Randy Carroll, Michael Tremblay score winning goals as Chapleau Midget Huskies in great team effort win NOHA championship in 1979

Names at bottom

The Chapleau Midget Huskies went all out to defeat Blind River for the Northern Ontario Hockey Association Midget "C" championship winning the best of three series in two thrilling straight games in 1979.

And as there was no Midget "C" category in southern Ontario, it gave the team bragging rights as the all-Ontario champions.

Playing on Easter weekend, it didn't look good for the Huskies in the first game as they fell behind Blind River 4-0 early in the first period, but David Freeborn followed by Yves Gervais put them on the scoreboard.

The Chapleau Sentinel account of the games kindly provided to me by team member Dan Tebbutt, relates that in the second period "hot goaltending" by Shane Gillham making "key saves" kept the Huskies in the game and the second period ended with them behind 5-3.

A determined effort in the third led to the game ending in a 6-6 tie with John Bernier and Geoffrey Hong both scoring.The story leaves out who scored two goals but I am sure one of the players will remind me as I am still in touch with several of them. I was at the games but my memory is not as good as it once was.

In the first overtime period despite "thrilling action at both ends as both teams tried desperately to end the game" they remained deadlocked.

At the 11:36 mark of the sudden death overtime, Randy Carroll notched the winner.

In the second game, the Huskies took the lead in the first period on a goal by Gary Chambers but Blind River tied it up shortly thereafter. In the second their opponents took the lead, but David Freeborn got the equalizer.

In the first two periods the game was "free wheeling with great chances by both teams."

However, disaster seemed to strike in the third period as the Huskies had fallen behind by three goals.

But this team was no quitter. Trust me on this one as I was standing right behind the bench, and was as excited as I have ever been at a hockey game. What happened next counts among my great Chapleau hockey moments.

John Bernier scored to begin the comeback and nine minutes later Yves Gervais narrowed the margin to one goal. Shane Gillham was making outstanding saves but time was running out on the Huskies.

With 48 seconds remaining in regulation time Randy Carroll scored assisted by Tim Morin and John Bernier, and the Huskies remained alive to play overtime.

For 18 minutes, the play was marked by end to end rushes and great performances by both goaltenders.

Then with two minutes remaining "big Michael Tremblay intercepted a clearing pass and scored an unassisted goal." The Huskies won 6-5, and were the NOHA champions.

The Chapleau team had defeated Matheson, Smooth Rock Falls and Englehart to reach the finals. Randy Carroll was mentioned as the "big man" scoring the winner in first game and tying goal in second, but great credit also went to goaltender Shane Gillham. Tim Bernier and John Bernier each collected nine points.

Coaches Jamie Doyle and Mike Tangie had done an incredible job. Jamie had been working in Chapleau when the season started, but was transferred to Sudbury so travelled for games, while Mike was a constant steady hand. Jamie was also playing for the Chapleau Intermediate "A" Huskies.

My sincere thanks to Dan Tebbutt for taking the time to get me information on the series.

Just recently, Dan sent me the following:

""I play hockey with Greg White. He's from the Soo and played for the Rapids in the 60's (in the international Junior 'B' Hockey League) and has shared some stories of playing the Huskies. He recently told me,'Whenever we had a game in Chapleau, we needed three lines. One on the ice, one on the bench and one down in the dressing room thawing out on the steam radiators!' Boy did that bring back some memories. That arena could be awfully cold in the dead of winter."

Happy Easter to all. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

THE TEAM


Chapleau Midget "C" NOHA  Champions 1979. Back row from left: Martin Healey, Shane Gillham, Tim Morin, John Bernier, Robert Serre, Dan Tebbutt, Michael Tremblay, Paul Legros, Geoffrey Hong, Michael Payette, Mike Tangie. Front from left: Marc Trottier, David Freeborn, Yves Gervais, Lorne Riley, Randy Carroll, Gary Chambers, Shawn Russell. Absent coach Jamie Doyle