1912 - THE GREAT SCHISM
This was the beginning of the end for the N.L.U.. The league split as
both Toronto clubs and Nationals quit the circuit. They formed the
Dominion Lacrosse Union(D.L.U.) and were joined by a fourth team,
Irish-Canadians - a side made up of the best Shamrock and M.A.A.A.
players. Money was the cause of the break. It's effect was truly
devasting. The N.L.U. was instantly reduced to minor league status and
practically forgotten by most fans and the media. The game itself had
changed forever. Lacrosse in Montreal would never be the same again.
One positive was the opportunity many young players were given. The
teams were all desperately short of talent.
With such confusion in the N.L.U. it was Cornwall who benefitted from
being the best organised. They won their first six contests enroute to
a 15-3 record. Ambrose Degray won the scoring title and Mark Cummins
led the league with 33 goals. Ed Nicholson, Bob Degan, H.Ransom,
Lawrence Degray and captain John White were all major contributors.
Against Ottawa, they prevailed in the rain 8-4, despite only managing
10 shots on goal. Capital cover point Ernie Butterworth fell awkwardly
on the wet field and broke his leg. On Dominion Day, Cornwall won
number six against M.A.A.A.. The match was delayed during the third
quarter because of a grass fire behind the south grandstand. The Colts
did lose twice to Ottawa. The second loss was 3-0 as Capitals scored
all their goals in the last eight minutes. Cornwall still went on to
clinch its first pennant in over twenty years.
Both Montreal squads were overshadowed by their D.L.U. rivals and
suffered for it. The Winged Wheels won 8 contests but Shamrocks could
only muster 3 wins. A cash crisis hit the irish in late August and
they had to ask their players to play for free. Morgan Quinn and Barry
quit in protest, though Barry soon returned. A new league rule called
for players to be fined $10 for the most serious penalties. Triple A's
Frank Hogan was guilty of such a foul. Rather than pay the fine he
quit for the year.
Ottawa began as the least organised team. They lost their first three
games, plus fourteen year veteran Butterworth to a career ending
injury. For their next contest they started six juniors and a new
goalie, Clint Benedict. It was the turning point of their season as
they defeated Shamrocks 7-4. From there it was a steady improvement,
concluding with a 10-8 record. Yet it wasn't all roses for Capitals.
They lost a game to M.A.A.A. when manager Herb Ralph pulled his team
off the field in the third quarter to protest bad officiating. On
another occasion, the Govenor General was asked to perform the opening
draw before a match. Unluckily someone forgot the game ball. That's
the kind of year it was.
The Big Four, as the D.L.U. clubs were known as, had a much better run.
They played some entertaining lacrosse in front of typical N.L.U. size
crowds. The press coverage the junior circuit received dominated the
sport's pages that summer. It was as if the N.L.U. had never existed.
Of course we all know how fickle the media attention can be. Montreal
lacrosse fans would find out the hard way in a few years time.
Toronto took top honours with a 14-4 record. The bulk of their talent
was still from St.Catharines. Bill Fitzgerald returned from Vancouver
to hook up with mates George Kalls and Pete Barnett. Other stars were
veteran Art Warwick and newcomer Eddy Longfellow. Nationals followed
with a 10-8 mark. The French Connection of Didier Pitre, Oncle
Lamoureux and Dare Devil Gauthier kept violet et blanc supporters
smiling. Irish-Canadians placed third with 7 wins. George Roberts,
Fred and Henry Scott all made the natural switch from Shamrocks to
irish. Tecumsehs had a sad 4 win season. One bright rookie was
another Garden City native Willie Hope. The rest of the team was old
and experienced, perhaps too old. The names were familiar: Dolly
Durkin, Neil Felker, Charles Querrie and Lawson Whitehead. The club
record 14 losses were not.
It was the last hurrah for the C.L.A. Senior League. Guess who won the
title? Athletics again! Their 5-1-1 record left all challengers
behind. The Eatons team handed St.Catharines their only loss and tie.
Behind them were Toronto Maitlands and a Brantford squad which retired
after three losses. Professional lacrosse was finished in small town
Ontario.
Meanwhile amateur lacrosse was hanging in there. That said, it was
only a three team league with each club playing four games. Brampton
won out over Young Torontos and West Toronto Junction Shamrocks.
Excelsiors posted a perfect record. Still their first championship was
a close affair. Both meetings against Young Torontos were narrow
victories. On June 22nd, C.V Charters scored the deciding goal in a
4-3 triumph. They met again on Dominion Day. Another 4-3 win, with 21
year old George Sproule scoring a pair. Brampton wished to go to
Vancouver to compete for the Mann Cup but it did not work out. A
Winnipeg club took the only dates available to them. Instead
Excelsiors concluded the year by playing an all-star team. Brampton
won 11-4.
