Hockey became part of Chapleau community life in its early years with road trip to Sudbury by 1893

SEE BELOW

In the beginning, one of Chapleau's earliest residents, J.Gill built the first ice skating rink shortly after the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885, according to Vince Crichton in 'Pioneering in Northern Ontario'.

However, Vince noted that "it is definitely known from an old minute book of the Chapleau Brass Band that such an enterprise was being operated by J. Gill during the winter of !888-89".

How come this information comes from the band's minute book? Well, apparently Mr. Gill had entered into a contract with the band, which was formed in 1888, to supply music on skating nights at the rink. 

Around this time, Chapleau must have formed its first seven man hockey team because in 1893, it made its first road trip to Sudbury for a game.

 Sudbury Museums web site reports as follows: "Hockey is widely considered to be Sudbury's most popular winter sport.  The first enclosed skating facility in the area, Martin's Rink, was built in 1892 and during that year, a group of men formed teams for the first game of hockey in Sudbury during the  winter carnival.

"The first inter-town hockey game played in Sudbury was on March 13, 1893 against Chapleau.  Sudbury won the match with a score of 2-1."

It also provided insight into how the game was played: "The early hockey games were much different than today's style.  The first games were played by teams of seven with no player substitutions.  Instead of three periods, there were two halves and scoring a goal was called "taking a game".  There were no linesmen  and only one referee, an amateur who knew the basic rules of the game and volunteered for the task.

SEE BELOW

"The first indoor rink was nothing like what we are accustomed to today.  These were unheated, wooden buildings that were numbingly cold in the winter.  There was no artificial ice, which meant that in the spring, the ice would turn to slush, making it almost  impossible to play hockey (although efforts were still made)."  Chapleau was no exception.

  I have been unable to discover the names of players on this team, or a photo but hockey had become part of community life.

Vince tells us that by about 1895 Lombard LaFrance who had arrived in 1885, had built a rink on Lorne Street. Although it was an open air rink it  was enclosed with a high board fence .  Mr. LaFrance may have been a member of the  1893 team that travelled to Sudbury. His son, also Adelard or "Adie" played several games for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League in the 1930s.

Over the years this rink was gradually enclosed and by 1951, it was closed and the Chapleau Memorial Community Arena was officially opened. on the same spot It was replaced by the Chapleau Recreation Centre which included the Mrs. A.W. Moore Arena in 1978.

Back to the early years of hockey. By about 1910, maybe even a bit earlier, there was a very competitive town league which led Robert McEween to donate the McEwen Cup. Mr. McEwen operated a pressing and tailoring shop which he established in 1905.

The first winners of the McEwen Cup, emblematic of local hockey supremacy was in 1911. From a personal view, my grandfather Harry Morris and my great uncle Charles Mulligan played on the team.  Grandpa had arrived in 1910 to work for the CPR as trainman/conductor.

I have included photos of the first winning team of the McEwen Cup, a photo of a town league team on which the famous goaltender Bob Turner played, and fast forwarded to the Chapleau High School team of 1956 when I was a student there and had "retired" as a player and was a referee. 

If any readers can provide more information on Chapleau hockey history, please feel free to contact me. Thanks. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

PHOTO INFORMATION

Robert McEwen donated the McEwen Cup, emblematic of hockey supremacy in Chapleau. 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 uncle); 9, Herb Merrick and 10, Robert McEwen.

In 1919, Bob Turner, a legendary goaltender over the years was playing for a Chapleau team. In back are Clothier (could be different spelling and first name not given), Fred Kelland, Alex McAulay, Frank Boucher, Buster McAdam, Bob Turner, Amon Saylors, Ken Sheppard.  These were the days of seven man hockey and no subs

The CHS team of 1956 is below.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 was playing on the 1949 Junior team, and was also first CHS student to return as teacher.

