CAPREOL HOCKEY HISTORY
The story of hockey in Capreol, Ontario dates back to the beginning of the town, when it became a railway divisional point for the Canadian Northern Railway in 1915. Games were played on the Vermillion River before the arena was built in 1929. The first train, operated by a crew from town, left Sudbury in July 1915 and traveled west to Foleyet, which was the end of the line at that time. The coming of WW I hurried its completion so that troops and supplies could get through. By the end of the year the west line was in operation and a station and roundhouse with eight pits were built. In 1919 Capreol advertised the sale of new lots in the northern part of the townsite. Choice land in the railway community was offered for immediate purchase, with a special exemption of the first year's taxes for the purchase. The station was enlarged and the roundhouse expanded to fifteen pits, later to twenty pits in 1929. On August 2, 2008, Capreol was inducted into the Canadian Railway Hall of Fame.
Capreol’s first enclosed skating and curling club was formally opened on Friday, Jan.25, 1929 on the north side of the eastbound track. The club had separate entrances, skating and hockey at the west end, curling at the east end. When the day’s activities came to a close, the lights were turned off and doors locked. Occasionally several of the local lads, who knew where the keys were hidden, would sneak in for some after hours skating. The curling club was preferred for the night’s entertainment over the skating rink because of its superior ice surface. In September of 1944 the rink and curling club burned down and the same year volunteer’s built a new Capreol Curling Club on the same location. An outdoor skating rink was built on Ferguson Avenue, which had lights for night time skating and a small shack to put on skates. There were numerous skating surfaces on frozen ponds and back yard rinks. A favourite recreation spot for children was Ormsby Creek. It flowed under Dennie Street and pooled in behind Ormsby Ave, at times up to 3 feet deep. The creek then coursed under the downtown area and emptied into the river. From 1944-50, the only hockey rink was on the Vermillion River in front of the Brankley - Miles homes on Lakeshore St. The Capreol Memorial Community Center opened in 1950 and the center’s Ice Number 2 opened in 1975, which included a new hall and ice surface. The two rinks were joined by the lobby.
You can view this photo of the 1944 Arena fire and many more depicting Capreol's past at the Capreol Heritage Centre (old fire hall) NORMHC Photo from the Aldege Pitre collection.
Over the years, Capreol Minor Hockey has developed from its ranks fourteen professional hockey players; Joffre Desilets, Pete, John and Danny Horeck, Gregg Coulson, Doug Mohns, Ginnero (Jim) Farelli, Terry Crisp, Doug Paul, Floyd Thomson, Ron Hindson, Jim Mayer, Fred Boimistruck and Gary Coupal. Capreol had several dominant teams in the early years like the CNRA’s, Dukes, Millionaires, Royals, Combines, Mohawks, Flyers, Rebels and Red Wings.
Capreol Hockey Railroaders
Fred “Broomstick” Boimistruck worked on various CNR track gangs out of Capreol,Ont. during the summer months of the late 1970's and is currently a locomotive engineer for Via Rail in Hornepayne, Ontario. In the summer of 1982, following his first season with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Fred worked the Foleyet East Section. "I remember running the highway in the evenings after work. The year before I brought a set of weights up to the boarding cars, while in the old backtrack at Westree. I used to run the bush roads towards Shining Tree trying to stay ahead of the black flies. I quit CN each August and headed to Streetsville to play summer hockey, getting ready for the training camps." In Fred's rookie year with the 1980-81 Cornwall Royals, he established himself as one of the top offensive defensemen in the QMJHL. The Royals won the Memorial Cup that year and in his second year Boimistruck scored 22 goals and 70 points, as the Royals dominated the QMJHL regular season, defeating the Kitchener Rangers in the Memorial Cup finals. Fred played 83 games over the next two seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He had one year of junior eligibility remaining, but joined the Leafs, who had selected him in the 3rd round of the 1980 NHL Entry Draft.
Jim “Patrick” Mayer worked for the Canadian National Railway as a locomotive engineer out of Capreol, Ont. for 25 years. Jim starred with the Chelmsford Canadiens of the NOJHA in 1971, where he was named Rookie of the Year and selected to the 1st All Star Team. Jim played the next 4 seasons with the Michigan Tech University Huskies of the WCHA. In 1974 Jim was drafted in the 20th round by the New York Rangers of the NHL and started his pro career with the WHA's Calgary Cowboys in 1976-77. The next year he played 51 games for the New England Whalers and started the 1978-79 season with the Edmonton Oilers before moving to the CHL's Dallas Black Hawks. That year Mayer was chosen to the league's second all-star team, following a 33 goal season and also established a CHL record, scoring 6 goals in a game on February 23, 1979 against Tulsa. Jim was reclaimed by the Rangers in the 1979-80 Expansion Draft when the Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets and Hartford Whalers joined the NHL and played his only four NHL games that season. He spent the rest of the season with the New Haven Nighthawks of the AHL, scoring 32 goals and 35 assists. Jim was a member of the "Team Capreol" Championship Winning Team in a Railway Workers Hockey Tournament held in Capreol in 1991.
Floyd “White Pine” Thomson worked 3 summers for CNR in Northern Ontario. In the summer of 1970 Floyd dug trenches along the track to accommodate cables for the Centralized Traffic Control. “When I was 15 years old I worked on the track gangs in Felix, on the Ruel Sub., with Section Foremen Virgil and Val Pagliaroli.” Born in Capreol, Ont., Thomson played his amateur hockey in the Northern Ontario Hockey Association with the Garson Native Sons. In 1971-72, Captain Floyd led the Denver Spurs to the League and WHL championships. Thompson spent the next five years as a playmaker and penalty killer for the NHL’s St. Louis Blues, especially effective in the corners and the slot. He played 411 NHL games with St. Louis, scoring a total of 153 points. In 1979 Floyd led the Salt Lake Golden Eagles in scoring with 41 goals and 40 assists. He captained the team for three years winning two CHL Championships, one in 1979-80 and again in 1980-81. Floyd was given the Iron Man Award by the Central Hockey League in 1978 for total effort, endurance and commitment and on June 10, 2005 he was inducted into the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame.
Gregg "Collie" Coulson was hired as a fireman by CNR in 1941 following his retirement from hockey. When it became known steam engines would be replaced by the more powerful diesel engines, Gregg trained for his engineer’s license and received it in 1946, retiring from CNR in 1976 after 35 years service. A longtime resident of Capreol, Coulson was rookie of the year with the Barrie Colts of the OHA-B and played on their championship team in 1934-35 when they defeated the St. Michael's College Buzzers 3 games to 1 to win the Sutherland Cup. During the 1935-36 season Gregg played defense for the Pittsburgh Yellowjackets and Baltimore Orioles of the Eastern Amateur Hockey League. A couple of Gregg’s teammates with the Yellowjackets were future Hall of Famer’s Gordie Drillon and goalie Frank “Mr. Zero” Brimsek. From 1936 to 1939 Gregg played with Coniston H/C of the NBHL and Collingwood Shipbuilders of the OHA-I. Wearing jersey number 14, Coulson played 47 games with the 1939-40 Syracuse Stars of the International American Hockey League and in 1940-41 played with the Buffalo Bisons of the AHL. Gregg moved to Capreol in 1940 and was reinstated as an amateur in January 1941. Gregg Coulson was inducted into the Allandale Hockey Hall of Fame.
