Southampton Hockey History: The Early Years

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

the-great-lakes-raconteur-200


subscribe free or become a member

The Great Lakes Raconteur

GET IT! -->

A common phrase used in hockey refers to a player or players as being "a pillar on defense." It is a phrase that had a different connotation for players in the Southampton arena prior to World War One. 

The arena, which was located at the corner of Huron and Palmerston Streets, had four pillars which helped support the roof. These four structures were located right on the ice surface. This meant players had to elude more than the opposition as they skated. 

The idea of the columns impeding the smooth flow of play also conjures an image of a player with the puck using a pillar as a shield from an opposition player. As the defensive player skated one way around the column, the puck carrier skated in the other direction, always keeping his inanimate teammate between him and his foe! 

In 1913, a windstorm tore the roof from the arena. A new arched roof was erected, and the four pillars were removed from the ice surface. 

In the early decades of the 1900s, there were no formal minor hockey leagues in Southampton. Instead there was a sort of unwritten code as to where one learned hockey skills. The tradition involved three steps. The first venture into the world of Southampton hockey took place on the frozen swamp near the present location of G.C. Huston School. 

As the skating and hockey skills progressed, the player next played in shinny games on frozen Fairy Lake. 

On crisp winter evenings the reflection of a fire could be seen in the sky over Southampton. The source of the light was seven or eight bonfires burning on the shores of the frozen lake. The bonfires served not only as a source of heat for the players and fans, but also to illuminate the playing surface to enable the skaters to see the puck. 

The next step in the evolution of the careers of Southampton hockey players was the Town League, which played its games in the arena. There were many different teams, however, there seems to have been four teams which were consistent in the annals of Southampton hockey history. 

The River Rats were a team of local fishermen. Local businessmen iced a team called the Till Pickers. The area located behind the furniture factory, known as Dutch Town, and the region above the tannery, which was known as Little Stratford, also had teams. 

Southampton hockey teams also competed against teams representing other area communities. On game days, horse-drawn sleighs carrying fans and players dotted the Bruce County landscape as they headed to do battle with teams from towns such Chesley, Paisley, Kincardine, and Lion's Head. 

The trip to Lion's Head was a particularly arduous affair. The trek took two days and the horses which pulled the sleighs had to be rested in Wiarton. A new team continued the rest of the journey. 

The most important games involving the Southampton hockey team were against their arch-foes from nearby Port Elgin. 

Stories from those who recall these years of Southampton's hockey history detail that on the morning of the game between these two communities would find many of the citizens of Southampton walking towards Port Elgin. The games were fiercely contested and, when a fight broke out on the ice, the melee often spread to the stands. 

It was not uncommon for fans to jump the boards and enter the battles between players. Nor was it rare to have the players climb over the boards in the opposite direction and join the fights among the fans. 

The team which was victorious in the Bruce County Hockey League was awarded the Charlie M. Bowman Trophy. Bowman owned the tannery which was located on Clarendon Street in Southampton. 

In 1919, the Southampton hockey team captured the championship for the Northern Hockey League, a league consisting of teams representing communities from Stratford north to Wiarton. 

For travel to games in this league horse-drawn sleighs do not seem to have been a necessary mode of transportation as most of the competing communities were on the rail line. 

Consequently, train excursions carrying fans and players across the landscape of Western Ontario became as common a sight as the caravans of sleighs which had been used during the earlier era of Southampton's hockey history. 

A version of "Southampton Hockey History: The Early Years" originally appeared in my Local History column in the April 14, 1997 edition of the Owen Sound Sun Times.

   Get The Great Lakes Raconteur  -->   

SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Share this page:

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.