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)