Doug “The Diesel” Mohns worked for the CNR in Capreol, Ont. during the summer months in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He started out working in the Express Office with Doug Lefebvre and the Miles brothers, and finished up working in the Round House as a machinist helper. “I remember having to carry a heavy grease gun around on the big diesel engines and it was hot as hell. I suspect that had something to do with my ending up on the ice.” Doug was one of only a handful of players who made the leap from junior hockey to the NHL, where he played 1,484 games, including playoffs, from 1953 to 1975. While with the Barrie Flyers of the SOHA he won the Memorial Cup in 1950-1951 and scored 6 goals and 12 assists in 10 games, leading the Flyers to their 1952-53 Memorial Cup win. Early in 1954, Coach Lynn Patrick of the Boston Bruins had nominated the 19 year old Doug Mohns as the NHL’s fastest skater, and a poll of opposing goaltenders would probably have placed the rookie forward among the league’s hardest shots. One of the first goalies to sample a Mohns special was Terry Sawchuk of Detroit on the Red Wings first visit to Boston in the 1953-54 season. After a game in which he had been forced into a spectacular split to block a Mohns shot from mid-ice, Sawchuk exclaimed, “Where did he ever get that shot? If I hadn’t been watching him closely he would have beaten me from the middle of the rink.” In January of 1957 Dewitt "TEX" Coulter joined Hockey Blueline magazine as art director. Often referred to as the Norman Rockwell for Canadian sports, Tex would also paint portraits of major NHL stars. Doug Mohns was featured on the cover of Hockey Blueline for the February 1957 and November 1961 issues. "Yes I remember Tex Coulter calling me at our hotel in Montreal", recalled Doug. "It was mid-morning and we were scheduled to play the Canadiens that evening. He wanted to know if he could draw a picture of me while I was putting on my uniform down at the Montreal Forum. He said he could make the arrangements, pick me up at the hotel and take me back when we were through. I told him it would be an honor to have him paint a picture of me. Everything went well and I was back in the hotel within a couple of hours. Tex sent me the picture and I was very pleased with how it came out." Doug Mohns was inducted into the Sudbury Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
Growing up in Capreol, on many winter evenings you could find The Horeck Brothers on the Vermillion River ice. Peter Horeck was determined at the age of 17 to become a professional hockey player. Equipped with a new pair of skates, received from a local train conductor, Peter hitched a ride on a CNR freight train travelling to Parry Sound. Upon arrival, he was met by Bill Peachy, General Manager of the Parry Sound Shamrocks, who offered him lodging and kept him under his wing. Peter "Pistol Pete" Horeck enjoyed a 426 game NHL hockey career over 8 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins. On January 23, 1947, Pete Horeck scored four goals against his former Chicago teammates as the Detroit Red Wings crushed the Black Hawks 8 to 2, in a National Hockey League game before 11,705 fans. Horeck, who came to the Red Wings six weeks earlier in a trade with Chicago, scored twice in each of the last two periods as Detroit equalled its highest single game scoring of the season. Horeck also assisted on a first period goal by Roy Conacher for five scoring points. After retiring from the NHL in 1952, Pete returned to Northern Ontario and played senior hockey for 5 seasons with the Soo Michigan Indians and Sudbury Wolves of the NOHA. He also operated Pete Horeck Enterprises, an advertising and fundraising company in Northern Ontario. Pete’s most serious hockey injury of his career was in 1975 when he suffered a broken leg in an old timer’s game. Pete had 7 brothers, 2 who also went on to play professional hockey. John Horeck played in the American Hockey League with the Buffalo Bisons, Cleveland Barons and the St. Louis Flyers in the 1940’s and was coach of the 1960 Allan Cup winning Chatham Maroons of the Senior Ontario Hockey Association. Danny Horeck was a member of the Windsor Ryancretes of the International Hockey League from 1948-1950. Danny joined Jim Farelli and his brother Pete with the 1952-53 Soo Michigan Indians and during the 1956-57 season Danny played with the Chicago Blades of the Illinois Ice Hockey League.
Peter “Pistol Pete” Horeck John Horeck Danny “Rusty” Horeck
1929 Capreol CNRA Hockey Team
Neil Young, Bill Park, Waley Crow, Leo Desilets, goalie Deuford Carl Saddler, Gord Jackson, George Allan, Bill Michaud, Roland Desilets, Joffre Desilets. Winners of the Capreol Town League, Vermillion League and M.B. Murphy Trophy. Photo courtesy of the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum & Heritage Centre.
The new arena of the Capreol C.N.R. Athletic Association with facilities for skating and curling was formally opened on Friday, January 25, 1929. A varied program was arranged by the local committee working under the direction of M.B. Murphy, superintendent at Capreol. The rink had a playing surface of 180 by 80. In the morning the rink was thrown open for general inspection while several curling matches were contested. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon a parade was formed at the Y.M.C.A. and headed by the Capreol brass band, marched to the arena where a hockey game was played between North Bay and Capreol. The puck was faced by W.T. Moodie, Gen. Supt. C.N.R Northern Ontario district and the winning team was to be awarded the Murphy Trophy which had been presented by Supt. Murphy of Capreol. After the game a banquet was held in the Y.M.C.A. The evening program called for two hockey games, the first a juvenile match between Depot Harbor and South-Parry Sound and the second, a senior tilt between Capreol and Toronto C.N.R.A.
To see more on Capreol CNRA hockey check out the 1929 Capreol CNRA page.
1930 Capreol (Norman) Kids Hockey Team
Back Row; Hart Young, Louis Orser, Ron Bills, Clifford Ranger, George Hamilton, Bill Orser. Front Row; Matt Nisbet, Delbourne Briscoe, Earl Harvey, Cecil Dennie, Paddy Coulson, Mascot Billie Harvey.
1935 Capreol High School Boys Hockey Team
Back L to R; Richard Veenis, Stanley Conron, Billy Elliott, Wilfred Lepki, Allan Knapp, Billy Napier, Harold Mohns, Jack Scott, Ivan Lalonde. Front L to R; Donald Mills, Balfour Thomas, Jack Virtue, Mr. Wallace, Stanley Napier, Donald McCann.
Lineup - Goal, Jack Virtue; L Defense, Haughton Robinson, R Defense, Stan Napier; Centre, Harold Mohns; L Wing, Balfour Thomas; R Wing, Bill Napier; Subs, Don Mills, Roy Robinson, Dick Veenis, Ivan Lalonde, Allan Knapp, Wilfred Lepki, Don McCann, Jim Dempsey, John Horek, Murray Chisholm.
Hockey is the major activity at C.H.S. No other sport rivals in interest this true Canadian sport. Our High School is proud of the fact that nearly all of the players which compose the following teams in the town; Bantams, Tigers, Fire Eaters, Cubs, Midgets and Nickel Belt Senior B, are made up from fellows attending C.H.S., and we might also state that Jack Scott is now playing for the Sudbury Wolves. Capreol Town Hockey League is now in full swing and is comprised of the following teams; Norman, Hanmer, Senior B, Nationals, Fire Eaters. C.H.S. Team is getting better organized now and although many of our fellows play on other teams, we are nevertheless able to put a snappy team into action. The league with Sudbury and the neighbouring high schools has been delayed in starting, but when it gets underway we shall enter a team which should write its name on the hockey map.
1935 Capreol High School Girls Hockey Team
Back L to R; Margaret McLean, Helen Nepitt, Doris Boyd, Enid Studer, Mary Wychara. Front L to R; Mildred Deavy, Emma Nepitt, Mr. Wallace, Dulci Studer, Florence Lajambe.
