP.  At the time Dr. Goutor had no idea who the Leafs were or what the Stanley Cup was, but when he found out, he told his wife this must be a pretty safe country if the top story was about a sporting event.

Dr. Goutor had been raised in France during World War II.

Judging by the frenzy on Facebook and Twitter where it seemed like everyone had become a sports commentator as Canadian athletes increased their medal count at the Winter Olympics, Dr. Goutor's point, albeit about hockey at the time, includes other sports too. Whatever may divide us politically disappears for the moment at least as the Olympic games gives us a common cause as  we  cheer on our athletes.

Too bad our politics has become so divisive.

Let's go to Montreal for a moment where the federal Liberals, for the past year led by Justin Trudeau, are putting on their face for the 2015 election.

Just before the convention, an IpsosReid/CTV News poll showed that 54% of Canadians shared Mr. Trudeau's values, up eight points over an earlier poll, centred around "innovative and forward thinking". 

Interestingly perhaps, the poll also shows that support has increased most in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Alberta and Ontario. The Prairie provinces in recent years have been pretty solidly Conservative, and of course still may be, but maybe, just maybe, folks there are tired of the same old, same old.

Having attended Mr. Trudeau's no frills meet and greet in Cranbrook last summer as he toured British Columbia in a motor home, it was obvious a new political style was emerging in Canada. I was impressed to be honest, and I have never been a card carrying liberal.

Jane Taber, writing in The Globe and Mail as the Liberal convention opened noted that the Liberal 2015 election campaign focus will be "all about Justin Trudeau".

Will  Justin being Justin work?  Too soon to tell methinks.

But, for the moment Canadians are preoccupied with our athletes at the Winter Olympics, and it is refreshing to follow the Likes, comments, tweets and retweets and cheers as we join together in our support of them. Dr. Goutor had it right but more sports are now included, and we do live in a great country. GO CANADA GO! My email is mj.morris@live.ca

This post also appears in the Cranbrook Guardian at http://livablecranbrook.blogspot.com

John Theriault asks 'Is this an alligator?' after 35 pound Northern Pike landed at Alcorn Lake near Chapleau

With warmer weather hopefully in sight, it seemed like a good time for a fishing story.

John Theriault kindly sent me a copy of 'Trespassing in God's Country' by his father George, who arrived in Chapleau in 1954 and founded Theriault Air Service. He had also served in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Mr. Theriault now in his 94th year lives in Sault Ste. Marie.

Here is the story:
 
BY GEORGE THERIAULT from his book 'Trespassing in God's Country'
During our first year in Chapleau, I met Mr Ralph Stedman from Flint , Michigan. We had the pleasure of taking care of him and his son Larry for many years. He was such a naturally amicable man that within a year or two our business relationship turned into a long standing friendship between our families. 

In the fall of 1956 my five year old son, John, and I accompanied Mr. Stedman and his son Larry to our little tent camp on the north end of Nemegosenda Lake. I didn't have any boats at the site, so for safety we tied two canoes together--a 17 foot square stern with a 9.9 hp motor and a smaller 16 foot canoe, loaded with our gear. We motored down the river to Alcorn Lake and spent the better part of the day still fishing for walleye.

Once we had our fill of catching walleye in the holes along the shore,we decided to troll down the center of the lake. I was using a red and white daredevil in hope of tempting a northern pike to hit my line. Most northern pike are found in shallow water near weed beds where they feed on smaller fish. Ralph and Larry were using casting reels whereas I was using an Alcock spinning reel with about 300 yards of 6 pound test line. It wasn't monofilament line: it was actually made of silk like the thread used on parachutes.


All of a sudden I felt my line tighten, as if I had hooked into a huge log. Ralph immediately saw my line go down and told his son Larry, who was running the motor to turn around because he thought my line was snagged. There was no reverse on motors back then , so Larry turned the boat around and I held the rod up. We motored back up the river about a 100 feet. The line was still out another 200 feet. At this time I began to entertain doubts about this snag. Larry pushed the motor a little faster until we were a 100 feet from where the line was hugging the bottom. Only then did I coinfirm my suspicions that this had to be fish. Whatever was on the line took it on a run for another couple of 100 feet.

We had to wait 10 minutes to get a glimpse of the fish. As soon as it surfaced, I knew it was a northern. It barely stayed on the surface for a few seconds before it dove to the bottom, pulling at least 50 yards of line.Then it sulked and pulled and held the 6 pounds of drag. We sat in this suspended state for several minutes. I knew if I expected to land this fish , I had to make the next move.


I asked Larry to paddle the canoe so that I could put side drag on the line. The northern made a dash and we followed, running the motor slowly enough to keep the pressure on. After a few minutes of this chasing game, the fish stopped, turned 90 degrees and took off a little faster. By now we were in the middle of Alcorn Lake, at a depth of 30 feet and the fish still on the bottom. The pressure was so intense that I could only imagine that I had hooked a 15 pound northern by the tail.


It seemed we had been trailing this fish for an hour, but when I looked at my watch, it had only been about 20 minutes. My hands were sore and tired, but I wasn't about to give up until I had gotten a good look at my opponent. Finally the fish eased up and I could reel in some of the line. This time I got it within 30 feet of the boat. 


From our vantage point, we could see a huge northern. It looked like it was about 5 feet long. I knew my line couldn't handle much more pressure and I figured if this fish decided to take another dive to the bottom it was going to take all my line with it. I began to feel satisfied just to have seen this monster.


Just about the time I was giving up all hope of landing it, the line slackened. I quickly used the opportunity to reel in. My last ditch efforts to get the fish close to the boat paid off. Fortunately the fish seemed to have given up all its will power. By the time I got it within a foot of the boat, there was no fight left in this brute. Larry leaned over the boat and got his hand on the gills. 

With a litle help from  Ralph, he managed to hoist the fish into the small canoe.

My young son John took one very nervous look at the fish and said "Is that an alligator Mr. Stedman ?" His fear of the fish soon subsided and curiousity took over. He climbed over to the other canoe, examined it and decided it was the biggest fish or alligator he had ever seen. It was a huge one. The fish turned out to be a 35 pound northern--the biggest one I ever caught. We had the fish officially weighed and measured and the Stedmans took it home to have it mounted.