Priceless hockey moments in Chapleau provided by Charlie Purich

Knowing that I would be in Florida when my Chapleau Moments deadline approached, I decided to do hockey and contacted Charlie Purich for some hockey memories.

I also have heard from Jennifer Harvey-Cyr telling me about the recent Chapleau Atom champions, so as hockey season gets underway, I wanted to encourage everyone to go to the arena and show support. 

Having coached Midget and Intermediate hockey in Chapleau, I know the great feeling when there were big crowds on hand, and also disappointment when we had to play in a largely empty arena.

When Charlie played hockey in Chapleau, he was known as "the catalyst" of the Chapleau High School hockey team in the 1960s when Dr Karl A Hackstetter was the school's principal.

Charlie went on to play at Laurentian University, and has been playing ever since. And, he continues to be interested in Chapleau. Here are some of his memories. I have made some comments in  brackets.

Charlie circa 1964

"Defeating Terrace Bay on their ice to win the North Shore trophy in the second game of a two,game total goal series. Tied 9-9 in Chapleau. Won next game  9-8 after being down 8-4 on their ice, with 12 minutes to play."

"The many games vs Wawa. Fans loved the action. At times, brutal games so good skating trumped the nastiness. Playing in Wawa could be intimidating."
Junior B Reunion
"A particular game in Blind River where Eddy Bignucolo stopped 54,shots. I think it was a tie. I was playing for Laurentian and drove over to join the team. (Eddy's brothers Albert and Ernest (Sonny) were also great Chapleau golatenders. Sonny was killed while on active service in Canada's armed forces and his friends donated a trophy in his memory. It was played for at winter carnivals).

 "As a kid, watching the Huskies skate onto the ice during the Winter Carnival.Recall one time when a bagpiper led the team around the rink in the pre game. Earle Freeborn led the players. A vision locked in my head - every young hockey player couldn't wait to play for the Intermediate club." (I am older than Charlie and I too recall the thrill of watching the Intermediates skate onto the ice going back to just after World War II in the old old rink.



The late Garth 'Tee' Chambers was my hockey hero and still is).



 "Leading 3-2 in a game in town. I had the puck and was skating down the ice and turned to skate back to,our end.Method in my madness was to kill time. Buddy later asked me what ta hell I was doing. Earle (Freeborn) and I laugh about that to this day." (Buddy of course is the late Keith J 'Buddy' Swanson, hockey coach extraordinaire who with Lorne Riley and Tom Welch founded the Chapleau Junior 'B' Huskies)

Junior/Intermediat Reunion 2001

"A scene in the Sudbury Arena one weekend. Looked up into the stands to see Earle and Buddy sitting there.. Big thrill just to see them. (Charlie was playing for Laurentian)

And this one: "Being so proud to have played hockey in my hometown of Chapleau-Priceless!"

My sincere thanks to Charlie for taking time to provide some memories and to Jennifer for contacting me. I hope all will support minor hockey. Charlie I am sure speaks for all of us who played and/or were involved in hockey  --- PRICELESS!!!  Maybe time for a reunion!

Note: I didn't have all the names for the reunion photos so hope you know them all... That happens when I am travelling and forget to get names. I will add them when I get home/

My email is mj.morris@live.ca

Remembrance Day in Chapleau 'fittingly and solemnly' observed in 1950 but sacrifices made for freedom remembered every day

Remembrance Day was "fittingly and solemnly" observed by veterans of World War I and World War II, as well as citizens of Chapleau in 1950, according to the Chapleau Post.

The newspaper reported that attendance at the service in the Town Hall, followed by the laying of wreaths and poppies at the cenotaph, which at the time was located beside it, was the largest in many years. It also marked the largest attendance by veterans on record.

World War I and World War II veterans paraded from the Royal Canadian Legion Hall to the Town Hall. The auditorium was filled to capacity for the service conducted by Rev. H.W. Strapp, Minister at Trinity United Church and Rev. E. Roy Haddon, Rector of St. John's Anglican Church,.

Rev E Roy Haddon

Mr. Haddon, who had served in the British Army in World War II was the padre to Branch Number 5 (Ontario) of the Royal Canadian Legion.

In his remarks, Mr. Haddon said that although one day a year is set aside for Remembrance Day, "the sacrifices made for freedom will always be remembered every day."

He added that the principles for which so many gave their lives in both wars to ensure "freedom of speech and worship were not bought cheaply and that should be remembered each time we look at the cenotaph the memorial to those who bought freedom for us."

(In our book, The Chapleau Boys Go To War, Michael McMullen and I note that in World War I from 1914 to 1918, there were 283 volunteers with a Chapleau connection -- 282 men and one woman. We also record that 32 Chapleau boys died in World War I.  In World War II, from 1939 to 1945, our research identified 416 who enlisted, with a Chapleau connection  -- at least 30 were women. There were 29 Chapleau boys, either killed in action or died due to war-related causes.)

Given the size of the community, Chapleau made a significant contribution to the country's armed forces in both wars.

