Oshawa Sports Hall of Fame - Team
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 Acrobat Reader)