Chapleau born Ron Schock played impressive 909 games in National Hockey League

Ron Schock, who was born in Chapleau in 1943, but moved with his family to Terrace Bay in 1948 where he started his hockey career played an impressive 909 games in the National Hockey League from 1964 to 1978.

Inducted into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1990, an article on its web site says that in Terrace Bay he developed his "outstanding skills" which saw him go on to enjoy a successful NHL career.

It adds that given there was no junior or juvenile league there while Ron was growing up, "Ron found himself playing in a men's intermediate league at the age of 16 advancing to to the Western Canadian finals."

A Boston scout observed Ron's talents and he moved into the Bruins organization and he was sent to play with  Junior 'A' Niagara Falls Flyers. He also played with the Junior 'A' Kingston Frontenacs, the article said. He had a strong career with the Flyers.

Ron's grandparents were the late Mr. and Mrs. Tom Edwards a Chapleau pioneer family. His sister Norma was in the same grade as me at Chapleau Public School, and it surprised us when they moved in 1948. 

Ron played for several NHL teams starting with the Boston Bruins then on to the St. Louis Blues. While he was there while attending a hockey dinner he was asked what team he would "least" like to be traded to. He replied the New York Rangers or Pittsburgh Penguins. Two days later he was traded to Pittsburgh. Such is the hockey world.

On the web site 'Greatest Hockey Legends.com" Ron told Joe Pelletier, "That is a trade I'll never forget. I had been playing golf with the Blues' owner, Sid Salomon, on a Friday and he had been telling me how well the team seemed to be going and how he was looking forward to having me on the team the next season. The following Monday, I was traded to Pittsburgh!"

Ron Shock is perhaps most famous for his double overtime "Midnight Goal" that won game 7 for the Blues over the Minnesota North Stars on May 3, 1968, and sent the Blues to the Stanley Cup finals in the first year of the NHL expansion. Arguably, this was a major contribution to the early popularity of the St.  Louis Blues franchise, according to Wikipedia.

Ron also noted in his interview with Mr. Pelletier that  like most players who played just prior to the original expansion in 1967, he  took great pride in the fact that he made the NHL in the era of only 6 teams.

"I knew I was lucky to be with the Bruins, let alone being in the NHL. After all, there was only 120 jobs available in the NHL those days. You had to be VERY good to make it. "I think any of us who made it at that time just wanted to be wanted by someone."

He also told Mr. Pelletier: "It was a different time for the player then. This was still the time before using jets was the in thing to do. At that time we still took trains. Because of that I think teams were closer because they spent more time together. I can still remember a lot of the old stories the veterans used to tell".

Although he had said he did not want to be traded to the Penguins, Ron spent eight successful years there which included leading the team as Captain. His best season was in 1974-75 when he earned 86 points.

When he retired Ron had played in 909 games with 166 goals and 351 assists for 517 points.

Ron and Adie Lafrance, Floyd Curry and Jason Ward so far are the only Chapleau born who played in the National Hockey League. My email is mj.morris@live.ca.

Sixty two of 293 'Chapleau boys' who served in World War I enlisted in 'Men of the North' the 227th Battalion

Add caption

Here is Part Two of Michael McMullen's research into the battalion commonly referred to as 'Men of the North'. In it he focuses on the 62 men who enlisted with the 227th Battalion in Chapleau. It was officially the 227th Oveseas Battalion (Sudbury-Manitoulin-Algoma. Recruiting was underway in Chapleau by April 1916 after the commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel LeP. Jones had visited the community. Michael also notes that 293 Chapleau boys enlisted in Canada's armed forces in World War I, a very significant contribution from such a small community. I extend my sincere thanks to Michael for sharing his research as we mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I on November 11, 2018. MJM .. My email is mj.morris@live.ca 

By Michael McMullen

In doing research for the book, The Chapleau Boys Go To War, co-authored by Michael Morris and myself, originally published in 2015, we compiled the names of 283 Chapleau Boys who enlisted in WW1. On-going research has increased this number now to 293. Sixty-two of these enlisted with the 227th Battalion in Chapleau. Based on Library and Archives Canada data, their names, age and employment status at the date of enlistment are: 

