The Oxford Dictionary terms "dynasty" as "a succession--of leaders"
and the world of sports has produced many such groups to be sure.
Fabled names like the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League
and the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball come to mind, but
their legendary accomplishments seem almost trivial when compared to
those of this year's inductee in the Team Category.
Formed in 1946, the team was lacrosse's gypsies for nearly two decades
as they called such Ontario communities as Oakville, Newmarket,
Huntsville and Whitby home before settling in Oshawa in 1963. It was
then, under the leadership and guidance of legendary Hall of Fame
coach Jim Bishop, that their unmatched reign of seven consecutive
Minto Cup triumphs began.
After f"mishing with an innocent looking 17 and 7 record in the 1963
regular season, they went on a 10 and 2 playoff tear that got them
into Minto Cup number one, which resulted in a four games to two
victory over the Victoria Shamrocks. That was the last time, however,
that their regular season record would be referred to as innocent
looking! The next six seasons saw them chalk up records of 20 and 4,
18, 1 and 1, 23 and 1, 23 and 1, 24 and 0, and 22 and 2 for a total of
147 wins, 16 losses and 1 tie between 1963 and 1969. This translates
into a winning percentage of over 90%! Their offensive and defensive
numbers are equally astounding as they scored 3,027 goals over this
period, an average of 18.5 per game, while allowing 1,381, just 8.4
per outing!
Their phenomenal regular season record was, believe it or not,
actually bettered in Ontario Lacrosse Association playoff action, as
they won 77 of 81 post season games, a winning percentage of just
under 95%! For those of you without calculators, their overall record
over this magical seven-year run was 220 wins, 20 losses and 1 tie, a
winning percentage of91.4%!
Oh yes, about those seven Minto Cups! After win number one over the
Shamrocks in 1963 it was on to five straight victories over the New
Westminster Junior Salmon bellies from 1964 - '68, then a final
triumph, a sweep of the Vancouver Legionnaires in 1969. Their overall
record in Minto Cup play was 28 wins against only 10 defeats, and this
versus opposition that included such future Hall of Famers as Ranjit
and Nirmal Dillon of Victoria, Wayne Goss, Al Lewthwaite, Steve
d'Easum and Ken Winzoski of New Westminster, and Dave Tasker of
Vancouver. As amazing as this record is, it becomes even more
impressive when you consider that, as a Junior team, there were
constant roster changes due to graduation, and that three of the seven
national titles were won in the unfriendly confines of New
Westminster's Queen's Park Arena.
Obviously teamwork and dedication were the keys to their success, but
individual accomplishments naturally followed. Goalkeeper Merv
Marshall in 1963, Gaylord Powless in 1964 and '67, and Jim Higgs in
1965, '68, and '69 were all recipients of the Jim McConaghy Medal as
Minto Cup Most Valuable Player. Marshall, Ross Jones and Elmer Tran
are all members of the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame, while Higgs,
Powless, John Davis and Brian Thompson join coach Bishop in the
Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame. In addition, many former players have
gone on to successful coaching careers, this exemplified by the fact
that both this year's Mann and Minto Cup champions were led by team
alumni! Perhaps the most amazing individual record set by a team
member, however, belongs to Don Stinson, who earned seven Minto Cup
rings as a player, a record that will almost certainly never be
broken.
Yes, if domination over a period of time is a criterion of selection
to the Hall of Fame, this team has set the standard to which all
others aspire, but will likely never attain - THE 1963 - 1969 OSHAWA
GREEN GAELS! Roll out the 'green'
carpet - Wally Donaldson article (requires
Adobe
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