The girls hockey team was organized in 1930 and since that time have only lost one game, which is an exceptional record. Team play, fast skating, keenness of mind, and fair play are the mottos of our star girls. Dressed in Their snappy black, red and white uniforms, they carried all before them, winning victory after victory. The girls hockey club shall retain happy memories of the interesting trips to Parry Sound, Sudbury, Copper Cliff and Foleyet. A great deal of the success of the girls hockey club goes to Mr. Neil Young, ex-sports promoter of Capreol Arena, J.E. Kennedy, manager and coach, Mr. Durant, Mr. Charlie O'Leary, and the most loyal supporters Jim Scott and Mr. Harvey Bradley. Much appreciation and thanks is tendered to the C.N.R. for their kindness in giving sport passes to the girls for their enjoyable trips.
1935 team hockey photos from the first Capreol High School yearbook – Northern Monarch
Capreol High School Girls Hockey Team circa 1935
L to R; Enid Studer, Mary Wychara (Del Papa), ? , ? , Mildred Deavy, ?
Trying to identify these 3 girls from the CHS team. They would have been born about 1920.
12 year old Ron Sweezey in his backyard, behind the Capreol Fire Hall, photo taken March 22, 1945.
Back L; Rev. Clinton A. Brittain, Stuart Shane, George Hoag, Jim Miles, Dave Shane, Ken Gustafson and Mr. Clark. Front L; Terry White, Doug Mohns (NHL), Joe Close, Ron Sweezey and Lorne Adams. The Capreol Royals formed in 1946 and the team took on all comers. Not present when photo was taken were Doug Fraser, Bob Mazzuca, Jim Farelli and Stan Martin. Jim was at Scollard Hall and Stan was in Montreal, players returned to play for team during 1947 Christmas season. The games were played at the hockey rink on the Vermilion River in front of the Brankley - Miles homes on Lakeshore St.
The following two seasons Doug Mohns and Terry White played for a Sudbury juvenile team and shared the MVP award just prior to Doug's move to Barrie. Boston Bruins chief scout Hal Cotton spied Mohns during the winter of 49'-50', when he was playing for the Sudbury Bruins. "I had a good night when Mr. Cotton saw me," said Mohns, "I scored two goals and we won 3-1. He asked me if I'd like to come to Barrie and I said I sure would."
Nickel Belt Hockey League - November 30, 1950
1950 Capreol Combines
Back L; Jack Lee, Harold (Chun) Campbell, Jim Gray, Bill Ouellet, Stan Martin, Wilfred Lepki. Front L; Harry Kibsey, Ron Sweezey, Fred Moir, George Hoag, Eddie Hanzel , John Lambovitch, Jack Boudreau.
1951-52 Capreol Wolves
Back left; coach Stan Martin, Elie Martel, Joey Hanzel, Jerry Scollard, Ross Fines, Jack Barrand, Buddy Walsh, trainer Doug Fraser. Front left; Lyall Shane (broken arm), Doug White, Jim Holmes, Neil Gleason, goalie Bruce Miles, Aime Charbonneau, Bill Nasi, Pentti Hiironen, stick boy Bob Perkins. Photo by Leo TRUSZ
At the time of the photo the Capreol Wolves were leading the Nickel Belt Juvenile Hockey League, chalking up three wins and a tie. The following year the team moved up to Intermediate and named the Capreol Flyers. "These two teams brought back many pleasant memories of playing for Capreol, especially the Flyers of which I had the privilege and honor of being team captain. Always a CAPREOL FLYER.....Buddy Walsh."
1952-53 Capreol Flyers Bruce Miles League Leading Goaltender
1952-53 Capreol Flyers
The Capreol Flyers finished the season in first place, beat Espanola and North Bay in the playoffs, then lost to Sault Ste. Marie in the Northern Ontario finals.
Capreol Flyers Defeat North Bay 7 - 3. March 14, 1953
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North Bay - Mar.20,1953 – Bigger, heavier, faster, the Capreol Flyers outmatched North Bay Collegiate with an 11-5 triumph that gave them the total-goal series 18-8. The Capreol huskies, one of the biggest juve clubs to show here in some time, are a swift, free wheeling bunch who have yet to suffer their first defeat this season. Three of the Capreol youngsters have been tagged by Toronto Maple Leaf scout Bob Davidson and are expected to graduate into the Marlboro organization next campaign. Bill Nasi and Cliff Hanzel led the Capreol attack with two goals, but the visitors did a good job of splitting their goal scoring spoils evenly. Lawrence “Buddy” Walsh, Doug White, Ron Holmberg, Joe Hanzel, Bill Mills, Lyall Shane and Penti Hiironen each potted singles for the Flyers. Some 75 Capreol fans journeyed down to lend some vocal support to their hometown kids. The Flyers, whose coach Stan Martin figures will be right in the thick of the scrap for the NOHA title, now tangle with Sault Ste. Marie in the next playoff round. It was a rousing game despite the score with players of both teams skating their legs off from start to finish.
The lineup;
Capreol – goal, Miles; defence, Charbonneau, Dean, Hiironen, Scagnetti; forwards, Nasi, Paquette, Mills, J. Hanzel, Walsh, Holmberg, C. Hanzel, Shane, White.
North Bay – goal, Parr; defence, Mantha, McParland, Babcock; forwards, Christie, Barnhardt, Charette, Royston, Young, Hammell, Percival, Kerr, Reynolds.
Referees – Bud MacDonald and Tom Mitchell
1952-53 Capreol Wolves
Back L; coach Jack Boudreau, Tom Wilson, Tony Bevilacqua, Stan Finson, Jim Wood, Albert Richardson, coach Nels Marquis. Middle L; Sandy McLean, Jack Stewart, Robert "Butch" McKinley, Jack Higgins, Ken Stanzel. Front L; Marcello "Mooch" Delgreco, Gary Kwasnitza, Jim Stanzel.
Photo by Leo TRUSZ
Jr. B team's hockey sweaters and socks were hand-me-downs from the previous season Capreol Wolves following their move up a division to Intermediate. Players names courtesy of Jack Stewart.
1953-54 Capreol Nickel Belt Champs
Back L; Robert Krystia, Robert Mersereau, Hank Dunsby, Danny Prevost, Jim Cushman. Front L; Terry Crisp (3 time Stanley Cup champ), Grant Dunsby, Terry Prescott, Doug Paul, Romeo Auger. Photo courtesy of Stu Thomas.
Bob McLeish, Jerry R. Girard, Bruce Paul, Randy Storey, Dave Del Papa, Stu Thomas, Eddie Maloney, Ron Hindson, Richard Cucksey, Mike Callaghan, ?, Jerry Dunn(?).
Photo courtesy Liane McLeish-Jokinen, Players names from Stu Thomas
The Capreol PeeWee hockey club finished in first place in their division, which consisted of teams from Levack, Garson & Falconbridge. In the local finals of the Nickel District Playground Hockey Series Capreol met Sudbury's Kingsway PeeWee team. The first game ended in a 1-1 tie. Capreol won the second game 5-2 in front of their fans at the Capreol Memorial Community Centre. Robert McLeish, Stewart Thomas, Ronald Hindson, Richard Cucksey and Mike Callaghan each scored one goal for Capreol.