Following the service in the Town Hall, everyone moved outside to the cenotaph for the laying of wreaths and poppies. Each veteran paid tribute their fallen comrades by placing a poppy and saluting in front of the cenotaph.

In the afternoon, the veterans gathered privately in the Legion Hall and later in the day a banquet was held. Once again, Mr. Haddon and Mr. Strapp were speakers, and were joined by Reeve B.W. 'Bubs' Zufelt, of the Township of Chapleau.

Reeve B. W. Zufelt

At the time the Legion Hall was still officially owned by the municipality, but working with Mr. Zufelt, by 1955, ownership was transferred to Branch Number 5. For his efforts, Mr. Zufelt was honoured with a Life Membership in the Legion.

In 1950. D.T. 'Toddy' Collinson, a veteran of World War I, was president of Branch Number 5. His father, George Collinson, a veteran of World War I, was a charter member of the branch. 

Mrs. Agnes Freeborn, was president of the Ladies Auxiliary. Her husband, Earle Freeborn. served in World War I, and was also a reeve of Chapleau.

The cenotaph was moved in 1978 from beside the Town Hall to beside the Legion Hall

From 'For the Fallen' by Laurence Binyon

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."  

Thanks to Doug Greig for the Chapleau Post. My email is mj.morris@live.ca

John Tavella always 'on the mark' with super performances from 'great hockey player and friend'

John Tavella gave a "super performance" in two games as the Chapleau Intermediate 'A' Huskies opened their fourth season in the Northland Intermediate Hockey League, playing in the new Mrs. A.W. Moore Arena in the Chapleau Recreation Centre. John gave many of those performances in his hockey career.

John, a 1976 draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League , had set an Ontario Hockey League record for most points by a rookie in the 1975-76 season while playing for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds with 64 goals and 67 assists. His record was broken by an up and coming hockey star by the name of Wayne Gretzky.

The OHL also named John Rookie of the Year in the 1975-76 season. In 1976 he was also drafted by the Edmonton Oilers, then of the World Hockey Association. In the 1974-75 season, John played for the Windsor Spitfites then of the Southern Ontario Junior Hockey League.

From Wawa, where he played minor hockey, after being drafted by the Canadiens, he chose not to join one of the club's farm teams, and returned home, and married the love of his life Debbie.

That's where he was in the 1977-78 season  when the Huskies needed to strengthen their lineup. Doug Prusky had succeeded me as coach, and I was the manager. Michael 'Pat' Swanson, another great player, who was also our "chief scout", told us about John.

I phoned him and then drove over to Wawa to meet with John and Debbie. He agreed to join us and played part of the 1977-78 season.

John joined the Huskies full time for the 78-79 season, making the commute from Wawa with his friend John Simon, who had also played for the Sault Greyhounds.

Fast forward to opening weekend for the Huskies as they inaugurated the Moore Arena in the recreation centre which had been officially opened in June 1978.

Playing the first of two exhibition games against the Valley East Crusaders the newest entry in the NIHL, John had the distinction of scoring the first goal in the new arena at 17:10 of the first period, assisted by Pat Swanson.

He notched another goal in the Huskies 6-4 win  and then in the second game added two more in the home team's  5-4 victory.

The Chapleau Sentinel described it as a "super performance".

Just for the history record, veteran referee Jim Hong handled both games, keeping them both under control, and handing out only minor penalties.

I came to know John well over the season, and he often ate at my place, usually with most of the team there for a pre-game meal. Often we would have lasagna, and John, a good boy from an Italian- Canadian family once complimented me on it. I took it as high praise coming from him, and have to admit I have told folks over the years how great my lasagna is -- based on John's comment.

No question that John was a hockey star wherever he played, but more importantly, he was a "star" as a friend to everyone who knew him.

After learning that John had died at age 59 in Wawa, on October 21, I posted the news on Facebook. Let me share some of the comments about John as hockey player and friend, all from Chapleau people who knew him:

"Great hockey player and friend"; Great hockey player and wonderful man and father"; "Outstanding hockey player and family friend";  "Awesome hockey player with friendly and outgoing personality",  "Great sports person on and off  the ice. Gentleman hockey player.."and so it went with over 50 comments when last I looked. 

Mark Dillon, a pretty good player in his own right in Chapleau minor hockey  in the 1980s was in touch: "It was sure exciting to watch John play for the Chapleau Huskies".

Mark also shared the following anecdote in which John shot the puck "on the mark". LOL

"One moment I clearly remember was during a warmup. He stayed on the ice for  a bit messing around with a puck and you stood at the door nearest the home dressing room looking at him as if to come off the ice and he let a little slapper go towards you from the other blue line and you had to dodge the puck as his shot was on the mark and passed through the open door. Great times growing up in Chapleau."

One of my former students from Chapleau High School once told  me "I did hockey". That's true to a great extent as I reflect on it all these past couple of days. And, I'm so glad I did, having had the privilege of meeting players, and making friends with people like John Tavella during those years. 

I extend my most sincere sympathy to Debbie and John's family and all his friends. May  he rest in peace. My email is mj.morris@live.ca