1953 – 1954 Bridgetown Hawks Hockey Team
Nova Scotia Intermediate Hockey Champions

This hockey team stands out in the memory of many citizens living in the Annapolis to Lawrencetown area during the 1950’s and 1960’s as probably the most outstanding team ever produced in this area.

The list of players reads like a who’s who of hockey talent during an era when Bridgetown was known as a hotbed of hockey throughout the Province.

The 1953 – 1954 Hawks won the Central Valley League Championship by defeating the Digby Ravens three games
to one in a best of five playoff.

With this series won, Bridgetown advanced to the first stage of the Provincial Playdowns, facing the Bridgewater Fyr-Fyters. Once again Bridgetown won the best of five series by a three games to one margin.

The Hawks were then set to meet the heavily favored Atlantic Naval Command from Halifax. As the Bridgetown Rink did not have artificial ice, the rink was judged to be inadequate for this caliber of play so Bridgetown’s home games were moved to Bridgewater and Lunenburg. In stepped local businessman Jim Moir, who rented the train that ran between Bridgetown and the South Shore. To this day, tales of the trainload of hundreds of fans travelling on the train to Bridgewater to watch their team play are etched in the memories of many, many people. It was a defining moment in the history of Bridgetown as a sporting community.

The support of the combined communities was a great boost as the Bridgetown Hawks defeated the Navy team two games to one to advance to the Provincial Final.

The Provincial Final was a two game, total goal series with Bridgetown facing the Caledonia Hockey Club of Glace Bay. The Hawks won both games, securing the first Intermediate Hockey Championship ever won by any Annapolis Valley Team.

Of this team of players who all lived in the Bridgetown, Lawrencetown, Annapolis area, perhaps Harry Smofsky summarized them best. “If our boys may lack a little polish or finesse, the fans realize that this is more than taken care of by their fight and great will to win!”

Back Row L/R: Gint McKenzie, Don Bent, Wes Sanford, Bob Potts, Bud Miller, Tom Beattie, Norm Fergusson (Player/Coach), John Walker, Jack Walker, Felix Tobin (Manager)

Front Row L/R: Moe Jazey, Mark Leonard, Reg Kelly, Matt Pembleton, Leo Kaulbach, John Durling, Fred Fiske, Gerald “Snookie” Mack (Stick Boy)