Albert, Joseph 20 Painter; Ashtegezick, John 20 Hunter;

Barr, Alex 35 Teamster; Beazer, Frank 28 Ang Missionary;

Bruce, Edward 34 Store Clerk; Chambers, Ennis 20 RR Brakeman;

Chappise, Thomas 19 Trapper; Chum, James 28 Trapper;

Cote, Hector 17 Teamster; Davis, Joseph 38 Trapper;

Davis, Soloman 19 Hunter; Depew, Chauncey 18 Student;

Donnelly, William 19 Clerk; Doust, Joseph 22 Loco Hostler;

Fortier, Joseph 28 Loco Fitter; Fortunato, Giomi 21 Labourer;

Godfrey, James 15 Student; Gutteridge, Thomas 20 Painter;

Hall, Percy 19 Movie Operator; Hartley, Albert 24 Loco Fireman;

Hughes, Samuel 20 Loco Fireman; Hunt, Maurice 32 RR Trainman;

James, George 39 Bricklayer; Jeffries, Charles 27 Trapper;

Johnstone, David 35 Labourer; Kappria, Henry 34 Trapper;

Lavoie, Joseph 21 Lumberman; Leigh, Frank 19 Student;

Lepage, Florian 29 Baker; Linklater, George 22 RR Switchman;

Lozier, Alphonse 23 Lumberman ; McAdam, David 16 Clerk;

McCuaig, James 20 Loco Fireman; McFayden, Ronald 22 Labourer;

McMaster, Henry 18 Painter; McWatch, Robert 18 Trapper;

Meroult, Charles 18 Labourer; Minnesquah, Antoine 26 Hunter;

Morden, Edward 19 Marine Fireman; Morris, Harry 26 RR Conductor;

Moyle, James 30 RR Brakeman; Neeshwahbun, Thomas 38 Hunter;

Osheckinick, John 25 Hunter; Pedanicut, John 26 Hunter;

Perpete, Victor 29 Merchant; Pitts, Frank 40 Accountant;

Redbreast, Jacob 18 Trapper; Ricard, Joseph 18 Trapper;

Samakese, Isaiah 17 Trapper; Samakese, John 32 Trapper;

Saunders, Thomas 17 Trapper; Schroeder, Charles 33 Loco Engineer;

Shawinegabo, Peter 18 Hunter[ Shesheguin, Robert 26 Trapper;

Souliere, David 21 Clerk; Souliere, Walter 29 Trapper;

St. Louis, Cecil 18 Lumberman; Tremblay, Emile 18 Painter;

Wain, Charles 24 Auditor; Wallace, George 30 Loco Fireman;

Wesley, William 18 Painter; Woodard, Bernard 16 Student.

Of these 62, there were seven who died during or soon after the war due to war-related activities or disease/illness suffered during the war: Percy Hall, Charles Meroult, John Pedanicut, Frank Pitts, Jacob Redbreast, Joseph Ricard and Peter Shawinegabo.

Hall, Percy

Private Percy Cameron Hall was born in Boston, Massachusetts on September 28, 1896, and was the son of Walter Davidson Hall of Vancouver, British Columbia. He was a moving picture operator in Chapleau when he enlisted at Chapleau in the Canadian Army, 227th Battalion, on April 30, 1916. He was serving with the Canadian Machine Gun Corps, 1st Battalion, when he died on August 29, 1918 at the age of 21. Private Hall was classified as missing in action and presumed dead, and is commemorated at the Vimy Memorial, Vimy, Pas-de-Calais, France. His name is inscribed on the Chapleau cenotaph located at the Legion Hall, the memorial plaque at St. John’s Anglican Church, Chapleau and on a memorial tablet at the Church of the Ascension Anglican Church, Hamilton, Ontario.