Capreol advanced to the Northern Ontario Playground Hockey Association semi-finals at the West Ferris Arena in North Bay. Representing the Nickel District, Capreol defeated North Bay 3-2. Richard Cucksey scored 2 goals and Randell Storey potted the winner. North Bay took a 1 goal lead early in the game, however Richard Cucksey tied it up in the second period on a pass from Robert McLeish. Then came the nicest passing play of the night, as John Johnson picked up a loose puck inside the North Bay blueline. He skated in and passed to Ronald Hindson, who saw Cucksey standing in front of the net alone. He quickly flipped the puck to his teammate, who tipped it in the open net. Sudbury Recreation Director George Kormos presented the Capreol PeeWee team with the Sudbury Daily Star Trophy.
In the Northern Ontario Playground finals in Sudbury on March 19, 1955, Kirkland Lake won the pee wee crown in a thrilling contest that saw Capreol come from behind in a vain attempt to tie the score only to fall short 4-3. Three goals by Jerry Lawless set the stage for the Kirkland win. John Savage scored the other goal and picked up two assists. The Capreol big gun was Stewart Thomas, who was credited with scoring all three goals for his club, two of them coming in the final frame, when his club made a gallant effort to try and tie it up.
The lineup – Capreol – goal, Paul; defence, Callaghan, McLeish, Thomas, Storey; forwards, Cucksey, McPhee, Girard, Maloney, Hindson, Dunn, Thomson, Del Papa, Johnson, Metcalfe.
Kirkland Lake – goal, Plager; defence, Sossessville, Hamilton, Hurd, Burack,; forwards, Yourley, Snell, Antoniazzi, Savage, Donig, Lawless, Sequin, Gervais, Burimsher, Marshall.
1953-54 Capreol Mohawks
Back L; Ray Davies, Joey Hanzel, Jerry Scollard, Lorne Adams, Jim Beatty, Harold Mohns, Stan Martin. Front L; Ray Mohns, Doug Fraser, Norm Giroux, Hank Sbrega, Les Laird, Ron Sweezey, Lyall Shane, Doug White, Terry White.
Mohawks were an Intermediate team competing against district teams including Chelmsford, Tom Armstrong's Garson Native Sons, Red McCarthy's Espanola Eagles, Sudbury Caruso Miners and Sudbury Donovan sponsored by International Hotel, Baby's Garage & Rubic . The Mohawks formed in the fall of 1951 and final year was 1957.
1954-55 Capreol Mohawks
Back L; Bill Cayen, Rudy Mazzuca, John Cleminson, Ross "Red" Hamlin, Rene Lepage, Hap MacKenzie, Jim Stanzel, Terry White, Bob McDonald, Don Chandler, manager Harold Prescott. Front L; Lorne Adams, Bruce Miles, Harry Kibsey, Jim Beatty, Doug Fraser, Doug White, Norm Giroux, Les Laird, coach Stan Martin. Goalies Bruce Miles & Les Laird are wearing Capreol Flyers hockey sweaters.
Capreol Mohawks vs Parry Sound Shamrocks - 1955
A collection of some of the top National and American league hockey players were on hand for a benefit game at Parry Sound. 6 of 11 players joined the Capreol Mohawks, while the other 5 played with the Parry Sound Shamrocks. Playing for the Mohawks were, front row, L to R; Doug Mohns, Boston Bruins; Jim Farelli, Cleveland Barons; Jerry Toppazzini, Chicago Black Hawks; Danny Lewicki, New York Rangers; Cal Gardner, Boston; and Zellio Toppazzini, Providence Reds. Playing for Parry Sound were back row; Tod Sloan, Toronto Maple Leafs; Harry Watson and Gus Mortson, both of Chicago Black Hawks; Don McKenney and Leo Labine, both of Boston Bruins.
Capreol Mohawks won the game 9-7. Two goals by Jim Farelli, a Capreol boy, late in the third period gave the Mohawks the game. Parry Sound had been in front practically all the way. Toppazzini and Lewicki each got 2 goals for the winners, while Gardiner and Rene Lepage completed the scoring.
Parry Sound got some yeoman service out of Tod Sloan, Leo Labine and Don McKenney. Leo got 2 goals while Sloan and McKenney each scored once. George Ryder, Doug Orr and Vince Scott contributed the rest of Parry Sound scoring efforts.
Front Row L to R; Tom Rupert, Ed Gelinas, Bill Haystead, goalie Bruce Paul, Morley Thomson, Don Gibson. Back Row L to R; Silvio Del Papa, Johnny Johnson, Ron Hindson, Stu Thomas, Bob McLeish, Wayne Metcalf, Sandy McPhee, Brian Birney, Dave Del Papa. Goalie Bruce Paul's sweater from Capreol High School team, the Capreol Hi-Flyers.
Photos courtesy Liane Mcleish-Jokinen, Players names from Stu Thomas.
1960-61 Capreol Chiefs
Back L; Butch Desjardin, Joe Hanzel, Garth White, Norm Giroux, Roger Delorme, Ray Campbell, Rudy Mazzuca. Front L; Stu Thomas, Stan Martin, Marcello Delgreco, Don Prescott, Phil Del Papa, Toby Leipula, Bruce Paul. Photo courtesy of Stan Martin.
Front L to R; Doug Christensen (asst. coach), Ray Mohns ( head coach), Gerry Mackie, Richard Christensen, goalie Mervyn Gryschuk, Dave Colasimone, Wayne Metcalfe, Luis Pagliaroli (trainer).
Back L to R; Gerry Charette, Morley Thomson, Joe Gelinas, George Mackie, Jim Cappadocia, Phil Del Papa, John Ethier, Garth White, Butch DesJardins, Tony Bevilacqua, Henry Sbrega (asst. coach). Courtesy of Jim Cappadocia.
1962 Capreol Pee Wee Hockey Team
Back Row Coaches; Nels Marquis, Bruce Miles, Bob McDonald
Back Row Players; Bob McDonald Jr., George Hudson, Randy Prescott, Terry Land.
Middle Row; ?, Terry O’Rourke, Graydon Markland, Neil Marquis, Dave Morris
Front Row; Ricco DiCarlantonio, Brian Lecaplan, Steve Ruchinski. Do you recognize the mystery player in the middle row? Courtesy of Robert "Stibby" Stibler
River Rink on Capreol's Vermillion River circa 1964
Looking to identify 3 kids in the photo. L to R; Patrick Sweezey, ?, ?, Perry Mazzuca, ?, Connie Mazzuca, Marty Sweezey. Photo courtesy Connie Mazzuca
1965-66 Capreol Garson - Falconbridge Combines
C Division All Ontario Champions
Top L to R; Norm Giroux, Mitch "Gumper" Giroux, Barry McCourt, Jim "Huck" O'Rourke, Jim Mayer (NHL, WHA), Tom Lennox, Bob "Cor" Vaillancourt, Dan McCourt (NHL), Ted Blanchard, Jim Beattie
Bottom L to R; Dale McCourt (NHL), Pete Danyluk, Richard "Nutty" Kelly, Bob "Rogue" McAuley, Brian Blanchard. Courtesy of Dan McCourt.
The 3 McCourt brothers, Dale, Barry and Dan, were picked up from Garson when Capreol defeated them in the semi-finals. Capreol went on to win the 1965-66 Northern Ontario championship in Espanola.
