SUBSCRIBE TO "THE GREAT LAKES RACONTEUR" & GIFT IT ->

Durham Yellowjackets Hockey Team Were a Force to be Reckoned With

The Durham Yellowjackets hockey team was a force to be reckoned with in Ontario Intermediate hockey during the 1930s.

subscribe free or become a member

The Great Lakes Raconteur

There has been a long tradition of great hockey teams and players throughout Grey and Bruce counties.

In 1936 the town of Durham's Yellowjacket hockey team was second to none. In that year they lost only one game and won the O.H.A. Intermediate "B" title. Durham's opposition during the regular season included teams from Harriston, Palmerston, Arthur, Milverton and the Olympics from Owen Sound. En route to their outstanding regular season, the Durham squad had little trouble with their opposition. The scores of the games quite often resembled those attributed to a football match. In one game, they obliterated Palmerston 29-3.

The only team that gave the Yellowjackets any trouble was the Owen Sound Olympics. Still Durham emerged from their regular schedule with 6-5 and 5-3 victories. When the playoffs began, fans from both communities were looking forward to a great final series. However, this event never occurred. Palmerston, perhaps seeking some form of revenge from the 29-3 pasting given them by Durham, defeated Owen Sound.

In the league finals, Palmerston's hope of avenging that terrible loss was quickly dashed as Durham swept them in two straight games. In the first round of the O.H.A. playoffs, the Yellowjackets' opposition was the Owen Sound Rangers, the champions of the City League. Durham won both games of the series.

The still undefeated Durham Yellowjackets hockey team now faced the Clinton Colts in what would be a suspense filled series. The first game in Durham ended in a 1-1 tie. Similarly, the second game in Clinton ended in a draw. This time the score was 2-2. The third, and final game was played in Galt and the Durham team unleashed their vaunted scoring machine to win 6-2.

Durham's next opposition was the also undefeated Acton Tanners. In the first game, Acton stunned Durham, handing them their first loss of the season by winning 7-2. Down by five goals in the series, the Yellowjackets returned home to regroup for game two on their home ice.

Led by Norm Dean, who would later play for the Owen Sound Trappers, Durham began an all-out assault on the Acton net from the opening face-off. A swift-skating winger, Dean fired five goals in a 7-1 victory by the Yellowjackets. This outburst of scoring enabled Durham to win the series by nine goals to eight. After this stunning turn of events, the O.H.A. finals against Whitby were almost anti-climactic.

Perhaps the victory over Acton had dulled Durham's edge as they were forced to a 3-2 overtime victory in the first game. However, they emerged for the second game firing on all cylinders, the Durham Yellowjackets swarmed over their opposition to record a 6-3 victory to win the O.H.A. title.

All successful teams need a good goaltender, a solid defense and forwards who can skate, score goals and back check in their own end of the ice. The Durham Yellowjackets hockey team was no exception to this rule. Jack Schutz was the regular goalie and his back-up was Ernie McDonald who, according to some fans of that era, could have played first-string on many other teams.

The defense corps was deep in experience, and consisted of Erben "Dutch" Schultz, Len Trushinski of Walkerton, Clarence McGirr, and Ken Wilson. Joe Raybould of Walkerton centred the first line of Norm Dean and Hugh Cassidy. The second line consisted of Gordon Rennie, Irving Elvidge and Fred Moses. Ray McGirr and Norm Tucker provided the bench strength which is important to every good team.

The coach was Dr. Royden Burnett. the assistant coach was “Harry” Lauder.

Lauder was no stranger to winning teams. His experience as the captain of the 1927 Owen Sound Greys, when they won the national junior hockey title was probably of great value to the Yellowjackets in their march to the 1936 0.H.A. Intermediate "B" Championship.

The 1937 season once again saw the Durham Yellowjackets hockey team dominate their opposition. However, in the playoffs they were defeated 7-5 by the St. Michael's College Majors, who were in fact a top-flight junior team.

Today, like so many other Grey and Bruce communities, Durham continues to maintain its strong tradition in the sport of hockey.

A version of "Durham Yellowjackets Hockey Team Were a Force to be Reckoned With," originally appeared in my Local History column in the Owen Sound Sun Times.

Get The Great Lakes Raconteur -->

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Share this page:

What’s this?

Facebook Reddit X

More Great Information Pages
About Owen Sound Hockey History

The 1920s Owen Sound Hockey Stars made there mark in amateur ranks and then many of them went on to careers in the NHL and other professional hockey leagues.

The 1927 Owen Sound Greys with a priest serving as coach named Jack Spratt and not one experienced defenseman were an unlikely Canadian National Hockey Championship team.

