1946-47 Bridgetown High School Intermediate
Provincial Championship Hockey Team
When you judge a team from an historic perspective, it might be best to try and walk a minute in the memory of what life was like at that time. In 1946 World War II was not long over and the human losses and social upheavals the War had caused were fresh in people’s lives.There was, by and large, no television, so live sports events played a large role as entertainment for everybody. Very few arenas had artificial ice so seasons were shortened on both ends as ice was solely conditional on cold weather. School sports were governed by the Headmasters Association and it was their practice that only one Provincial Champion would be declared in each sport. This placed smaller schools at a distinct disadvantage.
(NOVA SCOTIA INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONS)
FRONT ROW: Don Smith, John Walker, Doug Smith.
MIDDLE ROW: George Marshall, Jim Robinson (Captain), Leo Kaulbach, Jim Gatti, Fred Rice.
BACK ROW: Alan Irvine, Mgr.; Gerald Fash, Asst. Mgr.; Peter Taylor, Ken Crowell, Rhodes Bent, Felix Tobin, Coach; J. R. McIsaac, Principal
MISSING FROM PHOTO: Tom Mack, Ronald Whitman, Lorne Marsman, Ken Robinson
With this background, the 1946 – 47 Bridgetown High School Hockey Team took to the ice and under the coaching of Felix Tobin it soon became apparent that it would take a lot to clip the wings of this exceptional team. Over the ensuing 15 game season, Bridgetown would only lose twice, both losses in exhibition play, both losses by only one goal.
In Valley League play, Bridgetown defeated Annapolis twice by scores of 7 – 1 and 10 – 0 and won out over Middleton with scores of 9 – 2 and 9 – 0. Because Middleton had achieved 2nd place in the league, Bridgetown met them again in the league finals. In a best of three series, Bridgtown was victorious, winning the first two games with identical scores of 6 – 1. This earned Bridgetown the MacCormick Cup and the Harvey Cup.
Next up was the first round of Headmasters playdowns. For the third time, Bridgetown would meet Middleton in a home and home series and defeat them with scores of 8 – 1 and 5 – 1. These wins propelled Bridgetown to the second Headmasters round where they were to meet Windsor Academy. The first game was played in Bridgetown in front of a capacity crowd and Windsor scored first. That would be their last lead. In quick succession, Bridgetown tallied 11 goals and the game ended with a score of 11 – 2. In the face of such a strong opponent, Windsor forfeited the second game and Bridgetown advanced to the Nova Scotia semi-finals where they would face off against New Glasgow in yet another home and home format.
Enjoying home ice advantage and playing once again in front of a capacity crowd, the game was fast and rugged with both goalies showing some excellent netminding. New Glasgow scored first but two quick responses from Bridgetown put them in the lead and ended the scoring for that game. Bridgetown wins 2 – 1.
Early the next morning, both teams awoke and made the trip to New Glasgow, a trip that in 1947 was a full day’s drive. After a short rest the two teams met in the deciding game. Though it was a tight checking match with both goalies again providing standout performances, Bridgetown prevailed and won the game 3 – 0.
With that victory, Bridgetown advanced to the Headmasters final against Bridgewater. Again acting as the first game host it was now late in the season and despite the fact that the ice was soft, the game was fast and rough. Bridgetown conceded the first goal but then tightened down and skated off with a 9 – 1 victory.
The second game was moved to the artificial ice of the Wolfville arena but the ice change could not deter Bridgetown or help Bridgewater. The Bridgtown Team put an exclamation mark on their season with a convincing 9 – 3 victory and thereby claimed the Nova Scotia Headmasters Provincial Championship.
All in all, an amazing season. Fifteen games, thirteen wins, two one goal losses, ninety – nine goals for and only twenty –one goals against. Champions indeed!