Dale McCourt captained the Hamilton Fincups to the Memorial Cup in 1975-76 and won the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy as the Memorial Cup MVP. Dale was the first player chosen in the 1977 amateur draft after scoring 126, 139 and 139 points in successive seasons for the Hamilton/St. Catharines Fincups. Dale played 532 regular season games in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs, scoring 194 goals, 284 assists for 478 points. Following his NHL career Dale played 8 seasons with Ambri-Piotta HC in the Switzerland National League A.
Barry McCourt was selected by the London Knights in the 1972 OHA draft from the Sudbury Midgets and went on to play Jr. A hockey with the London Knights and Chatham Maroons from 1972-74 and the following season with Niagra Falls Canucks. Barry worked as a conductor with the Canadian National Railways starting in July 1976. He spent his entire career with CNR in Hornepayne until his untimely passing in November of 1999. During his time in Hornepayne, Barry continued to play hockey and led the Hornepayne men’s team to many tournament wins. Right up to the time he stopped playing he maintained the ability to get fans out of their seats with his slick moves and an uncanny ability to put the puck in the net. Courtesy of Guy "Ceguy" Ethier.
Dan McCourt played in the SOHL Jr. A from 1972-75 with the Welland Sabres, Windsor Spitfires and Niagra Falls Flyers. Following his hockey career Dan was a linesman in the National Hockey League for 25 years and later the officiating manager for the NHL, being part of the league's official scouting and development department. He also worked with the NOJHL as a senior supervisor of officials. In 2015 Dan was inducted into the Sudbury Sports Hall of Fame joining his brother Dale and uncle George Armstrong, both inducted in previous years.
1963-64 Garson – Falconbridge Native Sons
Front L to R; Bob Del Papa centre, Germain Ruel r.w., Mike Hickey centre, Bob Whidden goal, Trevor Boyce manager, Bob McLellan goal, Stan Thomas def., Frank Hamill r.w., Don Lewis l.w.
Back L to R; Chi-Chi Farenzena coach, Doug Kacarevic r.w., John Michalak l.w., Paul Cymbalski r.w., Tim Morris r.w., Bryan Stewart def., Ben Froese def., Stu Thomas def., Dick Proceviat def., Ron Hindson centre, Risto Laamanen r.w., Dan Ulicny l.w., Roy Bresnahan r.w., Junior Laking centre, Joe Protulipac trainer. Courtesy Stu Thomas
1967–68 Garson Falconbridge Combines
Seated L to R; Carl Piehl, Joe Protulipac (coach), Allan Henry, Bruce Wilson, John Grignon (manager), Denis Goulard, Irwin MacDougall ( asst. manager & trainer).
First Row; Don Turbitt (trainer), Gerry Cummings, Floyd Thomson (NHL), Bob Del Papa, Herman Karp, Denis Chevrier, Richard Poitras, Norm Gratton,.
Second Row; Gregg Morrison, Rolly Deschamps, Brian McKenzie, Bob Tessier, Andre Courtemanche, Larry Richardson. Missing; Tim Morris, George Martel.
The Garson-Falconbridge Native Sons teams of the 1960's were stacked with hockey players from Capreol including Floyd "White Pine" Thompson (NHL), Bob Del Papa, Ron "Rooster" Hindson, brothers Stanley & Stewart Thomas, Ray Thomas (WHA ref.) Norm Gelinas, Tim "Geebo" Morris, Bob McLeish, Garth White, Neil Marquis, Gerry Cummings, Dave Colasimone, & Allan "Howie" Young.
1962-63 Garson-Falconbridge Native Sons - Bob McLeish attempts to clear the puck as North Bay Trapper's Tom Kavanaugh swoops in. Garson goaltender Doug Milne watches as does Ron Hindson (16) in background. Courtesy Liane Mcleish-Jokinen
The Famed Nashville Dixie Flyers' GoGo Line - Ed Hebert, Ron “Rooster” Hindson and Andre Lajeunesse. Photo courtesy of Ed Hebert
Ron “Rooster” Hindson played his entire minor and juvenile hockey in Capreol, Ontario. The Northern Ontario Junior A Hockey League formed in the spring of 1962, in order to halt the move to Southern Ontario of hockey players after they completed their juvenile division hockey careers. Teams included the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Espanola Eagles, North Bay Trappers, Garson-Falconbridge Native Sons, Sudbury Cub Wolves and Sault Michigan Realtors. Ron Hinson played 93 games over 3 seasons with the Garson Native Sons. 1964-65 was Ron’s final season with Garson and his most productive when he had 21 goals, 30 assists and 84 PIM’s in 40 games. Hindson had played junior hockey for 5 years when he got a shot to play International League hockey at Fort Wayne. Ron explained, “I went to camp and they sent me home. Then I worked in the mines in Sudbury for 8 months. When I got a call from the Nashville Dixie Flyers, I jumped at the chance. There was no way I was going to work in the mines for the rest of my life.”
Ron Hindson’s professional hockey career began in 1965-66 when he suited up with the Fort Wayne Komets of the IHL for 8 games. The next 3 seasons, wearing #7 sweater, Ron played for the Nashville Dixie Flyers, winning the EHL Rookie of the Year Award in 1966-67. Hindson was selected to the 1st All Star Team in 1969-70 while playing with the St. Mary’s University Huskies. The following season Ron was the Most Valuable Player of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport National Hockey Championship Tournament. Ron joined the Greensboro Generals of the SHL for the 1971-72 season. In his 4 seasons with the Generals Ron played 240 games and had 160 points. Hindson was selected by the Chicago Cougars in the 1972 WHA General Player Draft. Ron was traded by the Generals in February of 1975 to the Winston-Salem Polar Twins where he remained until the team folded on January 7, 1977. In the 1981-82 season, Ron Hindson played with the Winston-Salem Thunderbirds of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League.
Ice Shaver saves rink from five o’clock shadow
CAPREOL Jan.1968 – The Capreol Community Arena has received a mechanical ice shaver from the Womens Auxiliary to the Arena Board. Mrs. Rita Hawrelluk, wife of Mike Hawrelluk, brakeman and president of the W.A. (second from left) presents the ice shaver to Don Nelson, financial secretary of the Board and manager of National Steel’s Moose Mountain Mine here. Looking on is the executive of the W.A. Left to right: Mrs. Bev. Smart, wife of Jim Smart, brakeman; Mrs. Lil Vaillancourt, wife of Edgar Vaillancourt, conductor; Mrs. Rita Lennox, wife of Ralph Lennox, locomotive engineer; and Mrs. Carol Constantin, wife of Ray Constantin, office assistant.
Nelson said: “We are most happy to receive this piece of equipment. It means that we will be able to have more ice time, and more ice time means more productive time for the Arena and more community participation in Arena activities. Because of the Auxiliary’s efforts,” he said, “It has not been necessary for us to approach Town Council for financial assistance and that makes Auxiliary members VIP’s in Capreol. The W.A. has also made a sizeable donation towards the new artificial ice plant. Bev. Smart, treasurer of the W.A. says their membership now stands at 82 which numbers should be substantially increased before they start on their next project.
(The attachment would go on the back of a Ford tractor for the purpose of cleaning and flooding the ice. It was an ordinary farm tractor with hydraulics to lift and lower the new ice resurfacer. - Mooch Delgreco)
1969-70 Capreol Red Wings Hockey Team
Northern Ontario Intermediate "C" Hockey Champions. Courtesy Jim Cappadocia.
1969-70 Chelmsford Canadiens - Jr. A
Front L; Gaston Laforge (goalie), Dave Carisse, Rene Proulx, Dave Fortier (NHL), Keith Winn, Neil Marquis, Richard Bona (goalie).