Benny Grant: Memorial Cup Champ grew up in Owen Sound and enjoyed a hockey career, which included a surprising turn of events that led to a stint in the NHL.

"Buck" Jones, like most Canadian boys, dreamed of playing in the NHL. Little did he realize that one day he would wear the sweater of an NHL club and would be the idol of youngsters like himself!

The Chin Brothers dominated in their hockey league which drew attention from the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Ralph "Cooney" Weiland skated from a Memorial Cup championship in Owen Sound, to a Stanley Cup in Boston to fame as a U.S. college hockey coach.

The Crescent Club has a long history of sponsoring sports teams and leagues in Owen Sound providing consistent management and financial assistance to athletics.

"Cyclone" Taylor was hockey's first superstar. Born in Tara Ontario, he was involved in a controversy in Ottawa which still has not been resolved.

Doug Brindley: From Maple Draft Choice to a role in Slap Shot: a Memorial Cup champ; coached by Don Cherry; and he played in the WHA; what more could a Walkerton Ontario native ask for in a hockey career?

The Durham Yellowjackets hockey team was a force to be reckoned with in Ontario Intermediate hockey in the 1930s.

Goalie "Red" Henry: An All-Star Netminder: Another great Owen Sound goalie who played for the love of the game.

"Hap" Day was a Hall of Fame hockey player, coach and general manager as well as a life-long Toronto Maple Leaf.

Norm Locking Chicago Black Hawks & Former Owen Sound Grey was known for his hard and deadly shot in Al Capone's Chicago.

Harry Lumley spent his Hall of Fame hockey career tending the nets for four NHL clubs and he spent one period of a hockey game goaltending for a fifth NHL team.

Henry Kelso: Owen Sound Sports Legend not only contributed to the sporting life of his students, he also had a significant influence on the rest of their lives.

Junior Hockey Commentary: Should there be controversy about the use of non-local hockey players? This article was written in 1998 in response to a letter to the editor in the Owen Sound Sun Times.

Meaford Knights Hockey: The 1953-54 Championship Knights' line-up had of several pairs of brothers. Many felt that the brothers made a winning difference.

Newspaper Sports: Owen Sound Hockey History was detailed in the pages of the Owen Sound Sun Times in detail in the days before the radio and television eras.

Owen Sound Hockey's early history some references suggest started in the 1880s. However there are records of organized hockey teams beginning in the early 1900s.

Owen Sound was a Hockey Hotbed in 1950-51: Their fans were hockey crazy during this OHA Senior A Championship season as their star-studded team marched to an Allan Cup victory.

The 1959-60 Owen Sound Greys: A Tough Act to Follow: Tragedy struck this hockey team of young men, yet they persevered.

The 1960s Owen Sound Greys Stars who went on to NHL action including Brian Perry, Doug Brindley, Jim Schoenfeld, and Jack Lynch brought Owen Sound a reputation as a hockey hotbed!

Owen Sound Attack: The arrival of this new OHL team is the latest chapter in the Owen Sound region's rich hockey history.

Owen Sound Goalies: Why does Owen Sound produce so many fine goaltenders? There must be something in the water!

Some Great Owen Sound Greys. The history of this hockey team is a story of players who were not only local boys, but came from many locations to hone their skills.

Owen Sound Hockey Heritage stretches from rural farmhouses on Saturday night to backyard rinks to cheering for local hockey successes and hockey heroes.

Owen Sound Junior Hockey History began almost one hundred and twenty years ago and is rich with championship teams, great players, and dedicated fans.

Owen Sound's New Arena in 1938 opened a new era in Grey and Bruce counties with the first artificial ice making machine in western Ontario north of Kitchener.

Owen Sound Platers: Ray McKelvie the quiet and knowledgeable leader behind the success of the 1999 hockey team.

Pat McReavy enjoyed a long hockey career which brought him three championships, the Stanley Cup, the Allan Cup and a World Hockey Title.

Paul MacDermid, born in Chesley Ontario, through hard work and determination enjoyed a 12 year NHL career, before keeping junior hockey alive in Owen Sound by working with a group citizens to purchase the Attack OHL franchise.

"Red" Armstrong, a fiery spirited hockey player, known more for his fierce checking than his scoring prowess surprised even himself on his first NHL shift.

Red Leckie was more than a good hockey player. He played for the team, not for himself. Outside hockey, he responded when he saw a need in his community.

Southampton hockey history in the early years featured a distinct line of defense in the local arena, and stories of interesting "road" trips.

Tommy Burlington: the Greatest North American Never to Play in the NHL captured scoring titles in every league that he played, bringing comparisons to NHL greats.

Owen Sound Hockey History is rich with stories of championship teams, star hockey players, and community support.