Meroult, Charles

Private Charles Meroult was born in Montreal, Quebec in August, 1898. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Meroult of White River, Ontario. He was living in White River and working as a labourer when he enlisted in the Canadian Army, 227th Battalion at Chapleau on January 9, 1917. He was with the 8th Reserve Battalion when he died on April 23, 1917 at Seaforth Military Hospital in Liverpool, England from cerebral spinal meningitis. He was 18 years old. Private Meroult is buried in the Kirkdale Cemetery, Liverpool, England.

Pedanicut, John

Private John Pedanicut was born on June 24, 1890 in Chapleau, Ontario. He was the son of Joe Meineguess (Memegos) Pedanicut and Mary Pedanicut, of Chapleau, the husband of Sarah Pedanicut and the father of son Austen also of Chapleau. He was living in Chapleau and working as a hunter when he enlisted in the Canadian Army, 227th Battalion at Chapleau on July 7, 1916. He was with the Canadian Forestry Corps when he became seriously ill in late 1917. He was invalided back to Canada from Liverpool, England in late March 1918 and admitted to the Spadina Military Hospital in Toronto in mid-April 1918 at age 28. He died of tuberculosis on June 27, 1918 at the Weston Sanatorium in Toronto. Private Pedanicut is buried in the Chapleau Roman Catholic Cemetery.

Pitts, Frank

Private Frank Pitts was born on May 2, 1876 in Berkshire, England. He was married to Louisa (Moore) Pitts and was the father of Amy (Pitts) Green. He was working as an accountant for the CPR in Chapleau when he enlisted at Chapleau in the Canadian Army, 227th Battalion, on June 17, 1916. Upon arrival in Europe, he became sick and spent much time in hospitals before being invalided to Canada in late 1918. He spent time in Toronto-area hospitals being treated for stomach cancer before being discharged in early 1919. Private Pitts died on March 15, 1922, at the age of 45, and is buried in the Chapleau Protestant Cemetery. His name is inscribed on the memorial plaque at St. John’s Anglican Church, Chapleau.

Redbreast, Jacob

Private Jacob Redbreast was born on January 1, 1898 at Brunswick Post, Ontario. He was living there and working as a trapper when he enlisted at Chapleau on June 29, 1916 in the Canadian Army, 227th Battalion. His mother Susan Redbreast was at Brunswick Post and a sister Harriet and a brother Robert lived in Chapleau. He was serving with the Canadian Forestry Corps, Base Depot, and had just been scheduled to be invalided back to Canada when he died of tuberculosis on August 24, 1918 at age 20. Private Redbreast is buried at Lenham Cemetery, Lenham, Kent, England. His name is inscribed on the Chapleau cenotaph located at the Legion Hall and on a memorial tablet at the Church of the Ascension Anglican Church in Hamilton, Ontario.

Ricard, Joseph Albert

Private Joseph Albert Ricard was born in Moose Factory, Ontario on February 8, 1898 and was the son of Mrs. Caroline Shesheguin of Missanabie, Ontario. He was living in Missanabie working as a trapper when he enlisted in the Canadian Army, 227th Battalion at Chapleau on June 12, 1916. He was with the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles (2nd Central Ontario Regiment) when he died of wounds suffered in action on August 29, 1918. He was 20 years old.Private Ricard is buried at Ligny-St. Flochel British Cemetery near Ligny-St. Flochel, Pas-de-Calais, France.

Shawinegabo, Peter

Private Peter Shawinegabo was born on January 12, 1898 in Biscotasing, Ontario and was the son of Ignace and Josephine Shawinegabo of Chapleau. He was living in Chapleau and working as a hunter when he enlisted in the Canadian Army, 227th Battalion at Chapleau on July 20, 1916. He was with the 227th Battalion when he died on March 26, 1917 at Hamilton from acute pneumonia at age 19. Private Shawinegabo is buried in the old Chapleau Roman Catholic Cemetery.

---