2nd row L; Mike Poirier, Doug Marion, Dan Coulter, Gary Neven, Claude Lequerre, Jim Hanson, Pete ? (owner).
3rd row L; Dan O'Connor (coach), Mr. Land (owner), Mike Violette, John Duchene, Bob McDonald, Leo Bertuzzi (head coach).
Back L; Dr. Huneault, Don Brankley (trainer), Bob Hiller (manager). Photo courtesy Shelley McDonald Bechamp
In 1969 the Garson-Falconbridge Native Sons of the NOJHA moved to become the Chelmsford Candiens. The league folded in 1972 when Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie joined the OHA. The team moved to Rayside Balfour in 1973. In Chelmsford's 3 seasons in the NOJHA, members from Capreol included Dave "Ca-Ca" Carisse, Neil Marquis, Bob McDonald, Jim Mayer (NHL, WHA), Dennis "Nibs" Crisp, Ricco Dicarlantonio, Bob McCauley, Richard "Nutty" Kelly, Allan "Howie" Young & Don "Branks" Brankley (trainer).
1972-73 Capreol Hawks Midget Champs
Courtesy Jim Cappadocia.
1973-74 Capreol Hotel Colts Bantam - Silver Stick Champs
Back Row, L to R: Tony Dotto, Gerry Morris, Tom Marquis
Middle Row, L to R: Dave Kilgour, Eddie Cappadocia, Dana Matson, Terry Stewart, Maurice Mayhew, Guy Either, Kevin Menard, Tim Morris
Front Row. L to R: Brian Bowness, Kevin Speers, Allan Austin, Mickey
Chandler, Wayne Kennedy, Scott Chandler, Tim Quinn
Courtesy Eddie “Capp” Cappadocia.
1974-75 Capreol Hawks Midgets
L to R; Tom Marquis, Jerry Morris, Lucky Rochon, Tom Anderson, Tim Goulet, Bryan Bowness, Dana Matsen, Doug Way, Guy Belanger, Tony Dotto and Guy Ethier. Missing; Perry Colasimone, Dale McCue, goalie Tim Quinn
1975-1976 Capreol Hotel Colts Bantam – Silver Stick Champs
Back Row L to R: Joe Gelinas (trainer), Doug Currie Sr. (manager), Todd Grenon, Mike
Bevilacqua, Dale McLean, Dan Quellet (coach)
Middle Row L to R: Kevin Menard, Rob Mazzuca, Dean Gelinas, Doug
Currie, Tom Clark, Doug Hawrelluk, Eddie Cappadocia (asst. coach)
Front Row L to R: goalie Nathan Higgins, Ken Burns, Fred Boimstruck (NHL), Steven
Tiller, Ray Kennedy, John Hanzel, goalie Ricky Dubreuil
Courtesy Eddie “Capp” Cappadocia.
1976-77 Capreol Hotel Colts Bantam Champs
Back L; Manager Leo Degagne, goalie Nathan Higgins (injured), Marty Lusk, Danny Dotto, Ross Jordan, David Degagne, Jeff Lingard, Tony Marquis, Brian Barnicott, coach Woody Waddell. Front L; Mike Bevilaqua, Rick Dubreuil, Steve Edens, Rob Mazzuca, Bruce McDougall (from Chelmsford), Fred Boimistruck (NHL).
1977-78 Capreol Hawks Midget Champs
Front row, left to right: #19 Rick Dubreuil, #16 Ray Kennedy, #30 Nathan Higgins, #15 Steve Edens, #35 Don Cariati. Middle row, left to right: Allen Barnicott, #4 Rob Mazzuca, #2 Ken Burns, #17 Dean Gelinas,#12 Todd Grenon, #3 Mike Ryan, #20 Dave Degagne, Dennis Crisp (Coach) Back row, left to right: Bruce Miles (Owner & Manager), Doug Currie Sr., (Assistant Manager), #11 John Hanzel,#22 Marty Lusk, #10 Doug Currie Jr., #18 Fred Boimistruck (NHL), #21 Tony Marquis, Dan Ouellet (Coach). Absent when picture was taken were Jean Marquis (treasurer) and Denise McKinnon (publicity). Photo & names courtesy of Dan “Slim” Ouellet.
Members of the Capreol Hawks midget team came up with no less than five titles during the 1977-78 season. Capreol finished the season in first place with 20 wins, 7 losses and 3 ties. In the playoffs they defeated the Valley East Midgets in 2 games and in the finals beat the Garson Falcons in 5 games. The Hawks won the Region 7 Silver Stick Tournament in Sudbury, Silver Stick Tournament in Sarnia, the Golden Puck Tournament in North Bay and won the NOHA Midget B title in Haileybury, 1st game 5-2 and 2nd game 8-4. “I was in North Bay at the beginning of that year, signed to a juvenile card playing with the North Bay Trappers and Heinz Juveniles. I came home sometime late in the fall - early winter, to play with the Hawks. My head was shaved as part of the initiation ritual with the Trappers”, commented Fred Bomistruck.
1978-79 Capreol Lions Club
Top L to R; Steve Casper, Craig McGilly, Chris McColeman, Mike Young, Tom Clark, Wayne Mohns, Steve Tiller, Randy Amiro, Doug Hawrelluk, Joe Hanzel.
Bottom L to R; John Hanzel, Allan Brownrigg, Mike Brownrigg, Mike McColeman, Tim Fennerty, Mark Edwards. Photo courtesy of John Hanzel.
The Capreol Hawks Jr. A hockey club was formed in 1978 by Marshall Edwards and folded in 1986. The Hawks competed in the NOJHL against the Rayside-Balfour Canadiens, Onaping Falls Huskies, Elliot Lake Vikings, Espanola Screaming Eagles, Nickel Centre Native Sons and Sudbury Cubs. In their 8 seasons, the Capreol Hawks finished the regular season in first place twice and made it to playoff finals three times. Marshall explained, "The reason I had to give up running the Hawks, was due to health problems in 1986."
1980-81 Capreol Hawks Jr. A
Front L to R; goalie Ron Katernyuk, Ray Kennedy, Robin Chuipka, president Marshall Edwards, Dean Gelinas, Doug Currie Jr., goalie Greg Telenko.
Middle L to R: coach Doug Bonhomme, trainer Mark Bell, Scott Woods, Mike Young, Dan Zhiel, Gerry Laforest, Alain Deschamplain, Todd Grenon, Mike Ryan, trainer Garney Freeland, general manager Andy Haritakis, asst. coach Gerry Pawlawski, trainer Santos Paonessa.
Back L to R; Greg Bedard, Ray Plante, Steve Tiller, Rob Gagne, Tim Burns, Shannon Hope. Photo from capreolonline.com
1990 Capreol Hawks Novice Champs
Front L to R; Jamie Kozera, Ricco DiCarlantonio Jr., Russ Cappadocia, Denis DesForges, Jason Provincial, Marc Mayotte, Josh Gordon
Back L to R; Paul Jones, Paul Austin, Richard "Flash" Gordon, Ricco Dicarlantonio, Dale McNabb, Scott Pederson, Al Provincial
The Capreol Hawks were the 1990 Hibernation Tournament Novice Champions played in Blind River, Ont. Photo courtesy of Richard "Flash" Gordon.
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CAPREOL RAIL TALES
Five minutes after the Montreal Canadiens train pulled out of Chicago on the night of March 24, 1938, it stopped in the yards. Paul Drouin, goalie Wilf Cude and Capreol's Joffre Desilets walked into the smoking room of the Habitants special car, mopping perspiring brows with soggy handkerchiefs. “Well fellows, we missed the train” announced Cude, “What train?” asked a chorus of voices. “This train,” replied Cude. His statement seemed odd as the 3 players were very much among those present. He explained, “We thought we had more time than we did and stopped in the station to get our pictures taken. You know those 10 cent tintypes done in a minute. While we were there the passenger agent saw us and nearly dropped dead. He told us the train had gone. Then we looked down the tracks and saw two tiny red lights disappearing out of the sheds. He told us to run for it and he’d have the train stopped. So we set out in pursuit. We dodged the odd yard engine and tripped over a couple of switches, but we made it.”
Reverend H.W. Davies, United Church minister in Hornepayne, Ont., denied he demanded the cancellation of a hockey game and curling match on Sunday February 13, 1955. A report said the activities were cancelled after legal action was threatened under the Lord's Day Alliance Act and a town policeman went to the arena. The game was between the Capreol Juveniles and Hornepayne Panthers. The Capreol coach, Elie Martel, said his team made the 600-mile round train trip at great expense. Reverend Davies said he understood five persons protested the game being played on a Sunday, but he was not one of them and he did not know the names of the persons who protested.
Initially the ice at the Capreol Memorial Community Centre was natural and the windows along the side of the building were opened to allow cold air in to facilitate freezing. The first hockey game was a disaster. Either Garson or Falconbridge played Capreol and the place was full of cheering fans. It was a cold night and all the windows were closed. The roof was steel and the moisture from the crowd condensed on the steel before falling like rain from the wood beams to create ridges on the ice surface. Soon after, insulation was added to the steel to prevent this from occurring again. - courtesy of Donald L. Judd
Joffre Desilets, Capreol recruit to the Canadiens, scored 3 goals when the Whites tied the Reds five-all at Sudbury's Stanley Stadium on Oct.29, 1937. Joffre's line mates for the game were Toe Blake and Pit Lepine. The Montreal Canadiens, of the NHL, were opening a pre-season exhibition tour. Proceeds of the game were for Christmas welfare work by the Sudbury Lions Club.
At that time the Capreol High School had two extra-curricular activities, hockey and Commencement. The town was fortunate in possessing an enclosed wooden rink on the site of the present curling rink and we played regularly against three Sudbury schools. There was no attempt to sort players into classes, each school fielded the best team it could. Small as we were we had no difficulty in holding our own against Sudbury High and Tech, but so far as I can recall, we never defeated Copper Cliff which was the recognized cock of the walk. The burning of the old rink and war-time restrictions on transportation finally forced us to drop out. I remember taking a team to Sudbury in a howling blizzard to play one of the Sudbury schools on an open-air rink in Queen's Athletic Park, - Sudbury had no enclosed rink then. The wind blew and the snow flew. Every few minutes play had to be stopped because no one could find the puck. One of the amusements of the game was watching rival players tear a snowbank to pieces on the rink surface, each determined to be the first to find a puck which, as a matter of fact, was in another snowbank. At intermission everyone piled in and shovelled loose snow into the teeth of the gale which blew it back and distributed it more or less evenly over the surface of the rink. As soon as part, any part, of the ice surface had been brought up to view play was resumed. I am told that hockey to-day is not like that, but it was good fun for all, and on the return trip in the bus the male chorus was splendid. I didn't think they had it in them. Excerpt from Recollections of Capreol High School by principal L.A. Gilbert.
On February 1, 1950, a new $47,000 Memorial Community Arena was opened in Capreol as Ontario Mines Minister Welland S. Gemmell cut the ribbon and declared the new structure officially completed. The building was dedicated to the memory of those who served in both World Wars. Among the guest speakers who took part in the program was W.J. Hotrum, general superintendent of the CNR's district headquarters in North Bay, who played a major role in promoting the financial campaign for the new building during his term as CNR superintendent at Capreol. Mr. Hotrum reviewed the early stages of the plan to construct the new arena and told how they were carried out by an organizing committee. The arena, replacing a combined curling and skating rink destroyed by fire in 1944, is the result of years of effort by a group of Capreol citizens who conceived the plan of a new community arena. A highlight of the opening ceremonies was a figure skating show organized by the Copper Cliff Skating Club. The ice show was followed by a hockey game where Falconbridge defeated Copper Cliff 6-1. In an earlier hockey game on the new ice surface, Sudbury CNR edged Capreol Canadian Legion 5-4. The first puck was faced-off by W.J. Hotrum of North Bay.
Capreol Lion’s Hockey-Rama, June 21, 1975 - If this small town of 4,000 people, 20 miles northeast of Sudbury, had a Hockey Hall of Fame, Joffre Desilets of Renfrew would surely be inducted. Saturday was a memorable occasion for Joffre, now 60. The town of Capreol held a day of festivities to honour homebrews who have played, or continue to play professional or junior hockey, Joffre is one of these homebrews. He joined such other Capreol and area natives as Doug Mohns, Floyd Thomson, Gary Sabourin, Frank St. Marseille, Terry Crisp and Leo Desilets. They opened the new $700,000 Capreol Community Centre. Capreol native, Jim Farelli, former coach of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, was master of ceremonies at the banquet. Joffre played in the NHL with Montreal and Chicago. He played with the Canadiens from 1935 to 1938 and then was traded to Chicago where he played the next two seasons. Later he played with the Cleveland Barons and was player-coach with the San Diego Skyhawks of the Pacific Coast Hockey League. He was the first Capreol native to enter the ranks of professional hockey. Joffre moved to Renfrew in the 1940’s. Saturday’s occasion was called Capreol Lion’s Hockey-rama ’75. All the Capreol natives joined in a parade throughout the town before returning to the arena for the official opening. After the official opening, the players and the general public moved inside for refreshments and autographs.
Capreol's “Four Horsemen” On February 10, 1934, they came into the Toronto Star offices like a morning breeze, their cheeks rosy from the cold outside, their eyes alight with the fires of youthful desire. Four fresh voices spoke almost in unison as they stepped to the first desk in their path and asked where they could find “Ace” Bailey. All the way from the frozen wastes of Northern Ontario, near Capreol, they had come to Toronto for nights game and to see the favourite athlete of Andrew Horeck, who appeared to be leader of the midget gang. “Where kin we find Ace Bailey?” Andrew led the crackling chorus. “We're in from Capreol.” All four talked rapidly at the same time. For a moment or two they answered questions fired at them from several quarters. It seemed Andrew and brother, Russell, are Capreol's budding wizards of finance. For weeks they had planned this trip to hockey in the big time. The Horeck boys arranged a raffle and secured $36, which went into the general travelling fund. Jimmy Johnson and Jimmy Dempsey secured train passes for the 276 mile jump through proper channels. The boys tired quickly under questioning. They liked the sports pictures on the walls and they listened eagerly to stories of athletic prowess. They wanted to know about Bailey. It seemed Ace had done some fishing in the waters near Capreol with Andrew some months ago. It is to renew this friendship and to see the big leaguers in action that “Capreol's four horsemen” galloped into Toronto. One small bag was all the extra equipment they carried. It wasn't easy to get their story. After a few minutes of questioning Andrew. the leader (he looked about 14) waved an impatient arm. “Come on”, he ordered. “Lets go, these guys ask too many questions”.
Local residents were eagerly anticipating the impending railway championship final hockey game of the Canadian National Recreation League, which was to take place in Capreol's new arena on Saturday March 16, 1929. The Ottawa CNR hockey team would face off with Montreal CNR, champions of Quebec. The winners would be crowned champions of the CNR Central Division and have their pictures in the Canadian National magazine. In the play-downs to settle the system of hockey championship of the CNR, one of those contests took place in Ottawa on March 9th, the local CNR team defeated the Toronto representatives 2-1 at Minto Rink. On March11th, at the Forum, Montreal defeated Quebec City 5-1 to determine the representative from that province. The Montreal CNR team was composed of players who had been playing in the Montreal Railway-Telephone loop and who got to the runner up berth in that league. The Quebec CNR team had reached the final in the Quebec City Railway-Paper League. Under the command of the genial “Cap” Bertrand, hockey manager and captain of the red caps at Ottawa's Union Station, the Ottawa team left March16th morning at 1:40 am on the Continental Limited in a special sleeper. A number of supporters accompanied the team.
The new arena of the Capreol C.N.R. Athletic Association with facilities for skating and curling was built by CNR employees and formally opened on January 25, 1929. Considerable interest was centered in the game and many fans from Southern and Eastern points were expected. Every endeavour was made to save the ice so that the teams would be provided with a hard surface. It was felt that a final playoff there would draw a big gate and help Capreolites pay for their arena.
Born and raised in Capreol, Ont., Ginnero "Jim" Farelli, completed grade 10 at Capreol High School. Jim had limited opportunities to play organized hockey in Capreol as a result of the town’s arena burned down when he was 13 years old. Jim transferred to North Bay's Scollard Hall, graduating in 1949. Upon returning home from North Bay during the Christmas holidays, Jim donned his Capreol Royals gear and played games on the Vermillion River. Farelli was a versatile athlete who excelled in multiple sports. He played football and hockey for the Scollard Hall Bears, and achieved remarkable feats on the school's track and field senior team. In a 1949 meet, Jim tied a record that stood for 15 years by running the 100-yard dash in 10.2 seconds. Additionally, he led sprinters in the 220-yard race and was outstanding in the shot put, achieving a toss of 44 feet 3 inches. After graduating from Scollard Hall Jim gained experience playing 2 seasons with the Fort William Canadiens of the Thunder Bay Junior Hockey League. During the 1951-52 season, Farelli played for the Kitchener-Waterloo Greenshirts of the OHA and the following season with the Sault Ste. Marie Indians of the NOHA.
Jim Farelli turned professional in 1954 and played 3 seasons with the Cleveland Barons and Buffalo Bisons of the AHL. Afterwards he signed with the Pembroke Senior Lumber Kings, but eventually returned to Northern Ontario, where he concluded his playing career in Sault Ste. Marie playing 4 seasons with the Greyhounds and Thunderbirds.
In the early 1970s, the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHA, asked Jim to lead their team from behind the bench. On his Greyhounds roster was his son Cary Farelli. The younger Farelli was the top scorer on the team with 125 points in the 1973-74 season. On June 21,1975 Capreol opened their new $700,000 Capreol Community Centre. The town held a day of festivities to honour homebrews who have played, or continue to play professional or junior hockey. Jim Farelli was master of ceremonies at the banquet.
Farelli coached 430 regular season games with the Pembroke Lumber Kings from 1982–1989, the most of any coach in Lumber Kings history. Additionally, he secured 83 playoff victories and his team participated in the Centennial Cup playdowns six times, ultimately hosting the national championship in the spring of 1988.
Remembering Doug Mohns
Hon. Mike Quigley of Illinois In The House of Representatives
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Mr. QUIGLEY. Mr. Speaker, this month the city of Chicago lost a hockey legend, Doug Mohns. Doug was a member of the Chicago Blackhawks from 1964 to 1971, where he played left wing on one of the greatest lines in NHL history—the ‘‘Scooter Line’’—with Kenny Wharram and Stan Mikita. Doug was a stalwart player in the NHL at a time when there were only six franchises. Rivalries were intense, no one wore helmets and players were intimately acquainted with the strengths and weaknesses of every opponent they faced. Mohns earned the nickname ‘‘Dougie the Diesel’’ because his piston-like legs dug into the ice and propelled him like a locomotive. He enjoyed his best season with the Blackhawks in 1967, when he tallied 25 goals and 35 assists in just 61 games. His impact on the ice was instrumental to the Blackhawks’ first ever regular season title. Mohns went on to have four 20-goal seasons with the Blackhawks. Mohns’ durability and versatility as a skater contributed to his remarkable longevity. During a span of 22 seasons in the NHL, he played in 1,390 games and seven all-star games, while amassing 248 goals and 462 assists. I join the city of Chicago in remembering one of the greatest hockey players to ever step on the ice, Doug ‘‘Dougie the Diesel’’ Mohns
Barrie Flyers preparing to board train for the 1950-51 Memorial Cup Playdowns
Doug Mohns played 139 games with the Barrie Flyers of the JOHA, scoring 86 goals and 89 assists. Doug won Memorial Cups with the Flyers in the '50-51 & '52-53 season. The 1950-51 Barrie Flyers provided the NHL with 6 players; Jim Morrison, Real Chevrefils, Don Cherry, Leo LaBine, Copper Cliff's Jerry Toppazzini and Capreol's Doug Mohns.
Most of those who saw Doug Mohns at Barrie promptly stamped him potential major league material. Boston Bruins scout Harold Cotton, for two years termed him "the best forward prospect in our system."
Leo LaBine, a shrewd young fellow, also retains a strong early impression of his two-time teammate, saying, "The first time I saw him at Barrie I thought he could play Junior A instead of Junior B. Why it was nothing for him to score three or four goals a game in that B league. He was nearly as big and just as fast as he is now.
"The spring when he came up for the Memorial Cup playoffs, I remember, he won a game for us, the first we played in Toronto against Jean Beliveau's Citadels. Doug didn't play regularly, but Hap Emms put him out there on a line with Don Emms and Topper with the score tied, 2 to 2. He blew in one of his bullets from 40 feet to break the tie and we eventually won, 6 to 3."
Old Betsy and The Stanley Cup
On April 1, 2018, Capreol's 1920's Godfredson Bickle water pumper ushered Lord Stanley to the Capreol Memorial Community Center for the towns 100th anniversary celebrations. Special guests on board "Old Betsy" included NHL hockey legend Floyd "White Pine" Thomson and his son Trevor, Mike Bolt and Mario Della-Savia (Keepers of the Cup from HHOF) and Lieutenant Brian Yenson of Station 18 Capreol was at the helm. More than 1,500 people dropped by to celebrate Capreol's incorporation as a town and view the NHL hardware on display. Alongside an exhibition of Capreol's illustrious hockey history was the Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe, Vezina and Hart Trophies. The days activities were organized by the Capreol 100 committee and Red Hatters.
Bringing the Stanley Cup to Capreol to celebrate their 100th anniversary was the brainchild of former London Knights trainer Don Brankley. Don volunteered to take the lead and explore whether he could leverage any of his previous connections to bring the project to fruition. Don’s unexpected passing in June 2017 dealt a significant blow to both the community and the Capreol 100 group. Nevertheless, the committee remained steadfast, driven by the desire to see the project through in his honour. "This is really special," said Sharon Brazeau, Brankley's sister. "Don would be so thrilled that this is happening. It's really great seeing this all come together."
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